Table Of ContentDOCUMENT RESUME
EC 301 052
ED 343 366
Annual Report of the Rehabilitation Services
TITLE
Administration to the President and to the Congress
on Federal Activities Related to the Administration
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended. Fiscal
Year 1990.
Retnt,Jlitation Services Administration (ED),
INSTITUTION
Wai;linr*ton, DC.
ED/OSERS-91-20
REPORT NO
PUB DATE
91
NOTE
505p.
Reports - Descriptive (141) -- Statistical Data (110)
PUB TYPE
MF02/PC21 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Demonstration Programs;
DESCRIPTORS
Compliance (Legal'
*Disabilities; Employment; Federal Aid; *Federal
Legislation; Government Role; Grants; Independent
Living; Information Centers; Migrant Workers; Program
Evaluation; Recreation; *Rehabilitation; Supported
Empioyment; *Vocational Rehabilitation
Americans with Disabilities Act 1990; *Rehabilitation
IDENTIFIERS
Act 1973
ABSTRACT
This annual report describes activities under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) from October 1, 1989, through
September 20, 1990. The report presents activities by each section
under General Provisions and by each of seven Titles. An executive
summary highlights specific activities. These include; continuation
of Rehati2.itation Services Administration priorities; publication of
"American Rehabilitation"; program evaluation activities; activities
of the Clearinghouse on Disability Infor-ation; revision of the
program monitoring system; the Client Assistance Program; the
American Indian program; activities of the National Institute on
Disability anti Rehabilitation Research; rehabilitation training;
supported employment demonstration projects; vocational
rehabilitation services to handicapped migratory and seasonal
farmwcrkers; special recreation programs for individuals with
handicaps; the National Council on Disability; employment of peopl
with disabilities in the federal government; the Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; the Offic2 of Federal
Contract Compliance Programs; nondiscrimination activities; the
Interagency Coordinating Council; the Projects with Industry Program;
the Supported Employment Program; the State Comprehensive Services
for Independent Living Program; Centers for Independent Living; and
independent living services for older blind individuals. Nine
appendices provide additional detail. (DB)
***********************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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Annual Report
of the
Rehabilitation
Services Administration
on
(
Federal ActiviOves Related to the Administration
of
the Lhabiiitation
Act of 1973, as Amended
United States
Department of Education
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Services Administration
Rehabilitation
FOREWORD
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) entered the
first year of a new decade with new leadership,
new priorities, and
a renewed commitment to the State-Federal vocational rehabilitation
program which provides essential rehabilitation services and
opportunities to individuals with disabilities.
This report
provides a comprehensive description of the activities of RSA
during Fiscal Year (FY) 1990. The report also contains information
on the activities of the other Feder-141 agencies responsible for
administering sections of the Act.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended,
provides the legislative basis for programs and
activities to assist individuals with disabilities in the pursuit
cf employment, independence and integration into the community.
This report describes our successes in meeting the mandates of the
Act.
Many new and innovative strategies for programs and services
were developed ard implemented in FY 1990.
A stronger monitoring
system
was
place
put
assure
compliance
in
to
with
the
Rehabilitation Act and related regulations.
The development of a
new RSA Policy Manual was begun in 1990 and will provide direction
to grantees.
A revised system for developing and issuing policy
was established.
RSA implemented a five-year strategic management
plan to provide the framework for future priorities.
Consumers,
rehabilitation professionals, rehabilitation educators, services
providers, parents and advocates continue to have a strong role and
input in RSA's planning and activities.
In 1990, landmark legislation was passed that assures the
rights of individuals with disabilities. RSA is strongly committed
to
assisting
Americans
implementation
the the
with
of
in
Disabilities Act (ADA).
RSA is working to ensure that individuals
with disabilities are aware of their rights under the ADA and that
employers and the public are aware of their responsibilities to
assure nondiscrimination on the basis of disability.
RSA is committed to providing programs that help provide
opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in
mainstream
the
through
society
increased
employment
and
of
With the implementation of the Americans with
independence.
Disabilities Act, the rights of these individuals are assured.
With our continued hard work, we can bring about significant
changes in society to enhance the lives and independence of
individuals with disabilities.
C. Carney
Nel
CONTENTS
Page
Executive Summary
1
General Provisions
Sections 3 and 12
- Office of the Commissioner
12
Section 12(a) (4) - American Rehabilitation Magazine
15
Section 14
- Evaluation
17
Section 15 - Office of Information and Resources
for the Handicapped (Information Clearinghouse)
21
.
.
.
Title I
Sections 100-111
- The Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Program
22
Caseload Trends
25
Resolution of Applicant/Client Appeals
28
Employment
Post
Services
and
Annual
Reviews
of
Ineligibility Determinations and Workshop Placements
30
Characteristics of Rehabilitated Clients
32
Comparison of Economic Gains Achieved: Persons with Severe
and Nonsevere Disabilities
37
Section 112 - Client Assistance Program
46
Section 130 - American Indian Rehabilitation Services
Projects
49
Title II
Section 200 - National Institute of Disability and
Rehabilitation Research
51
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
52
.
. .
Rehabilitation Engineering Centers
52
Field Initiated Research Grants Program
53
Research and Demonstration Projects
54
Mary Switzer Fellowship Program
54
Research Utilization and Dissemination Projects
54
.
