Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- c. Cooperative Agreements with Agencies Not Carrying Out Activities Under the Statewide Workforce Development System
Describe interagency cooperation with and utilization of the services and facilities of agencies and programs that are not carrying out activities through the statewide workforce development system with respect to:
- c. Cooperative Agreements with Agencies Not Carrying Out Activities Under the Statewide Workforce Development System
c. 1. Federal, State, and local agencies and programs;
Current Narrative:
The Florida Division of Blind Services has agreements with the following agencies and other entities who do not conduct activities under the workforce system.
- Agencies for Persons with Disabilities (APD) - FDBS collaborates with APD to coordinate services for consumers with visual impairments/other developmental disabilities.
- Department of Children and Families (DCF) - DCF is a required partner under the Employment First Act.
- Florida Independent Living Council (FILC) – FILC is a federal and state-mandated council that collaborates with the Division on planning and evaluating independent living services, preparing annual reports, and conducting public forums.
- Florida Rehabilitation Association (FRA), State Chapter of National Organization - FRA works to advance rehabilitation of all persons with disabilities.
- Visper - An assistive technology provider for blind and visually impaired consumers.
Cooperation with Agencies Not Under the Workforce System
The FDBS has contracts with 20 Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) and values the services they provide to our clients. The Division’s CRPs directly provide and facilitate vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with blindness and low vision to enable clients to maximize their opportunities for employment and career advancement. The CRPs collectively have 14 contracts for pre-employment transition and transition services, 16 contracts for vocational rehabilitation, and 1 contract for supported employment. The CRPs provide education; independent life skills; job training; and job development, retention, and placement services to clients who participate in vocational rehabilitation programs. The table below is a list of community rehabilitation programs.
| Center for the Visually Impaired | Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind |
|---|---|
| Conklin Centers for the Blind | Lighthouse of Broward |
| Elder Care of Alachua County | Lighthouse of Collier, Inc. |
| Florida Center for the Blind | Lighthouse of Manasota |
| Florida Outreach Center for the Blind | Lighthouse of Pinellas |
| Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind | Lighthouse of the Big Bend |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired |
| Independence for the Blind of West Florida | New Vision for Independence |
| Lighthouse Central Florida | Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind |
| Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches | Lighthouse of Southwest Florida, Inc. |
To increase accountability, ensure quality services, and drive outcomes, the Division plans to incorporate common performance measures (or a variant thereof) prescribed by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to determine the effectiveness of CRP performance. The CRPs will be responsible for tracking and reporting the number of consumers who obtain employment as a result of receiving their services. Other measures consist of those still employed in the second and fourth quarters after exit and credential attainment.