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AER Legislative/Advocacy Workgroup

AER Submits Comments on WIOA Rules

Anthony Candela

Tue, Sep 5, 2017 3:35 PM

https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/ AER Submits
Comments Opposing WIOA Rules

Posted on August 31, 2017
https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/ by ginger
https://aerbvi.org/author/ginger/

Docket ID: ED-2017-OS-0074
(Filed August 18, 2017)

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired expresses strong opposition to rules enacted by the U.S. Department
of Education (DoED) in 2016.

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (AER) serves and empowers professionals to deliver standards-based
practices that lead to improved educational and rehabilitative outcomes for
individuals with visual impairment and blindness.

In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(WIOA), which reauthorized and reformed the nation's workforce development
programs. To implement WIOA, federal agencies issued a total of five
regulatory rules. DoED issued The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) final rule
in August, 2016. The VR final rule contained detrimental policy decisions
and misguided language that we believe exceeded congressional intent and
placed at risk employment and related services for Americans who are blind
at numerous agencies providing employment for persons with visual
impairment, as well as those at other AbilityOneR Program agencies.

Under WIOA, Congress combined previously existing definitions under what is
now called "Competitive Integrated Employment". Congress did not change the
"integration" definition that already existed in regulations and that has
been used by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and state VR
agencies. And yet, the final WIOA rule on Vocational Rehabilitation programs
enacted by DoE contained language that said any nonprofits working through
AbilityOne, state use programs or that are required to comply with labor
ratio requirements, are either never going to, or not likely going to,
provide employment in integrated work settings.

As a result of these misguided, blanket statements by DoED, some state VR
agencies have distributed letters telling these nonprofit agencies that they
cannot continue to work with AbilityOne nonprofits. This is regulatory
overreach, goes well beyond congressional intent, and is resulting in harm
and the withholding of services to people who are blind and who freely
choose to work at an AbilityOne associated nonprofit agency.

Existing regulations issued by the Department of Education/RSA, and still in
effect today, require state VR agencies to research each employment setting
to make determinations as to whether or not it is "integrated" and this must
be done on a case-by-case basis. State VR agencies cannot simply write off
AbilityOne agencies based on unwise statements in the final VR rule issued
by DoED.

The Department of Education also overreached in the VR rule when it made the
discretionary decision to eliminate the category of uncompensated outcomes,
which includes the "Homemaker Exemption." This category is utilized
disproportionately by people who are blind, and allows older adults that
have experienced vision loss sufficient time to receive training and
rehabilitation. Congress did not direct DoED to eliminate the homemaker
exemption when it passed WIOA, and this unilateral decision by the
Department comes at a time when the federal government projects increased
numbers of older Americans will experience vision loss.

We respectfully request that the leadership of the two relevant committees
in Congress (Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and
House Committee on Education and the Workforce) direct the Administration
and the Department of Education to do the following:

(1) Issue a new communication to state VR agencies and remind them of their
obligation under existing regulations to investigate and make determinations
about integrated work settings on a case-by-case basis; and
(2) Reverse the decision made in August 2016 and restore the uncompensated
outcomes category, including the Homemaker Exemption.

The livelihoods of thousands of Americans who are blind have been placed at
risk by an agency that engaged in regulatory overreach and went beyond the
will of Congress in 2016, and we are asking Congress to work with the
Administration to correct these

