Mississippi ESEA Flexibility Request
“The Mississippi Department Education’s ESEA flexibility request was approved on July 19, 2012.”
State: Mississippi
Mississippi Intellectual Disabilities/ DD Waiver
“The ID/DD Waiver provides services to individuals who, but for the provision of home and community-based services, would require placement in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. The ID/DD waiver is administered by the Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.”
Mississippi MDRS Supported Employment
“Supported Employment provides the opportunity to assist individuals with the most significant disabilities in finding employment. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) provides a team of professionals that identify the services and ongoing supports needed to maintain employment.”
MS CDD Grants and Contracts
“MS Partnerships in Employment grant from the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) – Disability Rights Mississippi; $74,410
DRMS’s responsibility within MSPE is to maintain the Employment Workgroup and carrying out its activities. This group focuses on policies, removing barriers, improving access to competitive employment, and system change efforts.
MS Partnerships in Employment grant from the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Institute for Disability Studies; $144,000
IDS’s responsibility within MSPE is the Stakeholder’s Group and carrying out its activities. The activities include focusing on innovative strategies and best practices for systems improved for competitive employment. IDS provides knowledge and awareness to MSPE with periodic information sessions presented to the Employment Workgroup and the Consortium while assisting in carrying out various training activities across the State.”
Mississippi Autism Advisory Council Report to Legislature (2016)
“Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services Office of Vocational Rehabilitation recognizes the importance of emphasizing the strengths and contributions that many of the clients with ASD can offer businesses. Individual characteristics such as punctuality, attention to detail, consistency, reliability, or good visual-spatial or mechanical skills can make these individuals more attractive to employers. Vocational Rehabilitation counselors utilize different tools in seeking employment options for clients with ASD; they include but are not limited to: o Person-Centered Planning (PCP): where an action plan is developed to provide directions in employment by identifying client desires, dreams and employment goals. o Customized Employment (CE): Includes discovery, profile portfolio, resume, and negotiation with employers and job placement.”
Mississippi MDRS Business Services
“The Business Services Program of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is dedicated to partnering with Mississippi businesses and industries to expand their workforce with highly skilled, motivated employees of diverse abilities. Our Business Relations Specialists work directly with employers to help them source qualified talent and build inclusive workplaces that benefit both employers and employees.”
Mississippi MDRS Transition Services
“The Transition Services Program works with eligible secondary school students with disabilities to enable them to transition from school to subsequent work environments. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) works cooperatively with the Mississippi Department of Education and local school districts in planning and implementing a variety of programs designed to provide training and assistance for students with disabilities to support them in making the difficult transition from school to work.”
Recommendations for Improving School Funding in Mississippi
~~“Recommendation #3c: Create a commission to study and make recommendations related to service-based (IEP-based) funding
While multiple-tiered weights based on diagnosis alone would represent a big step forward for Mississippi, EdBuild believes that an IEP-based model, which incorporates consideration of both diagnosis and services, could move the needle even further to improve the precision of special education funding throughout the state. Funding based on student IEPs would take most of the guesswork out of the financing of special education and would significantly increase the impartiality of funding for students with special needs.”
Mississippi VR Career Counseling and Information and Referral (CCIR) Request
“Section 511 of WIOA requires that any entity holding a special wage certificate under section 14(c) of the FLSA meets certain conditions in order to pay an individual with a disability subminimum wage. One of these conditions requires each 14(c) provider to ensure their clients receive Career Counseling and Information and Referral Services (CCIR). The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has been mandated by WIOA to provide these services. If you would like to request CCIR services from OVR, please complete the following form and submit it by email at ccirrequests@mdrs.ms.gov. After your request is received, a member of our staff will contact you to schedule a date for the provision of CCIR services.”
Mississippi MDES Annual Report Helping Mississippians Get Jobs (2017)
“The Year in Review captures how MDES has worked hard and made progress in doing business with Mississippi’s employers and job seekers. The goal of our Governor, Phil Bryant, is the vision of MDES, “Every Mississippian who wants a job can find a job.”