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. 3. The outreach procedures that will be used to identify and serve individuals with disabilities who are minorities, including those with the most significant disabilities, as well as those who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program
Current Narrative:
BRS continues to employ a diverse staff across the state and maintain a diverse group of stakeholder partners, which assists VR in reaching individuals across various diversity groups. In review of VR’s 2019 CSNA, approximately 85% of VR individuals served 2016-2018 were white, while 18% were African American, American Indian, or other races. This very closely mirrors the minority population in Indiana. Specifically, 85.4% of individuals with a disability in Indiana are white, while 18.3% are African American, American Indiana, or other races.
For individuals with the most significant disabilities, VR continues to collaborate with BDDS, DOE, local educational agencies, INARF, and others to ensure opportunities are afforded to these individuals to achieve employment. Efforts to further reach this population are outlined under state strategy items (1) and (5).
VR is also exploring the need for targeted outreach and collaboration at each local VR field office level, and will further explore underserved or underserved populations at the local level to determine needed collaboration and outreach.