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
- g. Coordination with Employers
Describe how the designated State unit will work with employers to identify competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities in order to facilitate the provision of:
- g. Coordination with Employers
g. 1. VR Services; and
Current Narrative:
DVR has 9 Business Outreach Specialist (BOS) positions throughout Colorado, along with a Business Relations Manager. This team takes the lead in cultivating DVR’s business partnerships, providing a range of services and supports ranging from recruitment assistance; information and technical assistance to business related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations, and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act; Disability Awareness Training; support of job fairs; and similar activities.
BOS staff members determine beneficial memberships at the local level to include Chambers of Commerce, Society of Human Resource Management chapters, and economic development groups. Over the past 4 years, BOS staff have aligned efforts with the Business Services team through Workforce Programs. This allows for a more streamlined experience for business partners accessing supports available through the Workforce Development System in Colorado. BOS staff continue to utilize the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) as a resource for current job openings. Counselors are trained in accessing TAP and participant resumes can be created via this valuable resource. DVR’s job placement providers can also access TAP to assist participants in creating resumes and accessing corporate jobs in TAP.
DVR regularly explores opportunities to expand and improve the use of labor market information to guide individual job seekers toward competitive integrated employment within growing industries and key sectors. DVR utilizes The Career Index Plus (TCI+), O*Net, Colorado’s LMI Gateway, and other resources, while also engaging with partners across the Workforce Development System to access other available resources and coordinate efforts to facilitate these conversations. DVR counselors routinely seek opportunities for recipients of services to engage with business to support their career exploration and the development of vocational skills, including informational interviews, job shadows, work adjustment training, and work experiences, which typically occur onsite with local businesses. As DVR expands customized employment, additional partnership is expected with business to truly understand their unmet labor needs and be able to effectively navigate and negotiate job matches for individuals receiving these services.