The Rehabilitation Services Administration of the United States Department of Education announced this week that $251 million will be awarded to 27 businesses around the country. The money is being awarded as part of the Disability Innovation Fund program.
According to officials, this is the agency’s largest expenditure in competitive grants for vocational rehabilitation. The funding will be used to create, implement, evaluate, refine, and disseminate new or improved models.
Grants were awarded for projects in several priority areas. Areas include using advanced technology to help disabled people competitive integrated employment, assisting disabled youth who are involved with the justice system in finding work, and reintegrating disconnected individuals with disabilities into the workforce.
Officials stated that all initiatives should be structured in such a way that others can readily adopt them.
According to the Rehabilitation Services Administration, over 200 applications were submitted for the program. Five-year grants ranging from $5.7 million to more than $10 million will be awarded to institutions of higher education, charities, and governmental agencies in 16 states, Washington, D.C., and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
“These model demonstration projects represent the most advanced efforts in the country to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the workforce, now and into the future — no matter the disability, no matter the aspiration,” said Glenna Wright-Gallo, assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. “We are excited to see the outcomes of these programs and the many meaningful employment opportunities they will provide to individuals with disabilities.”
This funding comes as many vocational rehabilitation programs aren’t meeting their goals. In Georgia, fewer and fewer people who sought help through the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency found work. Those who found work were frequently placed into jobs as fast-food workers, janitors, stockers, and cashiers.
Federal officials discovered that the GVRA did not “prioritize the employment rate” among its participants.” Nor did the organization do much to encourage people to pursue vocational training or attend college, according to a March study.
Unsurprisingly, from July 2021 to June 2022, Georgia had the lowest employment rate among program participants, at 21.5%. The following year, it improved marginally. However, the employment rate remained among the country’s worst.
For more than a decade, vocational rehabilitation agencies nationwide have been plagued with similar problems. Wendy Thompson of Queens, NY, always knew she wanted her son to attend college. Still, she had no idea how many people would disagree with her. Her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. In 2013, he received his high school diploma.
When Thompson met with a counselor from the local vocational rehabilitation office, the counselor refused to sign off on her son’s plan to attend community college. As a result, he would not receive voice-activated software, wheelchair-accessible transportation, or tuition assistance for which he was eligible under federal law.
In another instance, a VR counselor in Ohio believed that a woman with spina bifida could not handle college and turned down her request for assistance. She completed her associate’s degree. When she returned to the VR office to seek assistance for a bachelor’s degree, she was again denied assistance.
It took a lengthy appeal, but she eventually won. Subsequently, she received the help she needed. She graduated two years later and got a job as a social worker.
According to federal data, more than 800,000 disabled people who were eligible for services did not receive support between 2010 and 2014. Over a dozen states failed to offer services to more than 40% of qualified people.
Vocational rehabilitation agencies across the country struggle due to a lack of funding. After adjusting for inflation, federal funding for VR has decreased by 6% since 2009. In addition, 21 states did not provide enough state money in 2015 to receive the full amount of federal matching funds.
Vocational rehabilitation agencies are a fantastic concept. However, due to budget constraints and staff turnover, many people are unable to receive services. Hopefully, the Disability Innovation Fund will allow more disabled people to have access to vocational services.
Sources:
Diament, Michelle. “Millions Earmarked to Boost Disability Employment.” Disability Scoop, Disability Scoop, 12 Sept. 2024, http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/09/12/millions-earmarked-to-boost-disability-employment/31056/.
Kolodner, Meredith. “Problems Plague Vocational Rehabilitation.” Disability Scoop, Disability Scoop, 21 Sept. 2016, https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/09/21/problems-plague-voc-rehab/22777/.
Landergan, Katherine. “How a ‘broken’ Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Failed Disabled People.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cox Enterprises, 25 July 2024, http://www.ajc.com/news/investigations/how-a-broken-georgia-vocational-rehabilitation-agency-failed-disabled-people/ZY26EGBVPBHLPFLZOBGLT6KCXY/.