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
j. 1. A. With the most significant disabilities, including their need for supported employment services;
Current Narrative:
The most recent Statewide Needs Assessment was conducted in 2017. Vermont DVR is currently in the process of developing the 2020 Needs Assessment. The following is a summary of the 2017 assessment and the major findings.
The Rehabilitation Act (1973) requires the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Vermont State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) to jointly conduct a needs assessment every three years. The assessment is intended to form the basis for the DVR annual State Plan and strategic planning activities. The 2017 DVR and SRC Needs Assessment focused particularly on the VR services needs of the following populations:
- Individuals with the most significant disabilities, particularly their need for supported employment;
- Individuals with disabilities who are minorities, including refugees;
- Individuals who have been unserved or underserved by DVR;
- Individuals with disabilities served through the statewide Workforce Investment System; and
- Individuals who are youth with disabilities and students with disabilities, including, as appropriate, their need for Pre-Employment Transition services or other transition services.
A comprehensive report of the results of the Vermont DVR and SRC Needs Assessment was submitted in 2017. The report includes data from a variety of sources, including DVR’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) reporting database, information from the United States Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, as well as surveys conducted by DVR. Although not specifically designed to assess unmet needs, these surveys assisted DVR in determining ways to better serve individuals with disabilities, thereby making its services more accessible and welcoming to populations that may not be currently served.