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
d. 2. C. Roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, of each agency, including provisions for determining State lead agencies and qualified personnel responsible for transition services;
Current Narrative:
Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Secondary Transition: Idaho Commission for Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI), Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR), and the State Department of Education (SDE) currently have a formal cooperative agreement. This agreement ensures a coordinated, comprehensive system focusing on students with disabilities as they transition from secondary school to post-school activities, promoting post-secondary education, vocational training, competitive integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation emphasizing a team approach to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from public education into employment.
This agreement addresses the following:
- Roles and responsibilities of each agency
- Financial responsibilities of each agency, including the purchase of Assistive Technology
- Outreach and technical assistance
- Transition planning
- Referral process for students with disabilities to the appropriate VR program
- Data release and data sharing
- Planning to include timeframes for development of the IPE
- Service delivery
- Dispute resolution
- Coordination and documentation requirements under section 511
- Prohibition on entering into an arrangement with an entity holding a 14(c)-special wage certificate for the purpose of operating a program where people with disabilities are engaged in work at subminimum wage.
The current agreement establishes the following roles and responsibilities for the involved parties.
The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) agrees:
- To assume the role of lead agency in facilitating interagency planning with LEAs and implementation of educational programs and transitional services for youth with disabilities in transition from high school to post-high school services.
- To support LEAs in their efforts to write IEPs using an outcome-oriented focus and to coordinate transition activities for each eligible student, beginning no later than the IEP before the student turns age 16 years (earlier if appropriate), and to address future student needs in the areas of employment, post-secondary education, vocational training; and adult living and community participation, including assistive technology.
- To invite ICBVI and /or IDVR to provide information regarding their services, including their role as an IEP team member, to school district personnel, students and their families.
- To invite ICBVI and /or IDVR counselors, with prior consent from adult students or parents or legal guardians, as appropriate, to participate as members of IEP teams for students who have been referred of ICBVI and/or IDVR for rehabilitation services.
- To work with ICBVI and IDVR Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors to identify a process for such counselors to provide input and participate in the development of a student’s IEP, including pre-employment transition services, when appropriate.
- To identify appropriate school personnel who, with prior consent from adult students or parents or legal guardians, as appropriate, will initiate the referral process of students receiving special education services, and students who have a 504 Plan (Rehabilitation Act of 1973), or students with disabilities (e.g., physical, medical, or visual, etc.) who are not eligible for special education services, to IDVR and/or ICBVI for pre-employment transition services and/or vocational rehabilitation services.
Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI), and the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR) agree:
- To encourage staff to work closely with school district personnel to ensure coordination between education services and vocational rehabilitation services.
- That ICBVI and IDVR counselors will provide training to school district personnel, students and families on all aspects of vocational rehabilitation services, including their roles as IEP team members.
- That ICBVI and IDVR counselors are available to consult with educators concerning vocational rehabilitation services for transitioning students to assist them toward employment.
- That ICBVI and IDVR counselors will collaborate with the school districts in their service areas to identify a process for the counselors to provide input and participate in the development of the transition services included in IEPs.
- That ICBVI and IDVR counselors will consult with educators concerning referral of students to ICBVI and/or IDVR for rehabilitation services. Students with blindness or visual impairments should be referred to ICBVI. Students with multiple disabilities may have dual cases with both IDVR and ICBVI providing rehabilitation services
- That ICBVI and IDVR counselors will accept referrals, when it is appropriate based on the individual needs of the student, to determine eligibility and will work collaboratively, with input from the student’s IEP team, to develop IPEs. The vocational rehabilitation counselor, student, student’s parent or legal guardian, and members of the student’s IEP team will collaborate to identify required vocational rehabilitation services that move the student to their employment goal.
- That ICBVI and/or IDVR counselors may attend IEP team meetings for each referred student upon timely invitation by school personnel and the student and/or student’s parent or legal guardian. The ICBVI and/or IDVR counselors will provide written recommendations, if requested, for use in developing IEPs when unable to attend.
- All state plan requirements, including a state’s order of selection, will apply to all services provided under this cooperative agreement.
The Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI) agrees:
- To continue serving school districts across the state. All Idaho school districts are served through each regional office. ICBVI does not maintain any cooperative agreements with school districts specific to the funding of school to work transition counselors.