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RSA establishes policy and prescribes the methods necessary for the proper and efficient administration of RSA Programs. This table includes Technical Assistance Circulars (TACs), Policy Directives (PDs), and one Information Memorandum (IM). Below the table, RSA lists other sub-regulatory guidance documents, including Dear Colleague Letters, Frequently Asked Questions, and Rescinded Sub-Regulatory Guidance.
Using Third-Party Cooperative Arrangements with Local Educational Agencies for Providing Pre-Employment Transition Services to Students with Disabilities under the VR Program
Maximizing Services and the Use of Funds to Support Quality Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities through the VR and Supported Employment Programs
Prohibition Against Applying Financial Needs Tests or Requiring Cost Participation as a Condition for the Receipt of VR Services for SSI and SSDI Recipients
The Application of the Randolph-Sheppard Act Priority for Blind Vendors to the Operation of Vending Machines on Federal Property and the Use of Third-Party Vendors on that Property
Technical Assistance regarding the Submission Deadline for the Unified and Combined State Plans under WIOA for PYs 2020-2023 and Other Related Requirements
On April 3, 2026, OMB approved RSA's request to discontinue the following information collections requests under the Paperwork Reduction Act: Application for Client Assistance Program (CAP) (1820-0520); the CAP Assurances remain available for use when redesignations occur; Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) Program Assurances (1820-0625); the PAIR Assurances remain available for use when redesignations occur; Written Application for the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB) Program (1820-0660); the IL-OIB Assurances remain available for use when redesignations occur; and the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program Corrective Action Plan (1820-0694); VR program corrective action plans remain available at VR Program Monitoring.
RSA provides instructions regarding the submission of Real Property Status Report (SF-429) forms and the Notice of Federal Interest recording requirement for the State VR Services program. The reporting requirement (2 C.F.R. § 200.330) requires that grantees must report annually, for at least the first 15 years, on the status of the real property in which the Federal government has made a monetary investment and therefore has an ongoing interest. The Federal interest recording requirement (2 C.F.R. § 200.316), in combination with the OMB construction grant assurances, Assurances for Construction Programs (SF-424D), provides Federal agencies with discretion as to when grantees are required to locally record notices of Federal interest (or other public notices of record) regarding that Federal interest.
On June 5, 2025, OMB approved a non-substantive change to the Case Service Report (RSA-911). Through this DCL, RSA transmits a copy of the revised RSA-911 and instructions for State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Supported Employment programs concerning the data collection and reporting of the sex of individuals served. This version of the RSA-911 becomes effective July 1, 2026, when VR agencies must begin collecting and reporting these data for Program Year 2026.
On June 5, 2025, OMB approved a non-substantive change to align formula grant program annual performance reports with Executive Order 14168. This DCL provides the details and timing of OMB approved changes concerning the collection and reporting of the sex of individuals served by the following formula grant programs: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind; the Client Assistance Program; and the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights program.
RSA transmits a copy of the revised Vocational Rehabilitation Financial Report (RSA-17) form and instructions for the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR) program. Due to the minimal nature of the changes, the revisions to the RSA-17 are effective immediately. The RSA-17 collects semiannual cumulative VR financial data on an award-by-award basis.
This letter encourages States to drive responsible artificial intelligence (AI) innovation focused on better serving individuals with disabilities. The letter identifies three ways that AI has the potential to support individuals with disabilities in achieving competitive integrated employment and to solve urgent challenges in the field of vocational rehabilitation.
This letter identifies the prior approval requirements in 2 C.F.R. § 200.407 most applicable to RSA’s formula grant awards and how recipients can ensure they satisfy those requirements. The letter describes flexibilities available to reduce the burden on recipients with respect to the prior approval requirements, while ensuring program and fiscal accountability, and rescinds theFrequently Asked Questions for Prior Approval: OSEP and RSA Formula Grants (October 29, 2019). Through this letter, RSA is ensuring its prior approval guidance is consistent with the Office of Management and Budget’s revisions to 2 C.F.R. part 200 (89 FR 07496) that are effective October 1, 2024.
This letter from Commissioner Danté Allen celebrates our nation’s independence, independence that is protected and sustained by the many dedicated and brave members of the military services. The letter highlights the ways in which the VR program is well positioned to assist members of the military whose families include students, youth, and adults with disabilities. The letter also encourages VR agencies to become highly visible in military communities and implement efficient and responsive practices, maximize the VR experience for the students, youth, and adults from military-connected families, to fully meet their needs, and exceed their expectations.
