Section 107 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), requires the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to conduct annual reviews and periodic on-site monitoring of programs authorized under Title I of the Act to determine whether a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency is complying substantially with the provisions of its state plan under Section 101 of the Act and with the Evaluation Standards and Performance Indicators established under Section 106. Read the FY 2010 Monitoring Reports.

(December 14, 2010)

Lynnae Ruttledge, commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), will deliver the keynote remarks at the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) conference Wednesday, Nov. 10 in San Diego. Ruttledge will provide an overview on current topics important to state vocational rehabilitation agencies, including reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act and the Rehabilitation Act. She will also provide an overview of the activities that RSA completed in 2010 and an update on state monitoring and program improvement activities planned for 2011.

Her appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive in San Diego. Earlier at the same hotel, Ruttledge will address the Council of State Administrators for Vocational Rehabilitation at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

• Link to Press Advisory

(November 10, 2010)

PD-11-01
Oct. 25, 2010
"RSA-15 - Report of Vending Facility Program"
 MS Word (209K) | PDF (778K)

PD-11-02
Oct. 26, 2010
"Revision of PD-10-03 instructions for completing the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) for the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants Program"
 MS Word (120K) | PDF (1.9M)

PD-11-03
Oct. 26, 2010
"Instructions for completing the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) for other formula grant award programs"
 MS Word (128K) | PDF (1.9M)

(Oct. 29, 2010)

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Research in Briefs provide readers with a summary of research and literature on issues, practices and topics related to the employment of individuals with disabilities, providing the reader with information to facilitate further exploration and study. The three new VR Research in Briefs include:

• Achieving Vocational Success After Traumatic Brain Injury
  
  
• A Partnership in Career Development for People with Disabilities: Collaboration Between Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Families
  
  
• Centers for Youth with Disabilities, Parents, and Professionals Working in Transition and Employment Planning

(October 12, 2010)

IM-10-05 — Announcement of the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s 2010 National Employment Conference has been posted.

(July 15, 2010)

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has developed a Screening Tool for reviewing the FY 2011-2013 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). RSA staff will be using this screening tool internally to review SPILs jointly submitted by State Independent Living Councils (SILCs) and Designated State Units (DSUs). While SILCs and DSUs are not required to use the screening tool, we strongly encourage its use as a self-evaluation check list within your state to determine if the SPIL contains the requisite information prior to submitting it to RSA for review and approval. The screening tool is available as an MS Word document (101K).

(May 17, 2010)

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to announce the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Needs Assessment Guide and its Appendices.

(May 6, 2010)

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to announce that the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Online Training Series, developed by RSA in cooperation with the National Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs, is now available.

(May 5, 2010)

Grantees may find the following documents useful in providing guidance on fiscal matters related to the Basic VR program.

• MOE Presentation
  Presentation made at the Spring 2010 CSAVR Conference
   PDF (263K) | MS Word (51K)

• MATCH Requirement Presentation
  Presentation made at the Spring 2010 CSAVR Conference
   PDF (243K) | MS Word (41K)

• 3rd Party Cooperative Agreements Presentation
  Presentation made at the Fall 2009 CSAVR Conference
   PDF (156K) | MS Word (30K)

Also, you may wish to review the following documents.

• PD-96-01
  "Provision of Financial Assistance to Community Rehabilitation Programs by State VR Agencies Through The Use of the Establishment Authority."
   MS Word (32K) | PDF (12K)

• PD-94-05
  "Obligation Requirements for Formula Grants."
   MS Word (34K) | PDF (23K)

• TAC-02-02
  "Documents to Submit when Requesting a Waiver or Modification of the State's Maintenance of Effort Requirements under the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program."
   MS Word (42K) | PDF (41K)

(April 27, 2010)

Students interested in seeking scholarships should contact the "director" of the grant in which they are interested. A list of scholarship grants can be found in our catalog of training projects. Director names, addresses and phone numbers are included.

(April 27, 2010)

Lynnae M. Ruttledge has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education, on Dec. 24, 2009. Ruttledge had served as the director of the Washington Department of Social and Health Service, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2005. She was responsible for leading Washington’s vocational rehabilitation program, working annually with more than 23,000 individuals with significant disabilities to achieve their vocational goals. Previously, Ruttledge served in leadership positions at the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for more than 17 years. Ruttledge began her public service career in Michigan as a classroom teacher in the public school system. She has received numerous recognitions and awards including serving as a Mary E. Switzer Scholar on Emerging Workforce Issues with the National Rehabilitation Association in 2000 and being honored with the Oregon Governor’s Award as Disabled Oregonian of the Year in 2000 and the Washington Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management in 2007. As a person born with a disability, Ruttledge received assistance from the vocational rehabilitation program and graduated from the Northern Michigan University with a B.S. in Education.

(January 7, 2010)