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
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:
DVR/DBVI Responsibilities
DVR and DBVI are the Designated State Units for the public vocational rehabilitation program in the State of Vermont. In this role DVR and DBVI will:
A. Provide access to Pre-Employment Transition required services for potentially eligible students to LEAs statewide including:
- Job exploration counseling
- Workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living
- Work-based learning experiences which may include in-school or after school opportunities, or experiences outside the traditional school setting
- Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher education
- Self-advocacy training
B. Provide vocational rehabilitation and school-to-work transition services for youth determined eligible for DVR or DBVI services with an approved Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) including but not limited to:
- Vocational assessment
- Counseling and consultation around the development of the Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) that is coordinated with the IEP or 504 plan
- Vocational counseling and guidance
- Job placement services
- Other paid services that are part of an approved IPE
Financial Responsibility
DVR/DBVI Responsibility
To the extent funds are available, DVR/DBVI are responsible for paying for pre-employment transition services for potentially eligible students. In addition, to the extent funds are available, DVR/DBVI are responsible for paying for vocational rehabilitation and school-to-work transition services for students and youth determined eligible for DVR or DBVI services with an approved Individual Plan for Employment (IPE).
LEA Responsibility
LEAs are responsible for paying for any transition services that are also considered to be special education or related services necessary for providing a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities.
Criteria to Determine Which Agency is Responsible to Pay for Similar Services Both Can Provide Under Their Respective Law
The following criteria shall be used, when determining which entity should pay for a similar service that both entities can provide under their respective laws:
A. The purpose of the Service
Is the purpose of the service primarily related to an educational outcome or an employment outcome?
B. Customary Services
Is the service one that the school customarily provides under IDEA part B?
For example, if a school ordinarily provides work-based learning experiences for students with disabilities, the fact those services are now authorized under the Rehabilitation Act as pre-employment transition services does not mean the school should cease providing those services and refer those students to DVR or DBVI.
C. Eligibility
Is the student with a disability eligible for transition services under IDEA?
Because the definition of “student with a disability” for the DVR and DBVI programs includes an individual with a disability for the purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, it is a broader than the definition under IDEA. DVR and DBVI are authorized to provide transition services for students with disabilities who meet the definition of an individual with a disability for purposes of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Nothing in this agreement is to be construed as reducing the responsibility of the local educational agencies or any other agencies under IDEA to provide or pay for any transition services that are also considered to be special education or related services necessary for providing a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities.
Since Vermont does not permit sub-minimum wage employment there was no need to address 511 in this agreement