In performing their responsibilities, staff members:

• identify and develop and maintain a database of technical assistance (TA) resources;

• identify and develop networks of partners in each state made up of consumers, providers, state agency representatives, state rehabilitation councils, statewide independent living councils, federal agencies and any other interested parties that wish to participate in the state teams monitoring and program improvement activities;

• provide technical assistance to state network partners to improve their understanding of the legal and program requirements of the statutes;

• collaborate with the Training and Service Programs Divisions' units to identify resources that will assist grantees in their program improvement efforts;

• provide support to state teams in their efforts to achieve identified improvements in each state;

• provide technical assistance to grantees funding by the Training and Service Programs Division in order to improve the skills of vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals in assisting individuals with disabilities to achieve employment;

• administer funds authorized under Section 12 of the Rehabilitation Act to provide technical assistance and support services to programs funded under the Act;

• administer the Client Assistance Program, the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights, and Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology program;

• administer the Institute on Rehabilitation Research (IRI) and use the IRI training materials to improve the skills of VR professionals and other stakeholders in the public VR programs; and

• participate in interagency workgroups with the Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration in order to fully implement the Workforce Investment Act and to improve the employment of individuals with disabilities.

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