Statement of Collaboration between New York State Education Department Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) and New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA)

In recognition of the need for a close working relationship between VESID staff and financial aid officers at postsecondary schools in New York State, this is a statement of collaboration to guide VESID staff and NYSFAAA members in providing financial support for students with disabilities attending postsecondary institutions within the State. It reflects the collective concern of VESID and the NYSFAAA that individuals with disabilities receive fair and equitable treatment in obtaining financial assistance for postsecondary education and the knowledge that there are procedural differences in the methodology by which financial assistance is provided to students with disabilities. This Statement of Collaboration will promote equitable treatment for individuals with disabilities by encouraging meaningful communication between VESID staff and financial aid officers. This Statement of Collaboration is designed to establish a working relationship between VESID and NYSFAAA. However, this Statement of Collaboration will not create legally binding obligations on VESID, including the New York State Education Department and any office thereof, or NYSFAAA and will not create a contractual relationship between VESID and NYSFAAA.

  1. Mission
    1. Assure that the student is an educated partner, actively involved in the financial aid/VESID process; and,
    2. VESID staff and NYSFAAA members will communicate according to agreed upon information sharing procedures.
  2. General Provisions
    1. VESID requires that services including tuition, fees, room and board and support services in post-secondary institutions shall NOT be paid for with VESID funds unless maximum efforts have been made to secure Financial Aid Grant benefits;
    2. Federal Work-study program will be considered where appropriate for the:
      1. provision of jobs for students with disabilities both within the postsecondary institutions and, where, practicable with public and private non-profit agencies; and
      2. employment of students within the postsecondary institutions to provide necessary support services to students with disabilities. 
    3. The New York State Education Department through VESID and/or the institution reserves the right to terminate financial support/aid to students with disabilities who fail to meet the basic eligibility or performance standards as defined in VESID or institutional guidelines. 
    4. VESID financial support will not be included in the financial aid package unless there is an approved VESID Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) for the student with the appropriate VESID office.
  3. Mutual Agreement of Shared Responsibilities
    The New York State Education Department through VESID and NYSFAAA agree to jointly develop information sharing procedures which shall require:
    1. Students' with disabilities written approval for exchange of information between VESID and the Financial Aid Offices;
    2. Notification in an agreed upon format and time frame to VESID from financial aid officer of the Expected Family Contribution, Cost of Attendance, and award package offered to students with disabilities;
    3. Notification in an agreed upon format and time frame to financial aid officers of VESID level of assistance;
    4. Information shared with each other through the means that would best expedite the process: telephone, E-mail, fax, other technological means, or regular mail; 
    5. Compliance with applicable laws concerning the confidentiality of individual or student records, including but not limited to Education Law §1007 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 USC§1232g); and
    6. Periodic review of the information sharing procedures and modification of components as needed. 
  4. The New York State Education Department through VESID agrees to:
    1. Determine the individual's eligibility for VESID services and plan for services through the joint development of the Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) between the student and VESID counselor;
    2. Identify disability related expenses that should be considered by the financial aid officer in developing the portion of the award package which VESID cannot cover. 
  5. NYSFAAA agrees to advise its membership to:
    1. Refer applicants for financial aid who may have disabilities which may impair their ability to become employed to VESID for assistance;
    2. The determination of Cost of Attendance, Expected Family Contribution (EFC), estimated need and the amount and type of financial aid that may be available is for the purposes of determining financial aid awards only and not for the determination of VESID services; and,
    3. Consider where appropriate, the employment of students with disabilities in the Federal Work-Study program. 

Signed by:

Richard H. Cate
Chief Operating Officer
New York State Education Department
2/19/98

Thomas J. Dalton
President
New York State Financial Aid
Administrators Association
2/26/98

Copyright © NYS Education Department - VESID
March 1, 1998

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