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Vocational Rehabilitation: Clearer Guidance Could Help Focus Services on Those With Severe Disabilities

HRD-92-12 Published: Nov 26, 1991. Publicly Released: Nov 26, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed implementation of the order-of-selection provision in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, focusing on: (1) why some states do not use order of selection; (2) how other states implement order of selection; and (3) how the Department of Education oversees state compliance with the requirement.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Commissioner, RSA, to: (1) establish clearer criteria for determining if and when states must use order of selection; and (2) direct regional offices to review state determinations about whether the states need to implement order of selection and enforce its use.
Closed – Implemented
RSA issued policy guidance in 1992 to clarify criteria for determining if and when states must use order of selection. In its fiscal year (FY) 1992 monitoring efforts, RSA began reviewing state determinations about order of selection.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Commissioner, RSA, to ensure that staff throughout regional offices and headquarters have a consistent understanding of their role and authority concerning implementation of order of selection.
Closed – Implemented
Key central and regional office staff were trained using new policy guidance in June 1992. Training for other regional staff will continue.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Commissioner, RSA, to disseminate information on states' successful order-of-selection experience to states without experience to help address the latter's concerns.
Closed – Implemented
The Department is now collecting and disseminating information on states' successful implementation of order of selection.

Full Report

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Topics

DisabilitiesDisadvantaged personsEligibility criteriastate relationsNoncompliancePeople with disabilitiesPrioritizingRehabilitation programsState-administered programsVocational rehabilitation