RSA is established by Congress as the principal Federal agency authorized to carry out Titles I, III, VI, and VII, as well as Section 509 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. RSA also administers programs and activities under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, as amended. RSA Programs develop and implement comprehensive systems of vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and independent living services for older individuals who are blind through the provision of services, training, and advocacy to maximize the employment, independence, and integration of individuals with disabilities in their communities.
State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division (SMPID)
SMPID is led by Carol Dobak and is responsible for the review and approval of WIOA Unified and Combined State Plans and administration of RSA's five formula grant programs:
- State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program;
- State Supported Employment Services Program;
- Independent Living Services Program for Older Individuals who are Blind;
- Client Assistance Program; and
- Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights
SMPID State Teams provide technical assistance to and conduct monitoring of these programs to ensure consistency with Federal requirements and to ensure that States implement programs designed to improve results for individuals with disabilities. SMPID consists of the following four Units:
- Vocational Rehabilitation Program Unit: Suzanne Mitchell, Chief
- Technical Assistance Unit: Ed Vitelli, Chief
- Fiscal Unit: David Steele, Chief
- Data Collection and Analysis Unit: Christopher Pope, Chief
Training and Service Programs Division (TSPD)
TSPD is led by Corinna Stiles and is responsible for administering several programs under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA, as well as the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The programs are a mix of competitive, discretionary grants, state formula grants, and direct appropriations. TSPD consists of two units. The Training Programs Unit (Corinna Stiles, Interim Chief) administers the rehabilitation training and special demonstration programs while the Service Programs Unit (Corinne Weidenthal, Chief) administers direct service-related programs and projects. TSPD staff carry out the following activities in administering these programs:
- Monitor grants and provide technical assistance;
- Conduct discretionary grant competitions and process grant awards;
- Coordinate arbitrations for the Randolph-Sheppard program;
- Review and analyze data, prepare reports including the annual summary of the vendors and vending facilities; and
- Work with grantees to develop program performance measures, which are used to evaluate and monitor grantees.
Grant Application Package
Historically, RSA used a specific application package for RSA’s discretionary grant competitions because several of the programs have program-specific selection criteria identified either in statute or regulations. However, the Department updated the generic application package to include the ability to use program specific or statutory criteria, if approved previously, and if program offices were not adding program specific forms or other specific information beyond the selection criteria. RSA requested approval to transition to the Department’s generic application package at that time. In April 2022, the Department’s generic application package was approved for RSA use resulting in a decrease of burden hours for the submission of proposals.