State Rehabilitation Councils and Their Purpose

SRC Basics Presented by: Kate Travis, Services Director at Ability Beyond, Treasurer of the CT SRC and NCSRC Board Member

Department of Ed OSERS RSA VR VR General VR Blind Combined Federal/State Structure

Consumer voice for the VR program What is our purpose?

Mandated by law since 1992 as State Rehabilitation Advisory Committees 1998 changed to State Rehabilitation Councils What is our purpose?

Title IV (Rehab Act) Title I (Subtitle B) Section 105 of Title I CFR 361.16 & 361.17 WIOA WIOA

Law does specify composition for General vs Separate councils Composition

Minimum of 15 members Composition

(i) At least one representative of the Statewide Independent Living Council Composition

(ii) At least one representative of a parent training and information center established pursuant to section 671 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Composition

(iii) At least one representative of the client assistance program established under section 112 Composition

(iv) At least one qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor, with knowledge of and experience with vocational rehabilitation programs *non-voting if employee Composition

(v) At least one representative of community rehabilitation program service providers Composition

(vi) Four representatives of business, industry, and labor Composition

(vii) Representatives of disability advocacy groups representing a cross section of- (I) individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and mental disabilities; and Composition

(II) individuals representatives of individuals with disabilities who have difficulty in representing themselves or are unable due to their disabilities to represent themselves Composition

3 (B)(vii) at least one representative of a disability advocacy group representing individuals who are blind Separate - Composition

(viii) Current or former applicants for, or recipients of, vocational rehabilitation services Composition

(3)(B)(viii) At least one individuals representative, of an individual, who- Separate- Composition

(3)(B)(viii)(I) is an individual who is blind and has multiple disabilities; (II) has difficulty in representing himself or herself or is unable to due to disabilities to represent himself or herself Separate- Composition

(ix) In a State in which one or more projects are funded under section 121, at least one representative of the directors of the projects located in such State Composition

(x) At least one representative of the State education agency responsible for the public education of students with disabilities who are eligible to receive services under this title and part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Composition

(xi) At least one representative of the State workforce development board Composition

The Director of the designated State unit shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the Council Composition

A majority of the Council members must be individuals with disabilities who meet the requirements of Section 361.5(c)(28) and are not employed by the designated State unit. Composition

Must also consider diversity representation on council Composition

Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor or, in the case of a State that, under law, vests authority for the administration of the activities carried out under this Act in an entity other than the Governor (such as one or more houses of the State legislature or an independent board), the chief officer of that entity. Appointments

Room poll: Raise your hand if getting appointments is quick and painless Raise your hand if getting appointments is the stuff of nightmares Appointments

Length of Term: 3 years Terms of Appointment

Number of Terms: No member of the council may serve more than 2 consecutive terms Terms of Appointment

Except the CAP or the section 121 representative Terms of Appointment

Bonus question: What year was the term limit lifted for CAP and 121 representatives? Terms of Appointment

Many states have updated their bylaws to allow for members to wait a set time limit, and then allow for reappointment Terms of Appointment

Takes an average of 2 years for a new member to feel confident Recruitment

Room poll: What does your SRC do successfully to recruit new members? Recruitment

Continuous and multifaceted recruitment plans have been found to be the most effective Recruitment

Recurrent outreach to targeted populations: PR materials Recruitment

Committee dedicated to membership recruitment Recruitment

Education and interviews of potential new members Recruitment

Quality tactic: Asking current members to make recommendations of potential members Recruitment

Quality tactic: Host a table at a conference Recruitment

Quality tactic: Participation on other state councils Recruitment

Room poll: What representatives do you have the greatest difficulty in recruiting? Recruitment

You arent alone! Councils across the country express the biggest challenges with recruiting for business, industry and labor & the Workforce Development Board representatives Recruitment

Room poll: Are any of you struggling to retain ACTIVE members? Retaining Active Members

Make expectations clear. Have difficult conversations if necessary. Make meetings meaningful. Retaining Active Members

What are we required to do, in partnership with VR? Mandated SRC Responsibilities

Review, analyze and advise. What? Mandated SRC Responsibilities

-Eligibility & Order of Selection -Extent, Scope & Effectiveness of Services -Functions performed by State agencies that affect or that potentially affect employment outcomes Mandated SRC Responsibilities

In partnership with the designated State unit Develop, agree to, and review state goals and priorities. Mandated SRC Responsibilities

Evaluate the effectiveness and prepare an annual report on the status of the VR programs operated within the state Submitted to Governor, Commissioner and made public Mandated SRC Responsibilities