The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program, run by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), supports academic training grants that are awarded to colleges and universities with undergraduate and graduate programs in the field of rehabilitation. Grantees must direct at least 65 percent of their total project costs to trainee scholarships. The statute requires trainees who receive assistance either to:
- Work two years for every year of assistance in public or private nonprofit rehabilitation or related agencies, including professional corporations or professional practice groups that have service arrangements with a state agency, or
- Pay back the assistance they received.
Grant recipients under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program are required to build closer relationships between training institutions and state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, promote careers in VR, identify potential employers who would meet the trainee’s payback requirements, and ensure that data on the employment of students are accurate.
This grant for institutes of higher education supports students interested in pursuing a master's degree in VR counseling (ALN: 84.129B).
Funds projects that provide scholarships to students pursuing a degree or certificate in applying new tech to rehabilitation services (ALN: 84.129E).
Funds projects to support students pursuing a degree to provide specialized services to those with mental health disorders (ALN: 84.129H).
Trains undergraduate RSA scholars interested in pursuing careers as VR counselors or generalists, and other VR-related careers (ALN: 84.129L).
Funds projects to support students pursuing a degree to provide specialized services to those who are blind or have low vision (ALN: 84.129P).
Funds projects to support students pursuing a degree to provide specialized services to those who are Deaf or hard of hearing (ALN: 84.129Q).
Funds training to currently employed State VR agency personnel, including VR counselors with disabilities (ALN: 84.129W).