Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
- GEPA 427 Form Instructions for Application Package - Vocational Rehabilitation
EQUITY FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES
OMB Control Number 1894-0005 Expiration 02/28/2026
Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1228a) applies to a State applicant submitting a state plan for a formula grant from the US Department of Education. The State applicant is responsible for completing the GEPA Section 427 form that provides a description of the steps the State proposes to take to ensure all program beneficiaries have equitable access to, and participation in, its Federally funded, State-level project or activity.
GEPA Section 427 Form Instructions for State Applicants
State applicants must respond to the following four questions:
1. Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the proposed project or activity.
2. Based on your proposed project or activity, what barriers may impede equitable access and participation of students, educators, or other beneficiaries?
3. Based on the barriers identified, what steps will you take to address such barriers to equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity?
4. What is your timeline, including targeted milestones, for addressing these identified barriers?
• Applicants identify any barriers that may impede equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity, including, but not limited to, barriers based on economic disadvantage, gender, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, age, language, migrant status, rural status, homeless status or housing insecurity, pregnancy, parenting, or caregiving status, and sexual orientation.
• Applicants use the associated text box to respond to each question. However, applicants might have already included some or all this required information in the narrative sections of their applications or their State Plans. In responding to this requirement, for each question, applicants may provide a cross-reference to the section(s) in their State Plans that includes the information responsive to that question on this form or may restate that information on this form.
• Applicants are not required to have mission statements or policies that align with equity to apply.
• Applicants that have already undertaken steps to address barriers must still provide an explanation and/or description of the steps already taken in each text box, as appropriate, to satisfy the GEPA Section 427 requirement.
• Applicants that believe no barriers exist must still provide an explanation and/or description to each question to validate that perception, as appropriate, to satisfy the GEPA Section 427 requirement.
Please refer to GEPA 427 - Form Instructions for Application Package
- GEPA 427 Form Instructions for Application Package - Vocational Rehabilitation
3. Based on the barriers identified, what steps will you take to address such barriers to equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity?
Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1228a) applies to a State applicant submitting a state plan for a formula grant from the US Department of Education. The State applicant is responsible for completing the GEPA Section 427 form that provides a description of the steps the State proposes to take to ensure all program beneficiaries have equitable access to, and participation in, its Federally funded, State-level project or activity.
GEPA 427 - Form Instructions for Application Package
State applicants must respond to four questions.
The third of four questions is:
Based on the barriers identified, what steps will you take to address such barriers to equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity?
Current Narrative:
To address transportation barriers, the Vocational Rehabilitation program provides services in all 92 counties and can carry out services in person or offer virtual options. VR partners with hundreds of service providers throughout the state to increase participant access to services in their local communities. VR can also provide assistance with training on the use of public transportation, mileage reimbursement, and vehicle modification services.
To decrease communication access barriers, VR has increased the number of sign language interpreters who are registered with VR to provide services, and continues to offer options for remote interpreting. VR staff who serve Deaf participants are provided with ipads to ensure they have the necessary equipment to support remote interpreting. VR also uses captions for virtual meetings. Materials are available in braille and additional languages, such as Spanish and can be translated into a wide range of other languages. VR also has access to translators to ensure communication access to individuals who are non-English speaking.
To reduce stigma around disability, VR continues with business engagement efforts, promotes work based learning for participants with disabilities as a way to initiate an employer partnership, shares stories of success, and provides training to VR staff aimed at reducing bias, including DEI&A training.