REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 REPORT ON FEDERAL ACTIVITIES UNDER THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 REPORT ON FEDERAL ACTIVITIES UNDER THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED OCTOBER 2019 OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION U.S. Department of Education Betsy DeVos Secretary Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Johnny W. Collett Assistant Secretary Rehabilitation Services Administration Mark Schultz Commissioner October 2019 This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. 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CONTENTS Contents ..................................................................................................................................................... iii Figures ........................................................................................................................................................ v Tables .......................................................................................................................................................... vi Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................. viii Preface ....................................................................................................................................................... x The Rehabilitation Act: An Overview ................................................................................................. 1 Programs under The Rehabilitation Act ............................................................................................ 3 Employment Programs .......................................................................................................................... 5 Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program ............................................................................ 5 Supported Employment Services Program ............................................................................. 21 Licensing and Operation of Blind Vendors under the Randolph-Sheppard Act .......... 24 American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program .......................................... 26 Demonstration and Training Programs .................................................................................... 30 Independent Living Program .............................................................................................................. 34 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program ................. 34 Technical Assistance, Training, and Support ................................................................................ 35 Capacity-Building for Traditionally Underserved Populations ........................................... 36 Rehabilitation Training Program ................................................................................................. 37 Institute on Rehabilitation Issues ............................................................................................... 44 Evaluation, Research, and Information Dissemination .............................................................. 45 The National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials .................................... 45 Advocacy and Enforcement ............................................................................................................... 47 Client Assistance Program ........................................................................................................... 47 Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Program ...................................................... 50 Programs under the Rehabilitation Act Not Administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration ........................................................................................ 52 Employment of People With Disabilities .................................................................................. 52 Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board ........................................... 53 REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 PAGE iii Electronic and Information Technology .................................................................................... 54 Employment under Federal Contracts ...................................................................................... 55 Nondiscrimination in Programs that Receive Federal Financial Assistance................. 55 National Council on Disability ...................................................................................................... 56 Independent Living Services Program ..................................................................................... 56 Centers for Independent Living Program ................................................................................. 57 References .............................................................................................................................................. 59 Appendix A .............................................................................................................................................. 60 Appendix B .............................................................................................................................................. 69 REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 PAGE iv FIGURES Figure 1. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by its various titles ........................ 1 Figure 2. Evaluation Standard 1: Performance of vocational rehabilitation agencies, by the percentage that met four or more performance indicators or did not meet a minimum of four: FY 2015 and FY 2016 ............... 15 Figure 3. Number of individuals with disabilities who applied for or participated in the 80 vocational rehabilitation agencies, by factor: FYs 2015 and 2016 ........ 18 Figure 4. Number of vocational rehabilitation program participants achieving employment outcomes after receiving services, by year: FYs 2007–2016 .................................................................................................................. 19 REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 PAGE v TABLES Table 1. Evaluation Standard 1: Number of vocational rehabilitation agencies that met or did not meet each performance indicator in Standard 1: FY 2016 ................................................................................................................................ 13 Table 2. Evaluation Standard 2: Number of vocational rehabilitation agencies, by performance level, serving individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds: FY 2016 ..................................................................................................... 17 Table 3. Number and percentage of individuals with and without significant disabilities obtaining employment after exiting vocational rehabilitation, by year: FY 2007–2016 .................................................................................................... 20 Table 4. The target and actual percentages of individuals with the most significant disabilities who had a supported employment goal and achieved a competitive employment outcome under the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants program, the Supported Employment State Grants program, or both, by year: FYs 2010–2016 ................................................. 23 Table 5. Target for and actual average weekly earnings of individuals with the most significant