.
Research Training and Career Develoccment
55
.
.
.
.
Innovation Grants
56
International Programs
56
Spinal Cord Injury Program (See also Title III)
56
. .
Technology Assistance
57
Small Business Innovative Research Program
57
Interagency Agreements
58
Title III
Section 304 - Rehabilitation Training
59
Section 311(a) (1) - Special Demonstration Projects:
VR Services for Individuals with Severe Handicaps
64
.
Head Injury Centers
66
68
Services Projects
Supported Employment
69
Technical Assistance
Supported Employment
71
Section 312 - Migratory Workers
72
Recreation Programs
Section 316 - Special
Title IV
74
Council on Disability
Section 400 - The National
.
Title V
78
Handicapped Individuals
Section 501 - Employment of
.
Barriers
and Transportation
Section 502 - Architectural
80
Compliance Board
84
under Federal Contracts .
Section 503 - Employment
.
under Federal Grants
Section 504 - Nondiscrimination
87
and Programs
95
Coordinating Council
Section 507 - Interagency
Title VI
97
Industry
Section 621 - Projects With
106
Services
Section 631 - Supported Employment
Title VII
Services for
Section 701 - Comprehensive
109
Independent Living
112
Independent Living
Section 711 - Centers for
Blind
Living Services for Older
Section 721 - Independent
121
Individuals
APPENDICES
Glossary of Terms
A.
123
Financial Tables
B.
127
Historical National Trends and Detailed Current
C.
Activity, by State agency
136
Historical National Trends
136
Detailed Current Activity by State Agency, FY
1989
136
Characteristics of Persons Rehabilitated and
D.
Reasons for Closure
239
Post-employment Services and Annual Review of
E.
Ineligibility Determinations and
Workshop Placements
272
Client Assistance Program
276
F.
Client and Applicant Appeals
288
G.
Comprehensive Services for Independent Living
296
H.
. .
.
Services to and Outcomes for Persons
I.
with Severe Disabilities and Persons
with Nonsevere Disabilities
304
a r
y
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report to the President and to the Congress is required
by Section 13 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the
Act).
The report describes activities under the Act from October
1989 through September 30,
The report is organized
1990.
1,
following the titles and sections in the Act.
The appendices
the Act and
from various
contain
data
required
reports
in
Summaries of the data in the appendices and their
regulations.
import are included in the body of the report where appropriate.
This executive summary contains brief information about the
programs reported on and some highlights of what will be found in
the various sections of the report.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections 3 and 12
Office of the Commissioner
The Act makes the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) the principal Federal official responsible for
administration of
State-Federal vocational rehabilitation
the
evaluating
programs
system,
under
funded
the
the
Act,
and
monitoring discretionary grant program grantees and the State
Rehabilitation
Vocational
execution
agencies'
of State
(VR)
responsibilities under the Act.
RSA's central and ten regional
offices provide technical assistance and leadership to assist
States and other grantees in strengthening programs providing
services to individuals with handicaps, especially individuals with
severe handicaps.
Commissioner Nell C. Carney completed her first full year of
administration in FY 1990 and continued the four priorities for RSA
that she established upon her appointment.
These priorities are:
Responsible implementation of the Rehabilitation Act,
o
as
amended;
RSA policy reform;
o
Strong internal management; and
o
Building nationwide constituency relations.
o
Section 12(a)(4)
American Rehabilitation Magazine
Publication of American Rehabilitation is an ongoing activity
Three issues were published in FY
under this section of the Act.
1
Fifteen different topics were
1990 reaching about 15,000 readers.
addressed in addition to reqular features.
Section 14
Evaluation
Federal Funds $988,000
Commissioner evaluate
Section 14 of the Act mandates that the
their effectiveness in relation
all programs authorized by the Act,
and their
their impact on related programs,
to their cost,
using
services,
of
delivery
for
mechanisms
and
structure
It
design.
evaluative research
appropriate methodology and
the evaluations
requires that standards be established and used for
corducted by persons not immediately
and that the evaluations be
project being
involved in the administration of the program or
evaluated.
Section 15
Handicapped
the
for
Resources
and
Information
Office
of
(Clearinghouse on Disability Information)
Disability Information responds
to
The Clearinghouse on
are
emphasis
of
areas
Major
disability.
about
inquiries
special
information on Federal funding and federally-supported
projects;
research
disability
and
rehabilitation,
education,
and
disabilities;
with
legislation affecting persons
Federal
The Clearinghouse
identification of other information resources.
telephone inquiries
responded to 4,334 written requests and 1,022
during FY 1990.
TITLE I
Sections 100-111
Services Program
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Federal Funds $1,524,677,000
formula grant
The Act authorizes Federal allocations on a
Except for the costs of
requirement.
basis, with a State matching
where the match is
50
constructing rehabilitation facilities
is 20 percent of the amount
percent, the State matching share
Beginning in FY 1989, any increased
allotted to the State in 1988.
its 1988 allotment is matched at an
amount a State receives above
five years.
additional 1 percent per year for
continued to be placed on the
Program emphasis in FY 1990
formula and discretionary
revision of the monitoring system for all
rehabilitation facilities; and
grantees; technical assistance to
findings from the evaluation
planning for the implementation of
with long-term mental illness.
study on services to individuals
2
L
