U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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

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:

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services' (WVDRS) mission is, "Together, we enable and empower individuals with disabilities to work and to live independently by providing individualized services to consumers and employers."  The agency's nondiscrimination policy ensures that WVDRS does not discriminate for its programs based on age, sex, religion, disability, and national or ethnic origin. 

To ensure equitable access and participation of students, educators, or other beneficiaries, the agency provides vocational rehabilitation services statewide through 26 local office locations, which includes 6 offices that are co-located with a combined partner. Additionally, DRS has 5 itinerant offices within the regional American Job Center or affiliate office locations and utilizes itinerant locations in the community and in high schools to ensure equitable access to potentially eligible students and applicants across the state.  While transportation may be a barrier for some individuals in the state, WVDRS utilizes Individualized Transportation Solutions (ITS) to ensure access to requesting and receiving Pre-Employment Transition services, applying for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, including Supported Employment services, and receiving services, as appropriate. This includes providing purchased transportation services and WVDRS staff meeting with individuals virtually and/or in person at a location that meets the needs of potential and current consumers, as appropriate.

Awareness about VR services in the state is accomplished through many methods, including direct communications with school students, educators, family members, agency partners, service providers (including Community Rehabilitation Programs) and other VR stakeholders that continuously inform potential VR consumers about the VR service delivery system.  WVDRS has also created a position to further enhance outreach across the state, focusing on potentially underserved areas and/or populations.  

Based on the agency's applicant and consumer trends (numerically, demographically and geographically), the agency is ensuring equitable access to participation in the VR system in West Virginia.