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Kansas PYs 2020-2023 Published Approved

Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Section Published
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:

    __________

    [13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA

    • h. Interagency Cooperation

      Describe how the designated State unit will collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering each of the following programs to develop opportunities for competitive integrated employment, to the greatest extent practicable:

h. 1. The State Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act;

Current Narrative:

Interagency agreement

Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) will work with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to establish an interagency agreement regarding roles and responsibilities pertaining to competitive, integrated employment for Kansans with disabilities. KDADS and KDHE share responsibilities for administration of the Medicaid program. KDADS oversees services for persons with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health disabilities.

The purpose of the agreement will be to create a common understanding of responsibilities, policies and procedures. It will address data sharing to better analyze how mutual consumers interact with the various services and supports available to them. Perhaps most importantly, the agreement will establish a collaborative framework for services that will improve competitive, integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities. A priority will be to address procedures for referring youth with disabilities to vocational rehabilitation (VR) services so they may explore options for competitive, integrated employment rather than being placed directly in sub-minimum wage employment after exit from school, consistent with Section 511 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. In addition, the agreement will address referral procedures for adults who are already employed in sub-minimum wage jobs so that VR may provide periodic information and career counseling related to competitive, integrated employment options.

Ongoing communication and collaboration

KRS is in frequent contact with other agencies related to competitive, integrated employment of Kansans with disabilities. Some examples include participation on the:

  • Governor’s Behavioral Health Planning Council and its vocational sub-committee.
  • The Developmental Disabilities Council.
  • The Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns.
  • The Employment First Commission.
  • Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

KRS has agreements with Comprehensive Schools for the Blind in Colorado (Colorado Center for the Blind), Missouri (Alphapointe) and Minnesota (BLIND, Inc.) to provide access to the intensive level of training needed by some consumers. An agreement with the Helen Keller National Center has also been established. On an ongoing basis, KRS will seek additional agreements as needed to meet the needs of our consumers.