Frequently Asked Questions

Vocational Rehabilitation alone has not been able to address the persistent, pervasive, and multi-layered needs of economically disadvantaged communities. Ensuring employment opportunities for people with disabilities is important not just for those individuals but also for employers, government, and society.

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Project E3, developed with support and guidance from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is a strategic partnership of…

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A targeted community is any economically disadvantaged community that qualifies as an Empowerment Zone (a highly distressed urban or rural community).

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Targeted populations are high-leverage groups who are underserved or achieved substandard performance with needs in multiple locations across the country:

• Residents of rural and remote communities;
• Adjudicated adults and youth;
• Individuals with disabilities in foster care;
• Individuals with disabilities receiving Federal Financial assistance;
• Culturally diverse populations;
• High school dropouts and functionally illiterate consumers;
• Persons with multiple disabilities;
• SSI and SSDI recipients,
• including subminimum wage employees.

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Conduct VR services needs assessment of targeted communities identified by State VR agencies:

Provide technical assistance in developing intensive TA proposals for 20 identified TCs for review by Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). This will lead to the RSA selection of 12 targeted communities as Project E3 intensive TA service recipients.

Develop VR training to improve and sustain VR capacity and service access, use, and employment outcomes in targeted communities. Training will be developed with VR feedback and designed for short and long term delivery with other TA centers.

Provide Targeted and Universal TA to state VR agencies and rehabilitation professionals and community partners. Information will be developed collaboratively and shared through Communities of Practice (CoPs), the Project E3 website, and partners such as National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials and CSAVR.

Provide sustainable capacity evaluation for each intensive and universal TA strategy (in collaboration with respective state VR agencies) for the duration of the project and beyond.

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1. Engage VR agencies in identifying and developing knowledge about targeted communities;
2. Collaborate to design modules and strategies to provide Intensive, Targeted, and Universal Technical Assistance and coordination activities;
3. Provide technical assistance to state VR agencies and community partners designed to maximize community services;
4. Measure and track effectiveness of on-going technical assistance, training, and alliance building activities.

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Project E3 activities will resolve in collaborative, coordinated service strategies among State VR programs and community partners to provide comprehensive services to targeted populations. The desired outcomes for individuals with disabilities in Targeted Communities are:

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The Project E3 overall effort will build VR capacity by improving participation rates and employment outcomes of targeted populations and communities.

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Project E3 offers three levels of technical (TA) assistance to VR Agencies:

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The Project E3 team has the expertise to provide technical assistance in these and other areas:

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Project E3 will provide most of the intensive TA proposal development and implementation work; the VR agency’s role consists primarily of:

• identifying underserved communities and populations;
• providing VR data regarding those communities and populations;
• describing barriers, challenges, and opportunities;
• facilitating Project E3 follow-up with VR staff and community partners;
• making time available for VR staff and community partners to participate in future TA.

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