Rehabilitation Act as amended by Public Law 105-220
| Topic |
What
the Law States |
| Title
I |
| Services Provided
and Provider of Services |
Rehabilitation Agencies
State rehabilitation agencies responsible for statewide vocational rehabilitation
programs. Services are provided to people with disabilities based on Individualized
Plan for Employment (IPE). Transition services for youth are an allowable
activity. In accordance with a state plan approved by the federal government,
vocational rehabilitation services are provided through local offices
of state agencies and through community-based organizations, often referred
to as community rehabilitation programs, under contractual arrangements
with the state agencies. Transition services are often provided through
cooperative agreements between state and local school and college districts
and systems and the vocational rehabilitation agency. |
| Eligibility Requirements
and Age of Youth Covered |
To be eligible for vocational rehabilitation
services, an individual must: have a physical or mental impairment that
results in a substantial impediment to employment; be able to benefit
from receiving vocational rehabilitation services; and require vocational
rehabilitation services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment.
There are no statutory age requirements under the vocational rehabilitation
program. For transition services, the regulations encourage agencies to
work with students as early as possible. |
| Title
V, Section 504 and Section 508 |
| Services Provided and Provider
of Services |
Section 504 states
that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States
shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial
assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States
Postal Service.” Each Federal agency has its own set of section
504 regulations that apply to its own programs. Agencies that provide
Federal financial assistance also have section 504 regulations covering
entities that receive Federal aid. These regulations include reasonable
accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility;
effective communication with people who have hearing or vision disabilities;
and accessible new construction and alterations. Each agency is responsible
for enforcing its own regulations.
Section 508 requires that Federal
agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people
with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. Section
508 establishes requirements for any electronic and information technology
developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. Section
508 requires Federal departments and agencies that develop, procure, maintain,
or use electronic and information technology to ensure that Federal employees
and members of the public with disabilities have access to and use of
information and data, comparable to that of the employees and members
of the public without disabilities–unless it is an undue burden
to do so. Section 508 standards are technical specifications and performance-based
requirements, which focus on the functional capabilities covered by technologies.
|
| Eligibility Requirements and
Age of Youth Covered |
N/A
|
| Title
VI, Part B |
| Services Provided
and Provider of Services |
Supported Employment Programs
VR state agencies develop collaborative programs to provide supported
employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities.
|
| Eligibility Requirements
and Age of Youth Covered |
Individuals with the most significant disabilities.
Age not specified; for transition services, the regulations encourage
agencies to work with students as early as possible.
|
| Title
VII, Chapter 1, Part B |
| Services Provided
and Provider of Services |
Independent Living Centers
Independent Living Centers help people with disabilities maximize opportunities
to live independently in the community.
Centers can provide employment related support to individuals but actual
training or education is typically not provided. |
| Eligibility Requirements
and Age of Youth Covered |
Centers set their own age requirements. |
.