Anthony R. Candela

Co-Chair, AER Legislative Committee

Rehabilitation Specialist/Consultant

(510) 912-0969

acandela@juno.com

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<https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/> AER Submits Comments Opposing WIOA Rules Posted on August 31, 2017 <https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/> by ginger <https://aerbvi.org/author/ginger/> Docket ID: ED-2017-OS-0074 (Filed August 18, 2017) The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired expresses strong opposition to rules enacted by the U.S. Department of Education (DoED) in 2016. The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) serves and empowers professionals to deliver standards-based practices that lead to improved educational and rehabilitative outcomes for individuals with visual impairment and blindness. In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which reauthorized and reformed the nation's workforce development programs. To implement WIOA, federal agencies issued a total of five regulatory rules. DoED issued The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) final rule in August, 2016. The VR final rule contained detrimental policy decisions and misguided language that we believe exceeded congressional intent and placed at risk employment and related services for Americans who are blind at numerous agencies providing employment for persons with visual impairment, as well as those at other AbilityOneR Program agencies. Under WIOA, Congress combined previously existing definitions under what is now called "Competitive Integrated Employment". Congress did not change the "integration" definition that already existed in regulations and that has been used by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and state VR agencies. And yet, the final WIOA rule on Vocational Rehabilitation programs enacted by DoE contained language that said any nonprofits working through AbilityOne, state use programs or that are required to comply with labor ratio requirements, are either never going to, or not likely going to, provide employment in integrated work settings. As a result of these misguided, blanket statements by DoED, some state VR agencies have distributed letters telling these nonprofit agencies that they cannot continue to work with AbilityOne nonprofits. This is regulatory overreach, goes well beyond congressional intent, and is resulting in harm and the withholding of services to people who are blind and who freely choose to work at an AbilityOne associated nonprofit agency. Existing regulations issued by the Department of Education/RSA, and still in effect today, require state VR agencies to research each employment setting to make determinations as to whether or not it is "integrated" and this must be done on a case-by-case basis. State VR agencies cannot simply write off AbilityOne agencies based on unwise statements in the final VR rule issued by DoED. The Department of Education also overreached in the VR rule when it made the discretionary decision to eliminate the category of uncompensated outcomes, which includes the "Homemaker Exemption." This category is utilized disproportionately by people who are blind, and allows older adults that have experienced vision loss sufficient time to receive training and rehabilitation. Congress did not direct DoED to eliminate the homemaker exemption when it passed WIOA, and this unilateral decision by the Department comes at a time when the federal government projects increased numbers of older Americans will experience vision loss. We respectfully request that the leadership of the two relevant committees in Congress (Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and House Committee on Education and the Workforce) direct the Administration and the Department of Education to do the following: (1) Issue a new communication to state VR agencies and remind them of their obligation under existing regulations to investigate and make determinations about integrated work settings on a case-by-case basis; and (2) Reverse the decision made in August 2016 and restore the uncompensated outcomes category, including the Homemaker Exemption. The livelihoods of thousands of Americans who are blind have been placed at risk by an agency that engaged in regulatory overreach and went beyond the will of Congress in 2016, and we are asking Congress to work with the Administration to correct these Anthony R. Candela Co-Chair, AER Legislative Committee Rehabilitation Specialist/Consultant (510) 912-0969 acandela@juno.com ____________________________________________________________ How To Remove Eye Bags & Lip Lines Fast (Watch) Fit Mom Daily http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/59aec44a77fba44484c16st04duc

Sharon Giovinazzo

Wed, Sep 6, 2017 12:03 PM

Well said!

Sharon L. Giovinazzo
Sharon L. Giovinazzo, MBA/MSW/ATP
President/CEO
World Services for the Blind
2811 Fair Park Blvd.
Little Rock AR 72204
501-664-7100 Extension 220
501-766-6754 Cell/Text
Sgiovinazzo@WSBlind.org mailto:Sgiovinazzo@WSBlind.org

The mission of World Services for the Blind is empowering people who are blind and visually impaired in the United States and around the world to achieve sustainable independence.

From: Legiscom [mailto:legiscom-bounces@lists.aerbvi.org] On Behalf Of Anthony Candela
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 10:36 AM
To: legiscom@lists.aerbvi.org
Subject: [Legiscom] AER Submits Comments on WIOA Rules

AER Submits Comments Opposing WIOA Ruleshttps://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/
Posted on August 31, 2017https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/ by gingerhttps://aerbvi.org/author/ginger/

Docket ID: ED-2017-OS-0074
(Filed August 18, 2017)

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired expresses strong opposition to rules enacted by the U.S. Department of Education (DoED) in 2016.

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) serves and empowers professionals to deliver standards-based practices that lead to improved educational and rehabilitative outcomes for individuals with visual impairment and blindness.

In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which reauthorized and reformed the nation's workforce development programs. To implement WIOA, federal agencies issued a total of five regulatory rules. DoED issued The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) final rule in August, 2016. The VR final rule contained detrimental policy decisions and misguided language that we believe exceeded congressional intent and placed at risk employment and related services for Americans who are blind at numerous agencies providing employment for persons with visual impairment, as well as those at other AbilityOne(r) Program agencies.

Under WIOA, Congress combined previously existing definitions under what is now called "Competitive Integrated Employment". Congress did not change the "integration" definition that already existed in regulations and that has been used by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and state VR agencies. And yet, the final WIOA rule on Vocational Rehabilitation programs enacted by DoE contained language that said any nonprofits working through AbilityOne, state use programs or that are required to comply with labor ratio requirements, are either never going to, or not likely going to, provide employment in integrated work settings.

As a result of these misguided, blanket statements by DoED, some state VR agencies have distributed letters telling these nonprofit agencies that they cannot continue to work with AbilityOne nonprofits. This is regulatory overreach, goes well beyond congressional intent, and is resulting in harm and the withholding of services to people who are blind and who freely choose to work at an AbilityOne associated nonprofit agency.

Existing regulations issued by the Department of Education/RSA, and still in effect today, require state VR agencies to research each employment setting to make determinations as to whether or not it is "integrated" and this must be done on a case-by-case basis. State VR agencies cannot simply write off AbilityOne agencies based on unwise statements in the final VR rule issued by DoED.

The Department of Education also overreached in the VR rule when it made the discretionary decision to eliminate the category of uncompensated outcomes, which includes the "Homemaker Exemption." This category is utilized disproportionately by people who are blind, and allows older adults that have experienced vision loss sufficient time to receive training and rehabilitation. Congress did not direct DoED to eliminate the homemaker exemption when it passed WIOA, and this unilateral decision by the Department comes at a time when the federal government projects increased numbers of older Americans will experience vision loss.

