Notice is hereby given that the Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, announces a period of public comment on its proposed Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011 Combined Agency State Plan Attachments. The FFY 2011 begins on October 1, 2010 and ends on September 30, 2011.
The purpose of this period of comment is to provide individuals, advocates, and other interested parties and/or organizations opportunities to present their views and recommendations regarding Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services for persons with disabilities. In Pennsylvania, these services are provided by OVR through a network of 21 District Offices and the Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC).
OVR is required, under law, to develop and implement a Combined Agency State Plan, which must be reviewed and, as necessary, revised annually when there are changes to its VR program. These revisions take the form of updates to existing attachments. The Plan currently in effect is for FFY 2010 and is a compliance document now on file with the Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration and United States Department of Education. It is the blueprint for the provision of VR services to persons with disabilities living in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
This period of public comment allows interested parties an opportunity to provide input regarding Pennsylvania's public VR program. Comment is being solicited regarding the following State Plan attachments: Input and Recommendations of the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council; Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Annual Estimate of Individuals to be Served and Costs of Services; OVR's Goals and Priorities; Order of Selection; Distribution of Supported Employment Funds; and Innovation and Expansion Activities. In addition to the Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan, the agency's Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) will accept public comment on the Business Enterprise Program, Specialized Services for Children and Adults, and Independent Living Services for older persons who are blind, which are unique to their funding.
View list of upcoming scheduled meetings. All meeting sites are accessible and interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be present at each public meeting. For additional information, reasonable accommodation requests, or alternative format requests, please call the OVR District Office conducting the public meeting you wish to attend. If an individual or organization's representative is unable to attend a public meeting, but wishes to provide testimony, written comments may be mailed to the appropriate District Office serving the area in which the individual/organization member resides. All written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
Persons or organizations wishing to obtain a copy of the proposed FFY 2011 Combined Agency State Plan Attachments or other information should call the contact person listed for the appropriate District Office serving their county's geographical area.
A copy of the approved FFY 2010 Combined Agency State Plan Attachments, as well as the proposed FFY 2011 Combined Agency State Plan Attachments, will be available on the OVR website, www.dli.state.pa.us by using "Disability Services" as the Keyword.
Sandi Vito, Secretary
Department Of Labor And Industry
Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council
1902 Market Street Camp Hill, PA 17011
voice: 717-975-2004
toll free: 888-250-5175
fax: 888-524-9282
tty: 888-559-2658
email: racucpca@parac.org