For Your Information. Tony Anthony R. Candela Chair, Division 2 Rehabilitation Specialist/Consultant (510) 912-0969 acandela@juno.com From: National Rehabilitation Association [mailto:info@nationalrehab.org] Sent: Monday, November 27, 2017 2:01 PM To: acandela@juno.com Subject: Washington Alert - Preserve Funding for Supported Employment Image removed by sender. Image removed by sender. Image removed by sender. Washington Alert Nov. 27, 2017 The letter below is from 2017 NRA President Doris Illies and concerns funding for the supported employment program. Both the House and Senate budgets propose eliminating the program in federal fiscal year 2018. Here is the letter from President Illies: Dear Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray: We are writing to express our concern about the planned defunding of the Supported Employment State Grants program in the FY 2018 budget. The National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) is the oldest and largest professional association representing every sector of the rehabilitation profession. The NRA is committed to advancing professional practice in the rehabilitation field through culturally-competent, ethical and evidence-based practice. Under the current budget proposal for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, funding for the Supported Employment State Grants program has been eliminated. Supported Employment State Grants are used to provide supported employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities. They fund ongoing support services that enable individuals with significant disabilities to obtain and retain competitive integrated employment. We urge that the Title VI Supported Employment State Grants appropriation be restored to no less than its current funding level of $27.5 million. According to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (based on the most recently available data), nearly 16,000 individuals with significant disabilities annually receive services through the Supported Employment State Grants program, with nearly half using these funds for ongoing supports that allow them to maintain employment. The economic importance of the program is magnified when the concomitant reduction in public support is considered. Supported Employment State Grants are the only source of federal funds specifically allocated to provide supported employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities. Eliminating the program will harm individuals with significant disabilities, especially youth. WIOA established a priority to assist youth with significant disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment. Accordingly, states must spend at least 50% of their Supported Employment State Grants on youth with the most significant disabilities, including providing up to 4 years of extended services for these youth. If funding is eliminated, supported employment services for individuals with significant disabilities, including youth, will be significantly constricted. We understand the rationale that states may use their Title I funds to provide the same services as those authorized under the Title VI Supported Employment State Grants program; however new requirements under WIOA have severely constricted the states' ability to serve all eligible individuals. While theoretically true, expecting states to absorb the cost of the supported employment services presently funded under Title Vi into their basic program ignores the financial limitations with which states are struggling. The end result will be fewer services and longer waiting lists. In sum, eliminating the funding for the Supported Employment State Grants program will harm individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with the most significant disabilities. We strongly urge you to consider the vital role the Supported Employment State Grants program plays in the lives of people with disabilities and to restore the $27.5 million in funding. Thank you for your serious consideration of our request. Respectfully yours, Doris Illies, President See what's happening on our social sites <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001WTcLXIl04NCSacWYrDZVrx_Z2w0AsrZKHAFyAWUuiwiik2D6ylefPjAlCm5J0XyOZx5jsfSiJmmV8-aXJts92P6xKsiqn7XVG6UtG0UX3zHJEyx_x4qOACLEIZ4GKAatKCWRfga4ffY5IzRrTUWjGSPBtPzOQn2Vy6PLADu2LBqXqdMQ-ejvZA==&c=51vwxmwpagcs2elFNXDfo_JBRXMAVBgqmgXTggKZf3NNzQawBNzRPQ==&ch=30O1Y6ri3-jZ0wN-5UDPmgzxPHT5PsWkxjEUl-FyrbZPglHgxosR5w==> Image removed by sender. 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