Impact of Federal Legislation and Policy on VR Services for Consumers Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Perspectives of Agency Administrators and Program Specialists

The authors report on a national survey of administrators and program specialists at 43 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies concerning the impact of federal employment legislation and rehabilitation policies on the provision of services to consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The article focuses on 5 initiatives enacted to enhance efforts to help people with disabilities achieve competitive employment and self-sufficiency: the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Order of Selection policies established by state agencies, Interagency Agreements between VR and postsecondary programs, the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, and the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The article concludes with a summary of state agencies' priorities and needs in regard to technical assistance to enhance the provision of VR services.