This letter from Commissioner Dante Allen recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month and highlights the importance of mental health and the power of the VR program to help individuals with mental health conditions live fulfilling and meaningful lives. The letter also shares mental health resources from a range of Federal government agencies and encourages the VR agencies to support participants as they navigate mental health-related barriers and seek competitive integrated employment and integration into the community.
This letter informs RSA grantees and the public of Commissioner Dante Allen's vision and priorities for leading RSA and advancing competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.
This letter provides technical assistance related to Case Service Report (RSA-911) requirements for reporting “students with disabilities” and pre-employment transition services in response to questions RSA received related to the V10 of the RSA-911 Edit Checks. On June 9, 2023, RSA announced it will use V10 for RSA-911 reporting during PY 2023.
RSA transmits a copy of the revised Case Service Report (RSA-911) and instructions for the VR and Supported Employment programs. On September 25, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget approved this information collection (OMB control number 1820-0508) until September 30, 2026. The revisions to the RSA-911 are effective beginning with PY 2024.
This letter informs VR agencies of RSA's change in interpretation of the word “recipient,” for purposes of determining satisfaction of the carryover requirement of section 19(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 716(b)) and 34 C.F.R. § 361.64(b). For reasons described in the letter, this change in interpretation affects only the VR program when there are two VR agencies in a State (General and Blind); it does not affect the State Supported Employment Services program.
RSA transmits a copy of the SF-425 and revised instructions for completing the form for the following formula award programs: CAP, IL-OIB, and PAIR. RSA revised and updated the instructions because the Department has retired parts 74 and 80 of EDGAR and adopted in their place the Uniform Guidance at 2 C.F.R. part 200. Through this letter, RSA is rescinding the prior CAP, IL-OIB, and PAIR instructions for completing the SF-425 form (RSA-PD-11-03).
RSA responds to inquiries received regarding whether "fees for services that were not rendered" or "cancellation fees" are allowable under the VR, Supported Employment, and IL-OIB programs. In this response, RSA provides an analysis for program staff to use when determining whether such a cost is allowable and, therefore, may be paid with program funds as an administrative cost.
RSA informs VR agencies of an important change to the process used to assess maintenance of effort for the VR program that will affect the way RSA allots VR funds in FFY 2020 and future years.
RSA provides a review instrument for the formal interagency agreement between VR agencies and State Education Agencies, as required by Section 101(a)(11)(D) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 34 C.F.R. §361.22(b) along with technical assistance resources.
OSERS issued this guidance to describe how State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and State VR agencies may coordinate to assist students with disabilities who are in high school and will be transitioning out of high school and will potentially receive services as an adult funded by programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including the VR program.
This Federal Register Notice implements an exception, approved by the Office of Management and Budget, to lower the per-unit acquisition cost for equipment acquired by State licensing agencies for the benefit of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program. The per unit acquisition cost is lowered from the current $5,000 or the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes to “equal or exceed the lesser of $1,000 or the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes.”
This paper presents a joint Federal vision for community engagement of individuals with disabilities. Community engagement, supported by a variety of service systems, enables individuals with disabilities to expand skills and experience so that they may secure high-quality and personally satisfying careers and the benefits of employment. In addition to explaining what community engagement means and its benefits, this paper contains information about the wide variety of services that expand opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment.
This resource, which comprises a Federal Joint Communication to State and Local Governments and a Frequently Asked Questions document, focus on the benefits of and support for blending, braiding, and sequencing resources to increase competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities. The partner agencies include the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and Employment and Training Administration (ETA); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and Office of Special Education Programs; and the Social Security Administration's Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. On October 18, 2022, ETA issued Training Employment Notice (07-22) that includes additional resources.
This final Notice of Interpretation (NOI) pertains to the use of Federal VR funds reserved for pre-employment transition services. On February 28, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) published an NOI in the Federal Register (85 FR 11848) to clarify current policy regarding the permissibility of using funds reserved for pre-employment transition services for auxiliary aids and services, and to announce a change in policy regarding the use of Federal VR funds reserved for pre-employment transition services. There are no changes between the original interpretation and this final interpretation. Through this document, the Department rescinds the Dear Director Letter (December 28, 2016) regarding the use of reserved funds for the provision of auxiliary aids and services because the substance of that letter was incorporated into and clarified by the original interpretation.
OSERS issued this letter discussing the importance of collaboration between Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation related to secondary transition.
OSERS updated the Guide to advance our efforts in ensuring that all students and youth with disabilities are equipped with the skills and knowledge to achieve their post-school and career goals. In this update, OSERS added information about dual enrollment and the ABLE Act. The Guide is intended to help students and youth with disabilities and their families to better understand how the state education agencies, the local education agencies, and VR agencies work together to facilitate improved outcomes for students and youth with disabilities.
