Enhancing Accessibility and Collaboration for AIVR Project Success

1. (d) Quality of the Project Services25 points(recommend 6 pages) • 1. Equal Access and Treatment • 2. Appropriate AIVR Services • 3. Impact of AIVR Services • 4. Collaboration to Maximize Services

2. AIVR Project Eligibility • All American Indians with disabilities residing on or near the reservation have equal chance to apply for VR services • Eligibility criteria is the same for all applicants • Member of a state or federally recognized tribe • Live on or near the reservation or designated project service area • Has a mental or physical disability that impedes their employment • Applicant require and will benefit from VR services resulting in successful employment outcome

3. EQUAL ACCESS and TREATMENT • Demonstrate that persons with disabilities will be able to access services as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Availability of program applications and materials in alternate format • Accessible facilities • Provide interpreters and TDD/TYY services

4. Equal access and treatment (cont’d) • Availability of traditional healing services used by the tribe • Ensure privacy and confidentiality of all applicants and consumers • Provide information on Client Assistance Program services • Provide transportation and conduct home visits • Satellite field offices in designated service area • Provide translators • Other

5. APPROPRIATE AIVR SERVICES • Identify appropriate services based on the needs of the target population described in the Need for Project criteria. • Provide consumer VR services described in Section 103 of the Act to achieve their vocational goal 34 CFR 371.21(a) • Traditional healing services by Native healers and services reflecting cultural background of consumers Section 371.41(a)(2)

6. Appropriate AIVR Services (cont’d) • What services are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients to achieve employment outcomes? • Ask individuals with disabilities and consumers • Family members • Employers • Collaborators • Staff

7. IMPACT OF AIVR SERVICES • Related to purpose of project and tribal needs • Successful and integrated consumer employment • Higher quality of life to live independently

8. Impact of AIVR Services (cont’d) • Successful and integrated consumer employment • Employee benefits and career mobility • Higher quality of life to live independently

9. APPROPRIATE COLLABORATION to MAXIMIZE EFFECTIVE SERVICES • Describe the benefits of collaboration to serve all eligible tribal consumers who reside on or near project service area. • Who are the collaborators? • What are their roles and responsibilities?

10. Appropriate Collaboration (cont’d) • Explain how the cooperative working agreement with the State VR will improve and expand services for tribal consumers 34 CFR 371.21(g) • Discuss how the project will use comparable benefits and services of key stakeholders to maximize effectiveness of consumer services 34 CFR 371.21(h) • Explain how the tribe and project will ensure the use of qualified providers to prepare consumers for employment 34 CFR 371.21(j)