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
- o. State's Strategies
Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- o. State's Strategies
o. 4. The methods to be used to improve and expand VR services for students with disabilities, including the coordination of services designed to facilitate the transition of such students from school to postsecondary life (including the receipt of VR services, postsecondary education, employment, and pre-employment transition services)
Current Narrative:
Improving and Expanding VR Services for Students with Disabilities
WIOA provides great opportunities for VR to increase transition services and opportunities to youth with disabilities. Increased information and referral to transition-age youth is built into WIOA and VR has already begun providing more transition service-related information to youth. Strategies noted below are anticipated to increase opportunities for students with disabilities.
- Continue to offer Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLE) to all school districts annually. Although VR approaches and offers WBLE partnerships to all school districts in Florida, the partnership is dependent on the individual district’s decision to participate. VR has recently hired another transition administrator to ensure that information is provided consistently to all school districts and to coordinate and monitor active and potential WBLE partnerships.
- Continue to provide activities for youth and students designed to assist in developing a concept of work, navigating the community and obtaining work experience during high school. Pre-Employment Transition Services include job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, career guidance and counseling, work readiness and self-advocacy training and experiential activities such as community-based work experience. Support services include assistive technology and services, transportation and uniforms. Intensive services are designed for those who need additional support with appropriate work behavior, require repetition to acquire skills, build endurance to work and identify the right fit or environment for work. These services include Discovery, Youth Peer Mentoring, Project SEARCH, services provided under Work-Based Learning Experiences with school districts and tuition, books and supplies for postsecondary education programs.
- Additional initiatives are underway to increase provider capacity and offer more opportunities to youth. These include approval of CareerSource Florida to provide pre-placement services, revision of Certified Business and Technical Assistance Consultants (CBTAC) recertification procedures and increase in CBTAC and Discovery providers. VR partners with Volunteer Florida, Centers for Independent Living, Florida ARC and High School High Tech to offer more OJT and community work experiences.