We respectfully request that the leadership of the two relevant committees in Congress (Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and House Committee on Education and the Workforce) direct the Administration and the Department of Education to do the following:

(1) Issue a new communication to state VR agencies and remind them of their obligation under existing regulations to investigate and make determinations about integrated work settings on a case-by-case basis; and
(2) Reverse the decision made in August 2016 and restore the uncompensated outcomes category, including the Homemaker Exemption.

The livelihoods of thousands of Americans who are blind have been placed at risk by an agency that engaged in regulatory overreach and went beyond the will of Congress in 2016, and we are asking Congress to work with the Administration to correct these

Anthony R. Candela
Co-Chair, AER Legislative Committee
Rehabilitation Specialist/Consultant
(510) 912-0969
acandela@juno.com mailto:acandela@juno.com

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Well said! Sharon L. Giovinazzo Sharon L. Giovinazzo, MBA/MSW/ATP President/CEO World Services for the Blind 2811 Fair Park Blvd. Little Rock AR 72204 501-664-7100 Extension 220 501-766-6754 Cell/Text Sgiovinazzo@WSBlind.org<mailto:Sgiovinazzo@WSBlind.org> The mission of World Services for the Blind is empowering people who are blind and visually impaired in the United States and around the world to achieve sustainable independence. From: Legiscom [mailto:legiscom-bounces@lists.aerbvi.org] On Behalf Of Anthony Candela Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 10:36 AM To: legiscom@lists.aerbvi.org Subject: [Legiscom] AER Submits Comments on WIOA Rules AER Submits Comments Opposing WIOA Rules<https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/> Posted on August 31, 2017<https://aerbvi.org/aer-submits-comments-opposing-wioa-rules/> by ginger<https://aerbvi.org/author/ginger/> Docket ID: ED-2017-OS-0074 (Filed August 18, 2017) The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired expresses strong opposition to rules enacted by the U.S. Department of Education (DoED) in 2016. The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) serves and empowers professionals to deliver standards-based practices that lead to improved educational and rehabilitative outcomes for individuals with visual impairment and blindness. In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which reauthorized and reformed the nation's workforce development programs. To implement WIOA, federal agencies issued a total of five regulatory rules. DoED issued The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) final rule in August, 2016. The VR final rule contained detrimental policy decisions and misguided language that we believe exceeded congressional intent and placed at risk employment and related services for Americans who are blind at numerous agencies providing employment for persons with visual impairment, as well as those at other AbilityOne(r) Program agencies. Under WIOA, Congress combined previously existing definitions under what is now called "Competitive Integrated Employment". Congress did not change the "integration" definition that already existed in regulations and that has been used by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and state VR agencies. And yet, the final WIOA rule on Vocational Rehabilitation programs enacted by DoE contained language that said any nonprofits working through AbilityOne, state use programs or that are required to comply with labor ratio requirements, are either never going to, or not likely going to, provide employment in integrated work settings. As a result of these misguided, blanket statements by DoED, some state VR agencies have distributed letters telling these nonprofit agencies that they cannot continue to work with AbilityOne nonprofits. This is regulatory overreach, goes well beyond congressional intent, and is resulting in harm and the withholding of services to people who are blind and who freely choose to work at an AbilityOne associated nonprofit agency. Existing regulations issued by the Department of Education/RSA, and still in effect today, require state VR agencies to research each employment setting to make determinations as to whether or not it is "integrated" and this must be done on a case-by-case basis. State VR agencies cannot simply write off AbilityOne agencies based on unwise statements in the final VR rule issued by DoED. The Department of Education also overreached in the VR rule when it made the discretionary decision to eliminate the category of uncompensated outcomes, which includes the "Homemaker Exemption." This category is utilized disproportionately by people who are blind, and allows older adults that have experienced vision loss sufficient time to receive training and rehabilitation. Congress did not direct DoED to eliminate the homemaker exemption when it passed WIOA, and this unilateral decision by the Department comes at a time when the federal government projects increased numbers of older Americans will experience vision loss. We respectfully request that the leadership of the two relevant committees in Congress (Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and House Committee on Education and the Workforce) direct the Administration and the Department of Education to do the following: (1) Issue a new communication to state VR agencies and remind them of their obligation under existing regulations to investigate and make determinations about integrated work settings on a case-by-case basis; and (2) Reverse the decision made in August 2016 and restore the uncompensated outcomes category, including the Homemaker Exemption. The livelihoods of thousands of Americans who are blind have been placed at risk by an agency that engaged in regulatory overreach and went beyond the will of Congress in 2016, and we are asking Congress to work with the Administration to correct these Anthony R. Candela Co-Chair, AER Legislative Committee Rehabilitation Specialist/Consultant (510) 912-0969 acandela@juno.com<mailto:acandela@juno.com> ____________________________________________________________ How To Remove Eye Bags & Lip Lines Fast (Watch) Fit Mom Daily <http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3142/59aec44a77fba44484c16st04duc>http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3142/59aec44a77fba44484c16st04duc [SponsoredBy Content.Ad]