BRIEF LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE REHAB ACT

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BRIEF LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE REHAB ACT

• 1920 -- Smith Fess Act
• Considered the beginning of the Public VR Program
• Allocated monies for vocational guidance,
  training, occupational adjustment, prosthetics,
  and placement

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Brief History

• 1936 Randolph Sheppard Act
• Provided individuals who were blind with
  opportunity to operate vending stands in Federal
  buildings.
• Individual had to be licensed to become a
  Randolph Sheppard operator.

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Brief History

• 1943 -- Vocational Rehabilitation Amendments of
  1943
• Expanded services to include physical restoration
• Required States to submit a written state plan to
  the Federal government
• Expanded provisions to include the provision of
  VR services to individuals with mental
  retardation and mental illness

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Brief History

• Vocational Rehabilitation Amendments of 1954
• Made significant changes in the funding of the
  Public VR Program
• Created funding formula that considers state
  population and per capita income.
• Created project grant programs for research and
  demonstrations
• Created provision by which Federal government
  provided monies to train staff for VR Agencies

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Brief History

• Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1965
• Eliminated the provision which required that an
  individual have a economic need for services
• Expanded services to reach a broader population
  such as
• Individuals with a substance abuse
• Individuals with a socially handicapping
  condition

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Brief History

• 1973 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Created the mandate for Public VR Program to
  serve individuals with severe disabilities
• Created Affirmative Act Programs in Title
  VSections 501, 502, 503, and 504
• 501 Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in
  Federal Employment
• 502 Empowers the Architectural and Transportation
  Barriers Compliance Board (ATBCB) to enforce
  accessibility standards for Federal bldgs.
• 503 Requires contractors to comply with
  affirmative action requirements
• 504 Requires entities that accept Federal funding
  must not discriminate against individuals with
  disabilities in programs.

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Brief History

• Established the Individualized Written
  Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) to ensure that the
  consumer be involved in the development of the
  rehabilitation process.

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Brief History

• Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1978
• Created the IL Program and the establishment of
  IL Centers
• Concepts of Peer Counseling, Advocacy emerged

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Brief History

• Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986
• Concept of Supported Employment as a viable VR
  outcome was introduced as demonstration program
• Enhanced support from Rehabilitation Engineering
  services
• Created clear definition of rehabilitation
  engineering services.

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Brief History

• 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act
• Clearly outlined the intent of Congress with
  Findings, Purpose, and Policy (Sec. 2 (a), (b),
  and (c).
• Focused program on concept of consumer choice
  relative to career options.
• Focused Public VR Program that the outcome for
  program was competitive employment
• Created State Rehabilitation Advisory Council

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Brief History

• Created presumptive eligibility for individuals
  receiving Social Security SSI or SSDI benefits
• Individual must still intend to achieve an
  employment outcome consistent with unique
  strengths, resources, priorities, concerns,
  abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed
  choice."

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and Finally Todays Version

• Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998
• Rehab Act became part of Workforce Investment
  Act (WIA) Title IV
• Sec. 402 establishes
• Linkages between State VR Programs and WIA
  programs
• Gives special responsibilities to the Sec. of
  Education for the coordination of all activities
  with respect to individuals with disabilities
  within and across programs administered by
  Federal Government

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Future??????????

• 2003 Reauthorization will not be completed.
• Proposals in both House and Senate took from
  VR Programs to fund infrastructure of
  One-Stops
• House version would allow Governor to take 1.5
  percent from One-Stop Partners appropriationi.e.,
  VR monies
• Senate version created a phase for VR
  contribution to infrastructure1st year no
  contribution 2nd year .75 percent 3rd year 1
  percent 4th year 1.25 percent and finally 5th
  year 1.5 percent.

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What to Expect in 2005

• Begin reauthorization process from the beginning.
• 109th Congress will most likely be even more
  conservative than the 108th.
• Current Administration will push for
  infrastructure monies from partners to fund
  One-Stops push for Block Grants will be strong
• In Rehab Act downgrading of RSA Commissioner from
  Presidential appointment, Senate Confirmation
  position to one appointed by the Secretary of
  Education
• Continued push to undermine authority of RSA

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ADVOCACY WILL BE NEEDED

• Your voice will be needed when called upon
• You cannot sit by the sidelines
• You can energize your peers, consumers, friends,
  family
• Every voice will be needed