VESID's mission is to promote educational equity and excellence for students with disabilities while ensuring that they receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled; assure appropriate continuity between the child and adult services systems; and provide the highest quality vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to all eligible persons as quickly as those services are required to enable them to work and to live independent, self-directed lives.

State Operations

VESID promotes educational and vocational achievement for students with disabilities, ages 3 to 21. It administers special education programs and services in New York's school system and provides supports for families, educators and other staff. VESID's vocational rehabilitation (VR) program provides specialized programs and services that assist youth and adults with disabilities in preparing for, finding, and adjusting to employment. The office also works with businesses that are interested in hiring and maintaining a skilled workforce. VESID administers 35 Independent Living Centers (ILC's) across the State and 15 Early Childhood Direction Centers. VESID also oversees statewide networks responsible for providing training and information to parents, educators, and others involved in educating preschool and school-aged students with disabilities.

Federal Statute: * Federal Regulation:*

State Statute: * State Regulation: *

TELEPHONE: (518) 474-2714 FAX:

Case Service appropriations for the basic Vocational Rehabilitation program provide educational and vocational services to persons whose disabilities impose barriers to employment. The program provides a wide range of services to people with disabilities including evaluation, education, job training, equipment and technology, counseling, guidance and placement. The primary goal of the program is to enable people with disabilities to achieve gainful employment. When employment is achieved, the investment pays dividends to the State. Savings to the State in public assistance payments from the 16,041 1996-97 placements exceed $19.5 million annually. The annual wages earned by those same people exceed $177,000,000 and will grow each year. These earnings form the base for their tax contributions and stimulation of the economy.

Successful Vocational Rehabilitation also reduces the cost incurred by other State agencies such as the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). Thirty-three percent or 5,300 of VESID's successful placements in SFY 96-97 were people with developmental disabilities. Sixteen percent or 2,600 of VESID’s placements were people with emotional disorders who achieved employment. Eighteen percent or 2,900 were people disabled by substance abuse and alcohol. These individuals are no longer dependent or are less dependent on State funded services of OMRDD, OMH and OASAS. Conservatively estimated at $1,000 per person per year, the savings to other agencies is at least $10,800,000.

The savings to State agencies, the tax contributions and the economic stimulus of these workers' spending recur and grow every year that these people work. The return on the initial investment therefore continues over the individual's working life. National studies of the Vocational Rehabilitation program have calculated a Benefit Cost Ratio of $10.80 to $1.00.

Professional vocational rehabilitation counselors across New York State in VESID’s 15 District Offices and 10 outstations help people with disabilities choose careers that are consistent with their individual interests and abilities and that meet current and future job market opportunities.

Federal Statute: Rehabilitation Act-Title I Federal Regulation: 34 CFR 361 Et. Seq.

State Statute: Education Law ' 1001-1009 State Regulation: 8NYCRR Part 246-248

TELEPHONE: (518) 486-4038 FAX:

Purchased case services make up the largest single area within VESID’s program. Examples of case services include evaluation; training and related supports at such places as community rehabilitation agencies, BOCES, trade schools, colleges and universities; transportation; and vehicle modifications. The combination of Federal funding (Title I Section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act) and State matching funds support the entire VESID program including District Office counseling, purchased case services, unified contract costs, related administrative costs and indirectly applied charges. Federal funding is formula driven. State case service funding is required in concert with the basic Federal award to meet the costs of VESID’s increasing demand for services.

VESID also receives $2.5 million of federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Family (TANF) funding for the Welfare Reform Initiative. TANF funds will be used to provide disabled family assistance recipients who meet participation guidelines with counseling, training, work preparation and job placement services.

Local interagency initiatives between VESID and the Department of Social Services, such as the LIVES Program, are being established with TANF funds. Under the new LIVES Program, local social service districts, in partnership with VESID district offices will be able to request funds to provide employment services to family assistance recipients with disabilities. The LIVES Program is an example of VESID's ability to serve the target population not only through the standard rehabilitation process, but also to serve additional recipients through innovative approaches.

The following are some of the highlights of VESID’s 1996-97 accomplishments in meeting its goal:

• 16,041 people with disabilities received assistance in preparing for and obtaining employment in SFY 1996-97. This represents a 77 percent increase in employment outcomes since SFY 1991-92.

- 10,810 people were placed in competitive employment, compared to 5,635 in SFY 1991.

- The number of individuals with severe disabilities placed in supported employment increased from 611 in 1991 to 2,594.

- 1,756 people with most severe disabilities were placed in sheltered employment; in SFY 1991, there were 2,264 such placements.

• A major initiative undertaken by VESID over the last several years has resulted in the redirection of $10.35 million from programs that traditionally were dedicated to sheltered employment placements to programs that lead to placement of individuals into integrated settings.

• The number of rehabilitations of individuals disabled by substance abuse and alcoholism has risen 247 percent since the implementation of the 1991 Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (835 in SFY 1991 to 2,901 in SFY 1997). This compares favorably with the 77 percent overall increase in the number of rehabilitations during this same period.

