A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 325

Supported Employment Projects for Individuals with the Most Severe Disabilities

(CFDA. No. 84.128)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, P.L. 93-112, Title III, Part B, section 311 (c), as amended by P.L. 102-569 and P.L. 103-73 (29 U.S.C. 777a (c)) (expires September 30, 1997).

Purpose: To support grants for special projects and demonstrations to expand or otherwise improve the provision of supported employment (SE) services to individuals with the most severe disabilities and for technical assistance projects. Discretionary grants provide funding for Statewide systems change, community-based and technical assistance projects. Supported employment is competitive work at integrated work sites for individuals with the most severe disabilities for whom competitive employment would have been unlikely. These individuals, because of their disabilities, need intensive ongoing support services in order to perform in a work setting. Awards are made on a competitive basis to public and nonprofit rehabilitation facilities, designated State units, and other public or private agencies and organizations.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Appropriation
1985 4,360,000 1/
1986 8,613,000 1/
1987 9,000,000
1988 9,520,000
1989 9,520,000
1990 9,876,000
1991 10,023,000
1992 10,423,000
1993 10,616,384
1994 10,616,000

1/ Funds were provided under the authority of Title III, Part B, section 311(a)(1), Special Demonstration Program.

II. Program Information and Analysis

Population Targeting

Supported employment projects assist individuals with the most severe disabilities, for whom competitive employment would have been unlikely, to acquire the skills and experience needed to achieve and maintain employment in the community.

Services

State-wide systems-change demonstration projects stimulate the development and provision of supported employment services on a State-wide basis for individuals with the most severe disabilities. Projects may not use their Federal funding for the provision of client services.

The community-based projects stimulate the development of innovative approaches for improving supported employment services to individuals with the most severe disabilities, and enhance local capacity to provide these services. Services authorized under community-based supported employment projects include job search, job development, on-the-job training, job placement, rehabilitation engineering, and time-limited post-employment services.

Technical assistance projects primarily assist States to implement the State Supported Employment Services Program authorized by Title VI, Part C of the Rehabilitation Act.

In FY 1991, 17 new statewide demonstrations were initiated to further the development of supported employment. In FY 1994, 10 additional statewide demonstrations were awarded. A total of 47 States will have received systems-change grants by FY 1995. FY 1993 funds supported 13 new community-based projects, 14 continuing community-based projects, and the final year for 16 State-wide systems-change projects. Support for two technical assistance projects funded in FY 1990 ended in FY 1992. In FY 1994, in addition to 9 new state-wide demonstration project, approximately 20 community-based projects were awarded.

Program Administration

The Rehabilitation Act, as amended in 1992, requires the Commissioner to use one percent of the aggregate funds appropriated for programs authorized in Title II, III, VI, VII, and VIII for minority outreach activities as specified in Section 21 of the Act. In FY 1993, one percent of the funds appropriated for this program were reserved for this purpose. Section 21 also requires grant applicants to demonstrate how they will address the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds. Section 20 requires all programs under the Act to advise individuals receiving or seeking program services, or such individuals' authorized representatives, of the availability and purposes of the Client Assistance Program, under Section 112 of the Act, including information on the means of seeking assistance under such program.

Outcomes

Community-Based Projects: In FY 1989, 12 community-based supported employment services grants were awarded. They received their final year of funding in FY 1991. These projects were instrumental in developing new jobs for individuals with severe handicaps by assisting employers with the removal of architectural barriers, installation of assistive technology, and providing on-the-job training and assistance to co-workers of disabled individuals to develop a support network within the employment setting. Several projects worked with area schools to help students move from school to supported employment. A total of 395 individuals were served by these 12 projects at an average cost per individual of $5,131 to $35,320. The average hourly wage ranged from $3.12 to $6.93 per project. Some of these project designs will be replicated by rehabilitation providers in a variety of settings.

Technical Assistance Projects: In FY 1990, two technical assistance cooperative agreements were awarded for a three-year period to assist State VR agencies to develop and implement the Title VI-C program. The recipients of these agreements were the University of Oregon and Virginia Commonwealth University. The grantees assessed each State's technical assistance needs and then targeted issues unique to each State assigned as their responsibility.

The University of Oregon, responsible for States in Regions V, VII, VIII, IX, and X, reported that in FY 1992, the focus was on State capacity building to expand and sustain supported employment services by addressing structural system issues and barriers to change, including programmatic and budgetary issues. Major ares of technical assistance included: training on job coaching and the use of natural supports; implementation of rural programs; use of assistive technology; unserved groups; and facility roles in supported employment.

Virginia Commonwealth University had a similar focus. Technical assistance was provided in the following major areas: supporting Title III grant managers in orientation, training, project management, and prescriptive problem solving; training on use of Social Security Administration funding authorities of extended services and on use of the psychosocial approach; development of information on pay-for-performance fee systems and assistance to States in reviewing funding approaches; preliminary review and recommendations on State challenge grants used in systems change projects; and development of standards for supported employment programs.

Management Improvement Strategies

Each grant recipient is monitored (through teleconference) twice each year. Each grantee is evaluated on the progress made toward achieving the goals and objectives cited in the grant application. If appropriate, the grantee receives technical assistance in order to meet the stated goals and objectives of the grant application.

III. Sources of Information

  1. The Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 1992 on Supported Employment Activities under Section 311(c) of the Rehabilitation Act, As Amended (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 1993).

  2. Achievements and Challenges: A Five Year Report on the Status of the National Supported Initiatives for the Period 1986-90 ( Richmond, VA: NIDRR Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1992).

  3. Bibliography on Supported Employment, (The Employment Network, University of Oregon, 1993).

  4. Program files.

IV. Planned Studies

None.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:
Fred Isbister, (202) 205-9297

Program Studies:
Lenore Garcia, (202) 401-3630

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