This joint guidance provides information to assist State agencies (including VR agencies), educational agencies and institutions, and service providers in performance reporting and evaluation requirements under WIOA. Under WIOA, States are required to use education information and quarterly wage records to measure performance of the six core programs and other title I programs authorized by WIOA, which raises complex issues related to data sharing and privacy. This joint guidance provides States with information about applicable requirements for, and procedures and options for, matching confidential Unemployment Compensation information from wage records with personal information from VR records, and personally identifiable information from education records, and for protecting the confidentiality of information contained in such records.
A frequently-asked questions document that outlines when States must begin collecting and reporting Retention with the Same Employer data, for the Effectiveness in Serving Employers (ESE) performance indicator, and informs States of the information collection requests and joint policy guidance that the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor will revise in accordance with the regulatory definition.
A frequently-asked questions document that informs State licensing agencies how to report Financial Relief and Restoration Payments funds on the RSA-15 report.
A frequently-asked questions document that explains how to provide post-employment services to individuals with disabilities who have achieved employment outcomes and how to report these services on the Case Service Report (RSA-911), particularly because of the reporting requirements in Section 116 of WIOA and its regulations. Specifically, VR agencies have asked how to report post-employment services since, as explained in this document, VR agencies cannot reopen the service records of “participants” whose “exits” from the VR program have been reported through the RSA-911 under WIOA’s performance accountability system.
A frequently-asked questions document that provides guidance and technical assistance to VR agencies and community rehabilitation programs so they may assist individuals with disabilities to achieve high-quality employment and exercise their informed choice about the type of employment to pursue, either with assistance from the VR program or from other community resources. While these FAQs do not change the Department of Education’s interpretation that has existed since at least the mid-1990s with respect to the criterion for an integrated employment location, they clarify and update a similar set of FAQs, issued January 17, 2017, entitled Frequently Asked Questions: Integrated Location Criteria of the Definition of 'Competitive Integrated Employment.' Therefore, OSERS rescinds the January 2017 FAQs effective as of this date. These updated FAQs take effect immediately upon issuance, and will enable VR program personnel to better carry out the purpose of the VR program and allow individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment potential. Additionally, RSA issued a Response to Significant Commentsthat addresses changes in the updated FAQs made in response to comments received on the proposed FAQs (FAQ 21-03) published in the Federal Register and that provided the public with a 30-day opportunity to comment (86 FR 13511 (March 9, 2021)).
A second frequently-asked questions document that responds to additional inquiries concerning the administration of the Randolph-Sheppard Act Financial Relief and Restoration Payments appropriation. RSA issued the first set of frequently-asked questions on March 12, 2021.
A frequently-asked questions document, developed jointly with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, that provides information to employers, agencies, and individuals with disabilities concerning limitations on the payment of a subminimum wage, that is, a wage below the Federal minimum wage, to individuals with disabilities. These limitations are imposed by Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
A frequently-asked questions document that responds to inquiries concerning the administration of the Randolph-Sheppard Act Financial Relief and Restoration Payments appropriation.
A frequently-asked questions document to support VR agencies in their continued implementation of the requirements for youth with disabilities under Section 511(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and to respond to questions that RSA has received. Specifically, these FAQs address the application and eligibility determination processes under Section 102(a) of the Rehabilitation Act that a youth with a disability must satisfy when he or she chooses to pursue subminimum wage work (Section 511(a)(2)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act). As explained in detail through the questions and answers, youth who, through the exercise of informed choice, intend to pursue subminimum wage employment are not eligible for VR services because this outcome is not within the scope of employment outcomes allowable under the program.
A frequently-asked questions document responding to inquiries concerning the administration of the VR, AIVRS and Business Enterprise programs. While these questions and answers relate to these programs, many of the answers apply generally to RSA formula grantees.
A frequently-asked questions document related to the fiscal management of the VR program as VR agencies seek to provide continuity of operations for individuals with disabilities in the current COVID-19 environment.
A frequently-asked questions document about implementing WIOA performance accountability provisions as VR agencies seek to provide continuity of operations for individuals with disabilities in the COVID-19 environment.
A frequently-asked questions document, with an accompanying Appendix, related to the dual enrollment of students with disabilities in secondary school and postsecondary education institutions, including comprehensive transition and postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities.
A frequently-asked questions document related to how VR agencies may use the reserve requirement for the provision of pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities.
