Opportunity to comment on State VR Plan

The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation provides individualized services to enhance and support people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain or retain employment. Through active participation in their rehabilitation, people with disabilities achieve a greater level of independence in their work place and living environments.

Vocational/Habilitation Options

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) - provides comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient and accountable services needed by eligible individuals with disabilities to prepare for, enter, engage in and retain employment consistent with each individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities and informed choice.

• Supported Employment (SE) - individuals with the most severe disabilities are placed in competitive jobs with qualified job coaches/trainers to provide individualized, ongoing support services needed for each individual to retain employment. The employer is contacted monthly and the employee is visited twice monthly, either at or away from the workplace, to address any issues that may threaten the individual's ability to remain on the job.

• Independent Living (IL) Services - promotes a philosophy of independent living including consumer control, peer support, self help, self determination, equal access and individual and system advocacy, to maximize the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in community leadership, empowerment, independence and productivity.

You can read all of the attachments associated with this announcement at the IN.gov calendar

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services invites the public to share comments regarding the annual revisions to the State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Five public hearings will be held. The dates, times, and locations are listed below.

INDIANAPOLIS

May 22, 2008, Thursday

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Indiana Historical Society

Multi-Purpose Room

450 W. Ohio St.

Indianapolis, IN 46202

SOUTH BEND

May 22, 2008, Thursday

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

St. Joseph County Public Library

Dickinson Conference Room

304 S. Main Street

South Bend, IN 46601

FORT WAYNE

May 16, 2008, Friday

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

League for the Blind and Disabled

Meeting Room A

5621 S. Anthony Boulevard

Fort Wayne, IN 46816

BLOOMINGTON

May 30, 2008, Friday

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

IVY Tech Community College of Indiana

Room A 209

200 Daniels Way

Bloomington, IN 47404

SELLERSBURG

May 23, 2008, Friday

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

IVY Tech Community College of Indiana

Room P-1

8204 Highway 311

Sellersburg, IN 47172

Individuals interested in providing comments about the annual revisions to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services State Plan should prepare their comments in writing, if possible. Individuals unable to attend any of the public hearings are encouraged to e-mail their comments to kathy.sodeman@fssa.in.gov or send their comments by mail to: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, MS 20, P.O. Box 7083, Indianapolis, Indiana 46207-7083. Comments may also be sent via FAX to (317) 232-6478. Comments must be received by Monday, June 9, 2008.

To obtain copies of the revised State Plan documents, you may contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Services area office nearest you, or you may contact the central office via e-mail to Kathy.Sodeman@fssa.in.gov or by phone at (317) 232-1350, (317) 232-1367 or 1-800-545-7763, extension 2-1350 or 2-1367. The documents are available in alternative formats upon request.