Vocational Rehabilitation Laws and Resources

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Page last updated: 10/21/08

CAP/VR Encyclopedia [P&A/CAP Advocates Only] [HTML][PDF] (11/07)
A resource explaining common terms and concepts used in the public vocational rehabilitation system, and by Client Assistance Program (CAP) and Protection and Advocacy (P&A) advocates. Written by Cheryl Bates-Harris, National Disability Rights Network, edited by David T. Hutt, National Disability Rights Network and the CAP Advisory Committee.

Title I of the Rehabilitation Act – Laws and Legislation

Rehabilitation Act Title I (Vocational Rehabilitation Services) Statute: 29 U.S.C. §§ 701 - 751
The basic law for state public vocational rehabilitation programs.

Rehabilitation Act Title I (Vocational Rehabilitation Services) Federal Regulations: 34 C.F.R. Part 631
Regulations which implement the vocational rehabilitation legislation state vocational rehabilitation agencies must follow.

Rehabilitation Act Title I – American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Grants (Section 121 Programs) Federal Regulations
Note: This link is to the regulations still in effect for the 121 American Indian VR grant programs. The regulations refer to the old Section 130 program and other terminology which pre-dates the 1998 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, however, these are the correct regulations for the 121 programs and this is NOT an old link.

RSA Policy Guidance

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Policy Guidance and Comments
Interpretations and comments on Title I of the Rehabilitation Act from the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the federal agency responsible for overseeing the use of federal vocational rehabilitation funds. Includes links to Policy Directives, Technical Assistance Circulars, and Information Memoranda from 1991 to 2006. For additional explanation of the various types of documents, click on this Introductory link. The Major Policy Guidance Documents are available below.

Major RSA Policy Guidance Documents on Vocational Rehabilitation
The following RSA Policy Guidance Documents (referred to by RSA as sub-regulatory guidance) and Comments are most important to vocational rehabilitation advocates. For additional Policy Guidance Documents, see the link above.

Implementation of Informed Choice (RSA PD-01-03) (January 17, 2001) [PDF] [Word]

Employment Goal for Individuals with a Disability (RSA PD-97-04) (August 19, 1997) [PDF] [Word]

Use of Program Income: Payments from Social Security Administration, Insurance Carriers, and Other Sources (RSA PD-92-04) (December 6, 1991) [PDF] [Word]

Provision of Financial Assistance for Post-Secondary Education by State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (RSA PD-92-02) (November 21, 1991) [PDF] [Word]

Assessments of Individuals with Significant Disabilities Under the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (RSA TAC-02-01) (February 11, 2002) [PDF]

Self-employment, Telecommuting, and Establishing a Small Business as Employment Outcomes (RSA TAC-00-02) (July 24, 2000) [PDF] [Word]

Responsibility of State VR Agencies in the Provision of Rehabilitation Technology (RSA TAC-98-04) (September 29, 1998) [PDF] [Word]

Applicability of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPPA] of 1996 to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (RSA IM-01-44) (September 25, 2001) [PDF] [Word]

Eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation Services Under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended (RSA IM-93-17) (May 11, 1993) [PDF] [Word]

Actions or Issues an Applicant or Client Can Appeal (RSA PAC-88-03) (June 7, 1988) [PDF]

Comment that a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) is Not a Comparable Benefit and on the Ticket to Work as a Comparable Benefit. Though not a policy directive, this is an important comment by RSA from the federal register. [PDF] [Word]

Major RSA Policy Guidance specific only to CAP may be found under the Client Assistance Program (CAP) Regulations and Grant Resources.

Access to State Vocational Rehabilitation Policies

The following drop down menu includes links to state Vocational Rehabilitation policies available on-line. Only states whose policies are available online are included.

Choose a State Alaska Arkansas Connecticut Florida Blind Agency Florida General VR Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Kansas Maine Maryland Michigan Blind Agency Michigan General VR Missouri-Blind Agency Missouri-General VR Montana Nevada New York-Blind Agency New York-General VR Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin  

States Agencies Operating and Not Operating Under an Order of Selection List complied by the National Disability Rights Network (August 2008)