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 - Supported Employment
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 - Supported Employment
1. Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable 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 first of four questions is:
Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the proposed project or activity.
Current Narrative:
Vocational Rehabilitation, a statewide program under the Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, administers Title VI Supported Employment grants to assist individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with MSD, to achieve competitive, integrated employment. Supported employment services are offered locally in 25 Area Offices throughout Indiana and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors provide services in each county. Eligibility for SE is not based on income or financial resources. SE services include job coaching after placement to support eligible individuals in becoming more independent in the performance of their job tasks and to support employment retention. SE Title VI funds also support the delivery of extended services to youth with a most significant disability.
FSSA Vision
All Hoosiers live in fully engaged communities and reach their greatest emotional, mental and physical well-being.
BRS promotes the philosophy that all Hoosiers includes those with the most significant disabilities.
FSSA Mission
To compassionately serve our diverse community of Hoosiers by dismantling long-standing, persistent inequity through deliberate human services system improvement
BRS believes that SE services directly support the agency mission to remove barriers and inequity that individuals with the most significant disabilities may experience when accessing employment. SE supports barrier removal through individualized services designed to support individuals with MSD in achieving sustained competitive, integrated employment outcomes.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable civil rights laws, FSSA does not discriminate against a qualified individual based on race, disability, religion, sex, or national origin in the receipt of or participation in services, programs, or other activities made available to other similarly qualified individuals.
Upon request, FSSA will provide appropriate aids, services or other reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability to the best of our ability. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to equally participate in any FSSA program, service, or activity may contact the ADA Coordinator with the Office of Healthy Opportunities.
FSSA also strives to maintain a website that is compliant with all digital guidelines and is open to feedback. To provide feedback, file a complaint, or request assistance individuals can contact the ADA Coordinator at ada@fssa.in.gov. FSSA also maintains an Accessibility Barrier Removal Policy and Service Animal Notice.