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This Month the NCRTM Features...
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Of particular interest to general audiences
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The U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to announce a notice inviting applications on April 5, 2023, for the Disability Innovation Fund, Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project (Pathways to Partnerships), Assistance Listing Number 84.421E. The application deadline is June 5, 2023.
As children and youth with disabilities move through the school system, many do not have exposure to self-advocacy training, careers, and independent living opportunities. This historical funding opportunity advances a key goal of the Biden-Harris Administration to pave a clear and robust path to independent living and competitive integrated employment as children and youth with disabilities transition from high school to postsecondary endeavors.
Learn more about applications for improving pre-employment transition services for youth with disabilities.
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The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) announces a new video about the Disability Innovation Fund, Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project (Pathways to Partnerships), Assistance Listing Number 84.421E. The video shares the history of the DIF program, the goals of the Pathways to Partnerships project, and messages from key Federal change agents at the U.S. Department of Education and Administration for Community Living (ACL) leadership about this exciting funding opportunity.
The Pathways to Partnerships project advances a key Biden-Harris Administration goal—strengthening the economic security of Americans with disabilities. Securing an appropriate education, including transition services that lead to career exploration and competitive integrated employment (CIE), is a critical component that youth and adults with disabilities need to maximize their independence and integration into the community, while also ensuring that key agents of change and required partners are actively collaborating to support coordinated transition processes is critical to the success of children and youth with disabilities.
Visit the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM)’s RSA Discretionary Grant Information page to access the Federal Register Notice Inviting Applications, Pre-Application Meeting Registration details, a Pre-Application PowerPoint Presentation, and other Pathways to Partnerships grant competition information.
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The new NCRTM Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Programs page offers a history of each iteration of DIF programs, as well as exciting information about new DIF programs. Products and results from current and past programs help users understand the impact DIF programs have on improving the educational and employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities.
Visit the new page and follow NCRTM on Twitter to learn more about DIF programs.
Feedback on the page is encouraged and can be submitted via the NCRTM Feedback Survey. In addition, questions and suggestions can be submitted via the NCRTM Contact Us form.
The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) is maintained by New Editions Consulting, Inc. and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), under Contract No. 91990021C0033.
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The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is seeking qualified peer reviewers for our upcoming grant competition, Disability Innovation Fund - Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project, Assistance Listing Number 84.421E. In support of this upcoming competition, we are seeking qualified individuals who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Developing, administrating, or supporting innovative activities aimed at increasing Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) as defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) (29 U.S.C.);
- State vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs), State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and federally funded Centers for Independent Living (CILs);
- Creation of systemic approaches to transition services for children and youth with disabilities; and/or
- Coordinating transition processes for children and youth with disabilities.
Peer Review submissions are strongly encouraged by Friday, May 12, 2023, for potential panels in FY 2023. Peer Review submissions will continue to be accepted after May 12 for potential panels in future fiscal years.
Read more about the call for peer reviewers for the Disability Innovation Fund- Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project, Assistance Listing Number 84.421E.
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Of particular interest to general audiences
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April is Autism Acceptance Month. The recognition raises awareness about autism acceptance and promotes inclusion and connectedness for people with autism.
Resources for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Family Members
Resources for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals
Resources for Business
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Of particular interest to VR leaders, managers, administrators, and counselors
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In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) published a notice in the Federal Register today proposing to extend with revisions the Case Service Report (RSA-911) (OMB Control #: 1820-0508) for an additional three-year period. The current RSA-911 expires on May 31, 2024, which occurs during Program Year (PY) 2023. If this RSA-911 revision is approved, VR agencies will collect and report data under this collection for Program Years 2024 through 2026.
The public may comment on this proposal through June 20, 2023, and view related documents, including the proposed revisions to the RSA-911 and supporting statement, at regulations.gov.
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State Rehabilitation Councils are vital components of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system. In addition to reviewing, evaluating, and advising VR agencies, they ensure that the voices of the community of stakeholders are heard as agencies develop and implement their policies and procedures. The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to issue Technical Assistance Circular, RSA-TAC-23-02, Federal Requirements Governing the Composition and Membership of, and Appointments to, the State Rehabilitation Councils. Through this TAC 23-02, RSA reissues the guidance from TAC 12-01, addresses a technical change related to the membership of the representative of the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services projects, and clarifies the appointment of, and term limits for, the director of VR agencies.
Please contact your RSA State Liaison with questions.
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The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) notifies State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies that the 60-day comment period for the Grant Reallotment Form (RSA–692) (OMB Control Number: 1820-0692) began on March 30, 2023, and concludes on May 30, 2023. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, RSA provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on the proposed information collection request (ICR). State VR agencies and other stakeholders may submit public comments related to the proposed ICR through the Federal Register Notice. The docket number is ED–2023–SCC–0054.
Read the announcement of the 60-day notice for the grant reallotment for (RSA-692) in the Federal Register.
Comments close on May 30, 2023, through regulations.gov.
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Prospective applicants who are interested in applying for discretionary grants funded through the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) are encouraged to view the RSA Discretionary Grants Page. Important updates were made to the General Information for RSA Discretionary Grant Competitions slide deck including the new General Education Provisions Act (GEPA): Section 427 Form.
New and returning applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with instructions, requirements, technical assistance materials, and other relevant resources to assist in the grantmaking process. This information will not be repeated in pre-application documents for specific competitions.
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Of particular interest to general audiences
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Below are a few of the new products added to the NCRTM library this month.
The NCRTM library allows users to subscribe to receive monthly updates of all new library content that has been added within the last 30 days. Stay up to date by subscribing to monthly NCRTM library updates.
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Of particular interest to general audiences
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Are you a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) looking for continuing education credits? If so, the NCRTM training and events page makes locating qualifying training easy. A new filtering feature has been added so users can sort available upcoming and on-demand training by CRC credit availability. Filtering options are located on the left side of the screen. Visit the NCRTM training and events page to try the new feature and locate training and events of interest.
Visit NCRTM to find more upcoming, on-demand, and past events.
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Of particular interest to individuals with disabilities and their families, VR counselors, Tribal VR, service providers, and educators
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released new labor force characteristics for individuals with disabilities in 2022.
Highlights from the 2022 data:
- Half of all persons with a disability were age 65 and over, nearly three times larger than the share for those with no disability.
- Across all age groups, persons with a disability were much less likely to be employed than those with no disability.
- The unemployment rate for persons with a disability was about twice as high as the rate for persons without a disability.
- In 2022, 30 percent of workers with a disability were employed part-time, compared with 16 percent for those with no disability. (See table 2 in the full press release.)
- Employed persons with a disability were more likely to be self-employed than those with no disability.
Read the full press release to learn more about disability employment in the United States.
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Of particular interest to individuals with disabilities and their family members, VR counselors, Tribal VR, and service providers
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VRTAC-QM recently launched a new episode of the Manager Minute podcast. On this episode, Scott Dennis, Assistant Superintendent of the Maryland Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS), joins Carol Pankow to share how Maryland DORS increased recruitment and decreased resignations by raising salaries to compete in the regional job market. Learn how they opened the door and proved the case.
Access the latest episode and full transcript to learn how they opened the door and proved the case. VRTAC-QM Manager Minute: See how persistence pays off for employee pay increases - Scott Dennis Maryland Combined.
Stay up to date by following VRTAC-QM on Facebook and on Twitter @VRTAC_QM.
VRTAC-QM (PR/Award Number H264J200002) is a grant funded by RSA.
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