Nevada DOE Alternative Diploma Computer Education and Technology Guidance (2023)
“The Alternative Diploma does not replace any of Nevada’s existing diploma options, as both the Standard Diploma and the Adjusted Diploma options remain available to Nevada’s students (see Table 1 for a comparison of Nevada’s diploma options). However, the Alternative Diploma does differ from the Standard and Adjusted Diploma in significant ways. High school students who pursue the Alternative Diploma must complete a required series of credited, standards-aligned courses. This alignment parallels the requirements of the Standard Diploma. However, whereas achievement of the Standard Diploma will terminate a student with a disability’s guarantee to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) provided through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004, achievement of the Alternative Diploma will not terminate a student’s FAPE. Students with significant cognitive disabilities who achieve an Alternative Diploma will be able to remain in school until their 22nd birthday and those who choose to do so will continue to receive services under IDEA.”
Nevada DHHS Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Strategy (Quality Strategy)
“Quality Initiatives and Emerging Practices Emerging practices occur by incorporating evidence-based guidelines into operational structures, policies, and procedures. Emerging practices are born out of continual quality improvement efforts to enhance a service, health outcome, systems process, or operational procedure. The goals of these efforts are to improve the quality of and access to services. Only through continual measurement and analyses to determine the efficacy of an intervention may an emerging practice be identified. Therefore, the DHCFP encourages MCEs to continually track and monitor efficacy of quality improvement initiatives and interventions to determine if the benefit of the intervention outweighs effort and cost.”
“The Rehabilitation Division comprises three bureaus, which include Vocational Rehabilitation, Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Bureau of Disability Adjudication. The Division also includes the Blind Business Enterprises of Nevada Program, and the Office of Disability Employment Policy. All of these services are designed to address assessment, training, treatment, and job placement for Nevadans with disabilities. The division places primary emphasis on providing necessary services to help clients work and live independently.”
“The Sunshine Works Program was developed in response to the youth unemployment rate crisis for individuals with disabilities. The Sunshine Works Program is a paid internship for high school graduates ages 18 – 25 who are transitioning from school to the workforce but who still struggle socially to fit in. Program participants will become contracted workers who will get the necessary training and experience needed to become confident, working members of society. All program participants will work (2) 6-hour shifts per week, at a pay rate of $9.00 per hour.
Sunshine Works Program will offer supported employment services in a retail setting providing program participants with transferable vocational education and relevant social skills development for improving future opportunities for competitive employment. Supported employment means all participants have consistent training support while on the job. One Job Coach is assigned to two program participants per 6-month program. Job coaches are present with the participants during every shift ensuring the appropriate amount of support, guidance and encouragement is provided. The participants are independent, but job coaches help them continue to grow offering opportunities for more independent employment in the future.”
“The Balancing Incentive Program is a grant-funded program established by the Affordable Care Act through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The goal of the program is to make structural changes to the way individuals access long term services and supports (LTSS) in order to rebalance institutional care with home and community based services. The desired result is to increase the amount spent on home and community based services to 50% of total spending on LTSS.”
Discrimination on basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin or discussion of wages; interference with aid or appliance for disability; refusal to permit service animal at place of employment; consideration of criminal history without following required procedure.”
“ABLE Accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience)
January 26 is the start date for consumers to open an ABLE Nevada account.
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was recently passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Obama. Under the new law, a person with a disability and that person’s family may put money into a special tax-advantaged account. The first $100,000 in an ABLE account will not count against the $2000 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limit, nor will it count against asset limits other programs, such as Medical Assistance, may have.
This new work incentive is a big deal: It means that if you get a job, you can start saving up some money without losing your benefits.”
Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED) P2I – Path to Independence
“The Path To Independence is:
An inclusive, two-year, non-degree certificate program offering a college experience to students with intellectual disabilities.
A collaborative effort of UNR's Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED), the University of Nevada Reno Extended Studies Department, (UNR EXS), Sierra Regional Center (SRC), the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), Lyon County School District and Washoe County School District.
Each student and their invited guests participate in Person Centered Planning (PCP) each semester. The results of the plan determines the level and direction of academic involvement. The STAR (Students Transitioning to Adult Roles) planning process is used, which includes the areas of Academic Enrichment, Independent Living, Self-Determination, Campus & Community Engagement, and Career Development & Employment.”
“The Nevada Assistive Technology Collaborative (NATC) and community partners provide a variety of Assistive Technology (AT) services to support people to live more independently and within their communities. Supported through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) grants under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as amended (AT Act). Current grants 2302NVATSG (2023) & 2402NVATSG (2024). The AT Act funds the Nevada’s Aging and Disability Services Division as the lead agency which coordinates with the Collaborative Partners to provide the services.”
This page includes information on both Program and State Financial activities.
“The mission of the Nevada State Rehabilitation Council (NSRC) is to help ensure that vocational rehabilitation programs (Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and Bureau of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired) are consumer oriented, consumer driven, and that the programs' services and resources result in employment outcomes for Nevadans with disabilities….
The Council may assist you or others in the community in the following ways:
1. Help individuals with disabilities obtain services which may help them become employable.
2. Put employers in contact with individuals with disabilities who may fill their staffing needs.
3. Receive and relay client experiences about the state or the community vocational rehabilitation programs.
Receive and relay ideas about improving vocational rehabilitation services.
The Council has a minimum of 16 members as required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.”
