Summary of Input and Recommendations of the State Rehabilitation Council; Response of the Designated State Unit; and Explanation for Rejection of Input or Recommendations: Attachment 4.2(c)

The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) gives advice and works in partnership with the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID).  Together, the SRC and VESID partner to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive appropriate, timely and effective vocational rehabilitation (VR) services.  The SRC accomplishes its responsibilities and activities through the work of its committees—the Policy, Procedures and State Plan Committee, the Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee, and the Workforce Development Committee.  The committees accomplish specific tasks and bring recommendations to the full council for final action.  This structure assists the council to accomplish a broader range of activities than would be possible working as one large body.

Together, VESID and the SRC work cooperatively in setting the policy direction for the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services for eligible individuals in New York State.  VESID and the SRC use a team approach to policy development, community agency collaboration and State Plan development.  This last year, the SRC and VESID worked collaboratively to undertake the restructuring of the vocational rehabilitation system through the Designing Our Future initiatives.  The SRC is required to submit an annual report to the Rehabilitation Services Administration.  The most recent annual report addresses activities of the SRC from October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006.  This report is electronically available at www.vesid.nysed.gov/src/annualrpt06/srcapr06.htm.

The following is a summary of input and recommendations of the State Rehabilitation Council and VESID’s response to the recommendations:

Background: VESID requested an exemption for specific Specialized Vocational Training (SVT) programs from the State Education Department’s (SED) licensing requirement. VESID was facing the loss of some SVT programs, which have long been successful in training and placing VESID consumers.  Some VESID community rehabilitation programs were unable to meet specific licensing requirements that apply to vocational schools, but do not meet the needs of individuals with disabilities served by the community rehabilitation programs.  VESID provided draft procedures for reviewing the SVT and converting the SVT to special Work Adjustment Training (WAT) programs.  The procedures were reviewed by the SRC.

SRC Recommendation: The SRC supports and approves VESID’s recommendation to change procedures for converting SVT programs to WAT, as an exemption from the licensing requirements in selected circumstances.
VESID Response: VESID appreciates the SRC’s unanimous support for the development of new procedures to convert from SVT programs to WAT programs.  VESID agrees with the SRC position that certain training programs need to be exempt from restrictive licensing processes. Only appropriate SVT services will be exempted by VESID for this purpose and will be converted into special WAT programs.

SRC Recommendation: In reviewing the RSA 107 corrective action plan, the SRC recommends that VESID insert a clause into each VESID policy where a cost or duration limit is set.
VESID Response: As recommended by the SRC, VESID will insert a reference to the waiver policy for all policies describing specific services that have cost or duration limits.

SRC Recommendation: VESID will add additional monies to the SRC FFY2007 budget request to allow travel to CSAVR and other training opportunities for SRC members.
VESID Response: VESID increased the SRC budget by $30,000 for FFY2007.  This increase will allow for additional travel for SRC members to attend CSAVR and other SRC training opportunities, as well as contribute towards a formal needs assessment that VESID and the SRC collectively conduct.

SRC Recommendation: All VESID information and policies that are presented to the Board of Regents must first go to the State Rehabilitation Council.
VESID Response: VESID routinely consults with the SRC on the State Plan, policies and procedures, and other materials.  To the extent possible, VESID will share other information with the SRC prior to the Board of Regents review.

SRC Recommendation: Change SRC working committee meeting start time to 1:30 for the first day of the SRC meetings.
VESID Response: The Committee meeting time has been changed to accommodate the SRC request.

SRC Recommendation: The Policy, Procedures and State Plan Committee, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, will write a letter of support to the RSA promoting VESID.
VESID Response: VESID appreciates the time commitment, collaboration and support the SRC provides as a partner in the employment of individuals with disabilities.

SRC Recommendation: The SRC recommends that VESID schedule Region II Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RRCEP) SRC training for the entire SRC.
VESID Response: The RRCEP provided training to the entire SRC in May 2007.

SRC Recommendation: VESID should seek clarification from Social Security Administration (SSA) as to how SSA would view getting cost reimbursement for vocational rehabilitation services to youth.
VESID Response: VESID submits claims on all expenditures that meet Social Security criteria.  If charges to VESID are incurred by youth on Supplemental Security Income, and are documented in record of services, VESID seeks reimbursement.

SRC Recommendation: A letter from the SRC to the SSA will be submitted in support of VESID’s response letter to Notice of Proposed Rule Making regarding Ticket to Work.
VESID Response: VESID looks forward to its continued collaboration with the SRC.

SRC Recommendation: The SRC will refer transition issues of concern that fall outside the SRC purview in a letter from the SRC to the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel on Special Education.
VESID Response: VESID is supportive of communication between the SRC and the State Education Department Commissioner’s Advisory Panel related to issues of mutual concern.

SRC Recommendation: A SED representative provided the SRC with an overview of transition services in New York State for students with disabilities.  The SRC requests that copies of the report be obtained electronically and sent to all SRC members.
VESID Response: VESID obtained a copy of the presentation and electronically transmitted the information to all SRC members.

SRC Recommendation: Each SRC Committee will look at the proposed transition process and report to the full SRC about specific transition issues they can undertake.
VESID Response: VESID is committed to working with the SRC to enhance the transition of youth to adult services and employment.  The SRC will be directly involved in the policy development process on youth in transition.

SRC Recommendation: As recommended by the SRC Transition Ad Hoc Committee, the Policy, Procedures and State Plan Committee will evaluate the current VESID policies affecting youth and transition to determine how policies align with the Designing Our Future initiative.
VESID Response: VESID and the SRC Policy, Procedures and State Plan Committee will work together to revise the transition policy in 2007 to improve transition services to youth with disabilities during 2007.

SRC Recommendation: After a VESID liaison to one of the SRC committees was reassigned, the SRC recommended retaining specific VESID liaisons and/or providing appropriate transition planning for mentoring of new liaisons.
VESID Response: While VESID certainly understands that good working relationships are formed between the SRC members and VESID liaisons, VESID liaison staff does have to be rotated occasionally.  VESID will make a good faith effort to provide a transition period when liaison staff are leaving, bringing new VESID staff on simultaneously to learn the liaison duties.

SRC Recommendation: The SRC nominated Lisa Koop as Chair of the SRC for 2007.
VESID Response: VESID approves the nomination and looks forward to working closely with the new chair in 2007.

SRC Recommendation: Review existing by-laws; revise and develop a written document that describes the process, roles and responsibilities for the SRC.
VESID’s Response: The SRC Chair and the VESID SRC Coordinator worked together to provide this information in a written document known as the New York State Rehabilitation Council Guiding Principles.