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
- k. Annual Estimates
Describe:
- k. Annual Estimates
k. 4. The cost of services for the number of individuals estimated to be eligible for services. If under an order of selection, identify the cost of services for each priority category.
Current Narrative:
• Title I Part B $655,000
• Title VI Part B $0
Estimated costs of services, per individual:
FFY 2022 – ICBVI projects serving 380 individuals with an estimated cost of $1724 per individual.
FFY 2023 – ICBVI projects serving 400 individuals with an estimated cost of $1638 per individual.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the VR program. ICBVI experienced a significant decrease in participants and had to alter the manner in which services were provided. The pandemic also had a significant impact on the spending of the 15% reserve for Pre-Employment Transition Services. While ICBVI is beginning to experience an increase in applicants to the program in PY 2022, the longer-term impacts that the pandemic had on the 15% spending requirement is unknown at this time.
ICBVI believes it will be difficult to determine the long-term impact of WIOA on number served without baseline data. While the Commission is committed to extending services to all eligible individuals, the emphasis and spending requirements associated with Pre-ETS requirements will both; (1) diminish overall funds available to individuals categorized as ‘eligible’ and, (2) fundamentally shifts the way ICBVI spends 15% of program funds.