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The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has shared their success story publication, The Story, highlighting teachers and nurses. We hope you enjoy reading about these individuals’ journeys!
Make sure you check out the social channels (OVR on Facebook; OVR on X; OVR on LinkedIn; and OVR on Instagram) in the coming weeks for highlights of these stories as well!
The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has drafted proposed changes to the 2024-2027 VR Services Portion of the Combined State Plan to implement an Order of Selection. A public comment period will be opened from October 7, 2024 – October 28, 2024.
Members of the public may provide feedback on the proposed changes by submitting comments electronically or by submitting live comments during one of two State Plan Public Meetings. Please note that comments should be limited to the proposed changes only.
To access the State Plan draft, please visit here.
Public meetings will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 9:00 am – 10:00 am as well as Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. During these meetings, OVR will review the proposed changes to the VR Services Portion of the Combined State Plan. These meetings will contain the same content, so it is not necessary to attend both. Following a summary presentation, the public will be invited to provide comment. CART and sign language interpreting will be provided during both meetings.
Virtual Public Meeting Information
Meeting #1
When: October 16, 2024, 9:00 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom for October 16 Public Meeting
Meeting #2
When: October 17, 2024, 3:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom for October 17 Public Meeting
The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023/24 Quarter 4 (Q4) report required by the Work Experience for High School Students with Disabilities Act (Act 26 of 2016) is now available. A copy of the report can be found here as well as on the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (OVR) website on the Act 26 Information web page.
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has shared information on their PA Labor and Industry (L&I) OVR hybrid quarterly board meeting, which is being held on Thursday, September 12, 2024 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Attendees can participate online or in-person at The Alloy (DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton), located in 301 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia.
The meeting agenda is available here. Online instructions for attending are available below:
Zoom for September State Board Meeting
Passcode: 721818
Or One tap mobile:
+13092053325,,86438463268#,,,,*721818# US
+13126266799,,86438463268#,,,,*721818# US (Chicago)
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
+1 309 205 3325 US, +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago), +1 646 931 3860 US, +1 929 205 6099 US (New York), +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC), +1 305 224 1968 US, +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose), +1 689 278 1000 US, +1 719 359 4580 US, +1 253 205 0468 US, +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma), +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston), +1 360 209 5623 US, +1 386 347 5053 US, +1 507 473 4847 US, +1 564 217 2000 US, +1 669 444 9171 US
Webinar ID: 864 3846 3268
Passcode: 721818
CART and sign language interpreters will be available during this meeting. Those using a screen reader can connect via this link. Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please send your request to the inbox for Additional Auxiliary Aids and Services.
The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA), in conjunction with our provider members and partner stakeholders, have written to PA Senator Casey and PA Senator Fetterman to express our full support for ensuring the mandated inflationary increases are preserved for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) so that critical OVR employment programs will continue for working and job-seeking Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Vocational rehabilitation funding is essential in Pennsylvania to maintain services that support the advancement of employment. We are fortunate that our state legislature has consistently funded Pennsylvania OVR in a manner that has allowed OVR to collect the full federal match and even draw down more when there is a surplus.
If the mandated inflationary increases are rescinded, Pennsylvania’s OVR funding will be cut by millions of dollars, adversely impacting working and job-seeking Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Specifically, approximately $13M would be eliminated from a limited $200M budget, or 6.5%. The resources provided to PA OVR are too valuable and already limited. This potential action forces Pennsylvania to prioritize allocations at the expense of critical employment and related services. Maintaining funding levels is crucial for advancing employment for individuals with disabilities.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Division Director Carol Ferenz or IDD Policy Analyst Cathy Barrick.
The PA Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has developed a draft of the Financial Needs Test (FNT) policy. The draft will be posted on OVR’s website for public review beginning August 30, 2024. Virtual meetings will be held via Zoom at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, to provide an overview of the policy and take questions and comments. Please note that the content will be the same in both meetings. The public is invited to comment on the draft policy for 30 days. Comments may be directed to OVR’s Public Comment Resource Account through September 20, 2024.
Meeting Information
CART and sign language interpreters will be available for these meetings via the Zoom link. Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please send your request to OVR’s Public Comment Resource Account.
The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023/24 Quarter 3 (Q3) report required by the Work Experience for High School Students with Disabilities Act (Act 26 of 2016) is now available. A copy of the report can be found here. It can also be found on the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (OVR) website on the Act 26 Information tile.