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Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act great opportunity for OVR
The CNMI Office of Vocational Rehabilitation will be complying with the new law of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act with several amendments that target the Rehabilitation Act programs.
OVR director Arlene Yamagata told Saipan Tribune that OVR receives different grants from the their federal grantor, the U.S. Department of Education, but the amendments of Title IV, Rehabilitation Act, under WIOA, will effect a small change to a different grantor and will be under the Department of Health and Human Services.
Several transfers of the program from the DOE will transfer to Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living.
These programs include the State Independent Living Services, Centers for Independent Living Program, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and programs under the Assistive Technology.
Majority of these programs are being used by disability advocates in the CNMI.
According to Rehabilitation Services Administration commissioner Janet L. LaBreck, who issued a letter out to Vocational Rehabilitation directors, including Yamagata, to minimize any disruption in grantee operations or service delivery to individuals with disabilities who are served by these programs, Health Services and Education Department have decided that Rehabilitation Administration will continue to administer them until “an orderly transfer is completed as soon as reasonably possible.”
Yamagata noted that the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program will continue to be under the Department of Education, in which the CNMI OVR has and has been conducting on Rota, Saipan, and Tinian.
Yamagata said that they are happy about the changes due to highlights of increase services to youth with disabilities under WIOA.
“We are happy to comply with the changes,” Yamagata said.
She also said that state vocational rehabilitation agencies will set aside at least 15 percent of federal program funds.
Yamagata noted that this will provide pre-employment transition services to assist students with disabilities make the transition from secondary school to postsecondary education programs and competitive integrated employment.
