Adult Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery and Coordination

Policy and Partnership Unit

Quick Link to Policies and Procedures

The Policy and Partnership Unit communicates with consumers, family members, providers and advocates. The documents and information found here are meant to help answer frequently asked questions. Your feedback is important to us and we want to hear from you. To provide input please email us VRPolicy@mail.nysed.gov or to reach us by mail: VESID, One Commerce Plaza, Room 1609, Albany, NY 12234

Staff

Dennis Barlow, Frank Coco, Geraldine Malone Kraushaar, Don McManus, John Wiechec

Mission

To develop statewide policies and partnerships that promote vocational rehabilitation services to assist individuals with disabilities in attaining employment. 

State Plan

State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Supplement for Supported Employment Services Program

Chapter 515

Statewide Supported Employment Survey

In 2009, the Chapter 515 Interagency Team conducted a survey of supported employer providers in New York State. The survey was conducted as a cooperative effort among OMH, OMHDD, CBVH and VESID with the Center for Essential Management Services (CEMS) under the auspices of the Disability Statistics Research and Training Center at Hunter College. The survey was sent electronically to 198 supported employment provider organizations. The Chapter 515 Interagency Team initiated the survey to gain information from providers to improve the supported employment service delivery system, particularly to get data on how well the referral process is working and how it might be improved. The Final Report, issued in March 2010, identifies recommendations and the responses of each State agencies to the report findings.

• Chapter 515 Statewide Supported Employment Survey: Final Report: Word (313KB, 15pp)
• Chapter 515 Statewide Supported Employment Survey: Final Report: PDF (168KB, 15pp)

Annual Report

Chapter 515 Annual Report On Integrated Employment For Individuals With Disabilities
Established to expand employment opportunities in integrated settings for persons with severe disabilities. The annual report summarizes employment action among New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Commission of the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and VESID.Chapter 515 Law

Laws, Regulations and Policy:

Commissioner of Education Regulations

• Part 246, Workshop Programs, New York State Commissioner of Education
• Part 247, Client Services, New York State Commissioner of Education

Federal Legislation

• Rehabilitation Act
• Federal Regulations:
  • 34 CFR Part 361- State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program; Final Rule
  • 34 CFR Part 361- State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program; Final Rule (Employment Outcome Definition)

Agreements between VESID and NYS Agencies

What are Partnerships? Partnerships are formal or informal agreements developed and maintained with other agencies, associations, community based providers, that share broadly similar goals to provide high quality services and a smooth and appropriate transition for the individual with a disability to attain an employment outcome.

VESID has formal agreements called Memoranda of Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding with a variety of state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Department of Labor, and Local Workforce Investment Boards.

• New York State Office of Higher and Professional Education
• New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
• Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
• Office of Mental Health
• New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA)

VR Policies

What is the purpose of a policy? VESID policy is a plan of action to assure consistent decision-making and fulfills the Federal and State mandates. Important considerations are:

• Not in conflict with Federal and/or State mandates
• Defining a framework for VESID staff use
• Consider constancy and uniformity throughout the State
• Simple and clear language
• Be consistent and in alignment with other policies whenever possible

What is the process for policy development? Once a policy has been selected for development appropriate VESID staff from both Central Office and the field, a representative from the State Rehabilitation Council, applicable stakeholders work together as a team to ensure efficient development and implementation.

Policies are used by VESID staff to enhance the mission and goals of VESID in the employment of persons with disabilities.

• New York State Adult Vocational Rehabilitation Policies and Procedures 

VR Technical Assistance Briefs (TAB)

VR Technical Assistance Briefs (TAB) for VESID staff that provide disability specific educational information on a particular topic.

VR Policy Terminology

Index of Terminology

Designing the Future

Desigining the future of VESID report

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