RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #30

State name Puerto Rico

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name Oficina De Proteccion y Defensa De Personas Con Impedimentos De PR

Address Centro Gubernamental Roberto Sanchez Vilella

Address Line 2 Torre Sur piso 2 oficina 203

City San Juan

State Puerto Rico

Zip Code 00940

E-mail Address info@opdpi.pr.gov

Website Address http://www.opdpi.pr.gov

Phone 7876652120

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator Nitzie M Sanchez Perez

Person to contact regarding report Nitzie M Sanchez Perez

Contact Person Phone 7877109645

Contact Person E-mail Address nsanchez@opdpi.pr.gov

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 1

2. Information regarding independent living programs 1

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 0

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 1

5. Other information provided 2

6. Information regarding CAP 1

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 6

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 2

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 33

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: Topics covered was Reasonable Accommodation in university life and its legal implications, What the P&A is, What CAP is, What the purpose of the State Rehabilitation Council is, VR Regulations. The principal purpose was for description of the CAP program, the programs and services that make up the OPDPI, and a description of the difference between the DPI agencies and the OPDPI. In addition, present the importance and relevance of the purpose of the Puerto Rico State Rehabilitation Council in the processes, public policies, and regulations of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration. Provide spoken and written information about the OPDPI. Discuss the topic of Reasonable Accommodation in university life and the legal provisions. The attendees' profiles were university students with disabilities, university professors, counseling professionals, parents, and the general public.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. Orientation was provided to individuals with autism and to the blind community. Common concerns among parents of children with autism included ineligibility for VR services and the perceived lack of empathy and sensitivity from academic staff in postsecondary institutions. Additionally, six outreach activities were conducted during the fiscal year.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 1

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 0

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 0

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 5

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 5

6. Other 0

Please explain below N/A

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. Information about the P&A is shared through the website of the Puerto Rico State Rehabilitation Council (https://cerpr.org/). Additionally, the agency is presented on the website of the Council on Developmental Disabilities, CEDD (https://cedd.pr.gov/).

Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 54

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 9

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 63

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 0

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 61

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 0

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 3

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 37

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 7

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 11

7. Related to independent living services 0

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 4

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 0

2. Investigation/Monitoring 2

3. Negotiation 0

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 0

5. Administrative / Informal Review 0

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 0

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 0

8. Total 2

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 0

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 0

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 0

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 1

5. Individual chose alternative representation 0

6. Individual withdrew complaint 0

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 0

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 0

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 1

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 0

11. Conflict of interest 0

12. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 1

2. Application for services completed 0

3. Eligibility determination expedited 0

4. Individual participated in evaluation 0

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 0

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 0

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 0

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 0

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 1

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 11

2. 19 - 24 28

3. 25 - 40 16

4. 41 - 64 8

5. 65 and over 0

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 63

B. Gender

1. Females 27

2. Males 36

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 0

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 63

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 63

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 0

3. Asian 0

4. Black or African American 0

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0

6. White 0

7. Two or more races 0

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 0

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 0

2. ADD/ADHD 14

3. AIDS/HIV 0

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 0

6. Anxiety Disorder 0

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 16

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 0

10. Other visual impairments 4

11. Cancer 0

12. Cerebral Palsy 1

13. Deafness 0

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 2

16. Diabetes 1

17. Digestive disorders 2

18. Epilepsy 0

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 0

20. Intellectual Disability 1

21. Mental illness 5

22. Multiple Sclerosis 0

23. Muscular Dystrophy 0

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 1

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 5

26. Orthopedic impairments 6

27. Personality Disorders 0

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 0

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 1

31. Speech Impairments 0

32. Spina Bifida 0

33. Substance abuse 0

34. Other disability 1

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 63

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 7

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 56

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 0

5. Transition student/High school student 0

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 0

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 0

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. To promote changes and/or recommendations in public policy, procedures, and regulatory communications of the VR Administration that result in benefits for service consumers. Participation in meetings regarding situations raised by consumers and professionals that affect the services offered to VR clients, including meetings of the Puerto Rico State Rehabilitation Council, for the analysis and exchange of ideas and situations presented by members of agencies and organizations, with the aim of promoting possible changes and/or recommendations in public policy, procedures, and regulatory communications of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration that benefit service consumers during the federal fiscal year 2024–2025.

The State Rehabilitation Council and the CAP submitted recommendations on the following normative communications. These recommendations were accepted by VR; however, as of the date of this report, no amendments have been received.

Unnumbered: Revised procedure for granting salary incentives to employers who hire consumers of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (VRA).

Normative Communication No. 2025-2012: Draft normative communication regarding the procedure to enroll in direct deposit for applicants/consumers of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (VRA).

Unnumbered: Service records involving children or relatives of employees of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration (VRA).

Normative Communication No. 2026-04: Procedure for the exit or closure of cases identified as students with disabilities and for updating their classification.

Normative Communication No. 2026-05: Implementation of St. 25 for the closure of cases with wages below the federal minimum and information on the minimum hourly wage.

Normative Communication No. 2026-06: Procedure for the registration and coding of pre-employment transition services.

Normative Communication No. 2026-09: Update to code 14.1.2.2101 for the payment of stipends to consumers participating in the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration’s Job Clubs.

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. None

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-Protection and Advocacy agency

2. Name of designate agency: Protection and Advocacy Office for People with Disabilities of Puerto Rico

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency:

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions Program Manager (1) – FTE (2 years) 50% of CAP funds
Advocate (1) – FTE (31 years) 100% of CAP funds
Attorney (1) – FTE (29 years) 7% of CAP funds
Attorney (2) – FTE (1 year) 7% of CAP funds

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. Open: April 4, 2025
Gender: Male
Disability: Muscular/Skeletal Impairment
Issue: Delay in provision of VR services

The consumer contacted CAP due to significant delays in receiving recommended assistive devices—specifically, a manual and a motorized wheelchair. CAP requested a report from the counselor and conducted a case review. The attorneys questioned why the wheelchairs had not been provided despite recommendations in the IPE and a realistic employment goal.

Key findings:

The consumer cannot transfer independently due to upper body weakness.

The counselor referred him to physical therapy for strengthening.

The consumer lacked transportation to employment sites; CAP and the ARV social worker helped arrange free state transportation.

Agreements reached:

Consumer will complete physical therapy.

Consumer will coordinate safe transportation.

Manual wheelchair to be provided soon; motorized wheelchair to be provided once physical strengthening is sufficient for employment mobility.

Outcome:
CAP’s intervention not only addressed the consumer’s requests but also provided clear guidance on the VR process. The case remains open until all agreements are fulfilled, the consumer receives the assistive devices, and a suitable employment placement is secured.

Certification

Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.

Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official

I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Full Legal Name of Signer: Nitzie M Sanchez Perez

Certifying Official Title CAP Coordinator

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2025-12-03

OMB Notice

OMB Control Number: 1820-0528, approved for use through 07/31/2023

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (Section 13 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1820-0528. Note: Please do not return the completed form to this address.

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