Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
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:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- g. Coordination with Employers
Describe how the designated State unit will work with employers to identify competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities in order to facilitate the provision of:
- g. Coordination with Employers
g. 2. Transition services, including pre-employment transition services, for students and youth with disabilities.
Current Narrative:
When engaging with businesses, the Business and Community Engagement Team regularly educates businesses about Pre-Employment Transition Services and opportunities for work based learning such as internships and on-site visits. The team will engage with the State Office of Work Based Learning and Apprenticeship and other regional initiatives and meet regularly to discuss opportunities for VR participants. If businesses express interest, this is shared with the Youth Services Team to collectively determine next steps. The VR Business and Community Engagement team worked with VR’s Youth Services team to train youth counselors on business engagement and identifying opportunities at the local level. This has led to increased employer engagement in local communities that has aided Pre-ETS providers in supplying students with more robust work-based learning experiences. BRS will continue to explore opportunities for increased business engagement with youth and students with disabilities. VR modified its pay structure for work-based learning in 2019 to increase capacity for work-based learning opportunities for all eligible VR individuals including youth and students, and also continues to support work-based learning for eligible and potentially eligible students with disabilities through Pre-ETS. VR amended Pre-ETS provider contracts to include the provision of stipends for students in many work-based learning activities. This added incentive should increase student participation in these activities, which have been shown to greatly improve post-school outcomes.