Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities “Position on Employment”
~~“Policy Recommendations: • Remove barriers that create disincentives for people with developmental disabilities to find and maintain competitive employment (employment includes supported employment, job training and job coaching) with competitive wages in the community. These barriers may include: transportation, flexible options for on the job supports, and continued or potential health care benefits. • Implement “Employment First” policies that transform the expectations of state agencies, service providers and people with developmental disabilities. Under “Employment First’, the expectation is that a person with a developmental or other disability can and wants to work, and a successful outcome is finding these individuals meaningful and gainful employment that meets their needs and interests by tailoring services to help them succeed in the workforce. • Fully fund the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) program that are significantly underfunded to meet the employment needs of individuals with severe disabilities who need VR services to obtain employment.”
Nevada AB 20: related to services to assist PWD in Obtaining Employment (2017)
“AN ACT relating to persons with disabilities; revising provisions concerning the duties and employees of the Bureau of Services to Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Rehabilitation Division of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation; prohibiting, under certain circumstances, the solicitation, disclosure, receipt or use of information concerning persons receiving services from the Division; authorizing the Division to adopt, amend and repeal certain policies; authorizing the denial of services to persons who are blind under certain circumstances; removing the designation of the Division as the designated state unit for the purpose of certain federal regulations governing vocational rehabilitation; prescribing the purposes for which certain money may be used; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.”
The Medicaid and CHIP state plans are agreements between Nevada and the federal government describing how we administer these programs. It gives an assurance that Nevada will abide by federal rules and may claim federal matching funds for program activities. The state plan sets out groups of individuals to be covered, services to be provided, methodologies for providers to be reimbursed and the administrative activities that are under way in the state.
Nevada NCED Education Training and Technical Assistance Project
“The Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, in collaboration with the Nevada Department of Education, Office of Special Education, Elementary and Secondary Education, and School Improvement Programs, proposes to coordinate training and technical assistance for Nevada on current issues and trends in the education of children with disabilities, ages 3 to 22. Training is necessary to ensure that school personnel, such as members of school improvement teams, possess the knowledge and capacity to lead efforts to increase student achievement.”
Collaborative Initiatives across Career and Technical Education, Vocational Rehabilitation and Special Education: Three State/Local Stories
“Learning Objectives
Attendees will gain knowledge of:
• predictors and evidence-based and promising practices specific to interagency collaboration across CTE, VR, and SpEd;
• effective strategies to build partnerships between CTE, VR, and SpEd; and
• tools, resources, and practical solutions to use with addressing common barriers at the state and local levels.
The need for collaboration: what we know
•CTE teachers identify collaboration with special educators and VR counselors as a key facet of their success in serving all youth.
•Best practices and resources for collaboration and student development will support self-determination, career exploration, culture, and course offerings of high school that lead to postsecondary education and training as well as employment (NTACT, 2017).”
Nevada Veterans Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Programs
“What are Compensated Work Therapy Programs (CWT)?
There are two programs that function under the CWT Program Transitional Work Experience (TWE) and Supported Employment (SE).” More information about CWT is available by accessing the weblink.
Perkins V requires the state, school districts, and community colleges to engage with stakeholders in their communities and create plans supporting innovation in the future of CTE. Thus, Perkins V provides opportunities to recalibrate CTE in innovative, flexible, and aligned ways. Perkins V aligns with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act, and the Higher Education Act…
Nevada Perkins V State Plan Strategic Goals
Strategic Goal 1: Improve access to and achievement in high quality career and technical education programs of study aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and/or in-demand occupations for all student population groups as measured by State Determined Performance Levels (SDPL) targets.
Strategic Goal 2: Develop a systematic approach to ensure access for all student population groups to career pathways and skill development from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education as measured by participation and concentrator data in the State Determined Performance Levels (SDPL) targets.
Strategic Goal 3: Ensure employers have a pipeline of skilled talent.”
“Information about the new Northern Nevada State Veterans Home is contained in this month’s edition of Veterans’ Voice, including: the services provided, becoming a resident, tentative timeline for opening and employment opportunities. Just click here to learn more about this amazing new skilled nursing care facility: https://veterans.nv.gov/benefits-and-services/northern-nevada-state-veterans-home-sparks-nv “
“Title I, Part D, Subpart I provides funding to state agencies that are responsible for providing a free public education in institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth, including adult correctional institutions. Subpart 2 provides funding to support the operation of Local Educational Agency (LEA) programs that involve collaboration with locally operated correctional facilities. In both subparts, the intent is to provide supplemental support to eligible students enrolled in educational programs at the state agency or locally operated correctional facility. This support should provide such students with the same opportunities to achieve and succeed as they would have if they had been in the regular program schools of the Local Educational Agencies within Nevada. Support includes additional assistance in reading, mathematics, and the other core subjects required for a regular high school diploma, vocational training, job training or job readiness skills acquisition, and transitional services to assist the student whether they are returning to an LEA school, continuing education at a postsecondary or alternative educational institution, or seeking employment.”
Nevada DETR to Recognize Inaugural Groundhog Job Shadow Day (2019)
“In honor of Groundhog Day and the National Job Shadow Day on February 2nd, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s (DETR) Rehabilitation Division will be celebrating February 4th as Nevada’s inaugural Groundhog Job Shadow Day. This special day highlights the importance of providing opportunities for Nevada students with disabilities to explore careers.”
