What's New in RSA

RSA, in partnership with State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and stakeholders across the country, administers programs that assist nearly one million individuals with disabilities each year through the State VR Services and the State Supported Employment Services programs. Through this partnership, RSA supports State VR agencies as they maximize opportunities for individuals with disabilities to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in, or regain employment that is consistent with their unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

In July 2019, RSA issued this infographic that highlights positive trends related to the employment outcomes that individuals served by the VR program achieved in Federal fiscal years 2017 and 2018. In January 2020, RSA issued a second infographic illustrating more positive trends in the VR program related to the number of VR program participants who earned Measurable Skill Gains in Program Years 2017 and 2018 as well as the number of students with disabilities who received pre-employment transition services in the same timeframe. Both infographics also showcase the number of employment outcomes in the VR program under the current Administration.

The Department issued the document Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Prior Approval — OSEP and RSA Formula Grants. This document is non-binding and does not create or impose new legal requirements. The Department is issuing it in this document on an “interim” basis to provide grantees with immediate information to assist them in meeting their obligations under Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. We intend to publish this further and invite public comments.

Beginning in the spring of 2019, RSA, CSAVR, NCSAB, and State VR agencies committed to rethinking the way we look at the performance of the VR program, improving results, and maintaining high expectations of both the VR program and individuals with disabilities.

Through several meetings with the ReThink VR Performance Workgroup in the summer and fall of 2019, RSA identified strategies it will adopt to rethink how RSA fosters continuous improvement, enhances collaboration, and maximizes high-quality employment opportunities for customers served by the VR program.

During the CSAVR Fall 2019 Conference, RSA presented its plan for ReThink VR Performance outlining goals and specific actions across five priority areas identified in this initiative. Please visit the CSAVR Fall 2019 Conference webpage to view the presentation.

The Department issued a Questions and Answers document (Q&A), with an accompanying Appendix, on 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.

Mark Allan Schultz, most recently a deputy commissioner at the Nebraska Department of Education, will lead the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). RSA assists states and other agencies in their work to provide vocational rehabilitation and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market.

Read more on the OSERS Blog.

On May 16, 2019, the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor issued a technical assistance resource titled Collaboration Opportunities: WIOA Youth and Vocational Rehabilitation Programs. This resource is intended to provide a high-level overview of these two programs and improve coordination of workforce preparation activities and employment services between these two core programs. The document offers strategies and resources to increase collaboration between the State and local agencies under these two programs, as well as program providers, so they may more effectively serve youth with disabilities.

On May 6, 2019, RSA issued PD-19-03 including the revised Case Service Report (RSA-911) for implementation beginning in Program Year (PY) 2020, beginning July 1, 2020. PD-16-04 remains in effect for PY 2018 and PY 2019. RSA also posted the Case Service Report (RSA-911) Correction Procedures. This technical assistance resource outlines the options available to State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies to correct information reported on the RSA-911 when errors in data collection or reporting are identified.

On May 3, 2019, the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor made available to the public workforce development system the State Wage Interchange System (SWIS) Data Sharing Agreement. To review the SWIS Agreement, SWIS Background Information, and an Informational Webcast, please visit the Innovation and Opportunity Network (ION).

WIOA requires States to submit an annual statewide performance report, including information on levels of performance achieved with respect to the primary indicators of performance. For Program Year (PY) 2017, State VR agencies reported some of this information to RSA for the first time under WIOA. PY 2017 data only includes performance for the Measurable Skill Gains indicator for the VR program because this was the only primary indicator for which data were available for reporting in PY 2017. To view each State report and the national summary for the VR program, please visit WIOA Annual Reports (PY 2017).