Rehabilitation Act

Rehabilitation Act: Finding Three

“ ... Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to...

(A) live independently.
(B) enjoy self-determination.
(C) make choices.
(D) contribute to society.
(E) pursue meaningful careers, and
(F) enjoy full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural and educational mainstream of American society.”

Rehabilitation Act 1992 Amendments

• Employment outcome/rehab potential replaced
• Assistive Technology and PAS added
• Facility replaced with CRP
• Extended Services
• Choice and consumer empowerment
• State Rehabilitation Advisory Council
• Presumption of Eligibility

Rehabilitation Act 1998 Amendments

• Streamlined and simplified state requirements.
• Strengthened and expanded choice provisions. Emphasis on self-employment, telecommuting, and business ownership.
• Streamlined and renamed IWRP, now individual plan of employment (IPE).
• Added more flexibility in individual’s design of plan, with or without outside assistance, subject to sign-off by the rehabilitation counselor.
• Requires information and referral services required for all in states with order of selection.
• Requires stronger cooperative agreements with other agencies jointly providing employment services, especially education and One Stop Centers.
• Expanded due process provisions include voluntary mediation.

In 2000 the Department of Education redefined the term “employment outcome” for programs funded under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act to exclude extended employment as a 26 closure. This means people funded by VR cannot be closed as “successfully rehabilitated” in a sheltered or segregated program.