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:
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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:
Local education agencies (LEAs) are responsible for providing transition services for students eligible for special education within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the student to facilitate his/her movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, Supported Employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation. Activities may include, but are not limited to, career exploration, community-based work experiences, activities providing knowledge about work habits and responsibility.
The primary services provided by Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) while a student is in secondary education include outreach, pre-employment transition services, information and referral, and counseling and guidance to plan for post-secondary education or employment.
The criteria for determining fiscal responsibility is best discovered through collaborative discussions with the relevant agencies regarding:
- Student eligibility for services;
- The purpose of the transition service (is the purpose primarily education or employment); and
- Customary transition services provided by each agency.
In addition, Michigan Department of Education (MDE), LEAs and MRS work collaboratively to ensure all students, prior to beginning work that is compensated at a subminimum wage, has been afforded the opportunity to pursue competitive integrated employment, and has documentation indicating completion of each of the following actions:
- Completion of all IDEA services and/or completion of Pre-ETS available to the student through MRS; and
- Has completed an MRS case resulting in:
- The student was determined to be ineligible/unable to benefit from MRS services and the case has been closed; or
- The student was determined eligible for MRS services, an IPE was developed along with services provided towards an employment outcome resulting in case closure due to an inability to achieve the employment outcome (the case is to reflect effort to provide reasonable accommodations, appropriate supports and services, including supported employment and customized employment services, for a reasonable period of time); and
- MRS has provided/documented the student with a disability has received career counseling, and information and referrals to Federal and State programs and other resources in the student’s geographic area that offer employment- related services and supports designed to enable the individual to explore, discover, experience, and attain competitive integrated employment
Students considering subminimum wage employment upon exiting secondary education are referred to MRS. When appropriate, MRS may request documentation from education. MRS collects and documents the necessary prerequisites, corresponding services, and information (described above) required for students seeking subminimum wage employment.
MDE, LEAs and MRS are not permitted to enter into contracts or other arrangements with an entity that holds special wage certificates for the purpose of operating a program for a student who is age 24 or younger under in which work is compensated at a subminimum wage.