• The average cost of purchased vocational rehabilitation services has been reduced from $1,320 per consumer in September 1993 to $1,054 in September 1996.

Early Childhood Direction Centers (ECDCs) provide information and referral assistance to families and professionals in linking children with disabilities, birth through age five, to needed community services. This includes assistance in securing evaluation and assessment services, preschool special education programs and services, transportation, medical services, funding, social services and parent education/support programs. The Education Department is the single State agency responsible for this program. ECDCs assist over 7,000 families each year, matching 7,000 children with appropriate services. They respond to over 32,000 requests for information from families, agencies and professionals each year. Information is provided in a neutral manner, so all appropriate options for services are provided, including the option of receiving services in integrated settings with nondisabled peers.

Without continued funding, thousands of families with young children will be left to make crucial decisions at different times during their child's life without the necessary information; decisions that will have an effect on their child's educational standards, employment opportunities and future independence. Early Childhood Direction Centers provide the initial link to information and services from birth, a critical need that continues throughout the life of a child with a disability.

Federal Statute: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B
Federal Regulation: 34CFR 301

State Statute:
State Regulation: 8NYCRR Part 200

TELEPHONE: (518) 473-4381 FAX:

Independent Living is a program of individual and systems change services provided through 35 not-for-profit Independent Living Centers (ILCs) located in communities across New York State. ILCs work to increase the attitudinal, architectural, communication and programmatic access to existing services offered by businesses and other agencies in the community and advocate for elimination of barriers that prevent people with disabilities from living, learning and working independently and fully participating in society. Efforts are extended to increase integration, inclusion and independence by involving people with disabilities in policy making and implementation of services in the areas of education, employment, health care, commerce, recreation/leisure and citizenship.

Independent Living Center programs are community based and, in accordance with State Law, must have boards of directors which comprise at a minimum 51 percent persons with disabilities. ILCs provide an array of services to assist persons with disabilities to choose lifestyles and services that maximize self-direction and independence. ILC services include peer counseling, information and referral, individual advocacy, independent living skills development, housing assistance, transportation services, benefits advisement, architectural and communication barrier consultation, equipment loan and maintenance and training in the use of personal assistance services.

ILCs have led local implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and have continued to experience dramatic increases in the numbers of individuals with disabilities, families and business and agencies served each year. The demand for ILC expertise and services is anticipated to continue to increase and emphasize services to schools, youth with disabilities and their families.

Federal Statute: Rehabilitation Act-Title VII Federal Regulation: 34 CFR 367

State Statute: Education Law ' 1120-1124 State Regulation: 8NYCRR Part 248

TELEPHONE: (518) 474-2925 FAX:

Through the passage of Chapter 515 of the Laws of 1992, integrated employment, including supported employment, is implemented through a collaborative interagency process. This legislation designated VESID as having the primary responsibility for the coordination of program development and administration of integrated employment. VESID accomplishes this in collaboration with its interagency partners through innovative approaches directly with business, industry and labor and through enhancements in the provision of supported employment services.

Integrated Employment-Business and Industry Outreach

The primary focus of VESID's Business and Industry Outreach is to target specific business sectors, industries, trade associations, and labor unions to accomplish the following:

• Enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities;

• Improve access to VESID service for existing workers and their families; and

• Provide technical assistance to aid business and industry in recognizing the value of people with disabilities as employees and a powerful consumer segment.

Supported Employment

Supported employment provides job based training and support services to individuals with the most severe disabilities to enable them to obtain and maintain competitive employment in integrated work settings in the community. For administrative and funding purposes, the program is conceived as having two phases: intensive and extended services. Intensive services assist individuals to obtain jobs and become proficient in the performance expectations of an employment setting. Extended services provide individuals with the services and supports needed for the long-term retention of their employment upon completion of their intensive training phase.

Federal Statute: Rehabilitation Act Federal Regulation: 34 CFR Parts 361, 363

State Statute: Education Law ' 1004 State Regulation: 8NYCRR Part 246 and 247

TELEPHONE: (518) 473-7213 FAX:

Eligible students who are deaf or blind and are matriculated in a degree-granting program may receive a monetary grant to employ readers, notetakers or interpreters to provide access to information vital to their studies, enabling them to succeed in their academic undertaking. In calendar year 1995, 730 students were served by the Readers Aid Program, of which 415 are blind and 315 are deaf.

Federal Statute: Federal Regulation:

State Statute: Education Law ' 4210 State Regulation: 8NYCC Part 147

TELEPHONE: (518) 474-7981 FAX:

The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) assists eligible Social Security beneficiaries by providing them with work preparation, employment placement and counseling services. The Social Security Administration is authorized by law to pay for vocational rehabilitation services for Social Security Income (SSI) recipients who become employed and no longer are eligible for Social Security benefits. VESID files claims to receive reimbursement for each individual’s rehabilitation services.

Federal Statute: Federal Social Security Act Federal Regulation:

State Statute: State Regulation:

TELEPHONE: (518) 486-4038 FAX: