FEDERAL STRUCTURE

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FEDERAL STRUCTURE

• How do we get there from here?

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Federal Structure

• Created on May 4, 1980 by the Department of
  Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88)
• Moved Programs authorized by the Rehabilitation
  Act of 1973, as amended to the Department of
  Education.
• Created Offices within the Department based on
  Programs
• Created a bureaucratic structure that tied
  Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation
  together...(really????)

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Federal Structure-OSERS

• Created Office of Special Education and
  Rehabilitation Services (OSERS)
• OSERS supports programs designed to educate
  children with special needs provides for the
  rehabilitation of youths and adults with
  disabilities and supports research to improve
  lives of individuals with disabilities
• Headed by Assistant Secretary, appointed by
  President and confirmed by the Senate
• Position vacant
• President nominated John Hager, Virginia to be
  Assistant Secretary, on June 3, 2004.
• Awaiting Senate Confirmationmay be a recess
  appointment which allows Administration to fill
  vacancy without confirmation for remainder of
  2004.

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Federal Structure-OSERS

• OSERS responsible for following Programs
• Special Education (Office of Special Education
  Programs--OSEP)
• Vocational Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation
  Services Administration--RSA)
• Rehabilitation Research (National Institute on
  Disability and Rehabilitation Research--NDIRR)

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Federal Structure-OSERS

• OSERS
• Heads of Offices within OSERS are appointed by
  the Secretary of EducationEXCEPT the
  Commissioner of RSA!!!!
• Directors of OSEP and NIDRR are Secretarial
  Appointees
• Director of RSA Presidential Appointment, with
  Senate Confirmation, just like Cabinet Level
  Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries. (Sec. 3(a)
  Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended)

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Federal Structure-RSA

• Why is it important that the RSA Commissioner be
  Appointed by President, and Confirmed by the
  Senate?
• Provides Commissioner with direct entry to the
  Administration
• Gives Individuals with Disabilities significant
  recognition in Public Policy arena
• Provides a vehicle for the only Employment
  Program for Individuals with Disabilities to
  bring issues to Administration

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Federal Structure-RSA

• WHAT DOES RSA DO
• RSA responsible for implementation of
  Rehabilitation Act provisions which relate to the
  Public VR Program, Independent Living, Client
  Assistance Program.
• Provides Technical Assistance, Monitoring to
  State VR Agencies

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Federal Structure-RSA

• RSA Comprised of Central Office located in
  Washington and 10 Regional Offices
• Composition of Central Office
• Program Administration Division
• Blind and Visually Impaired Division
• Resource Development Division
• Special Projects Division

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Federal Structure-RSA

• Regional Offices
• 10 Regional Offices
• Region I -- NE States
• Region I -- NY, NJ, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
• Region III -- PA, DE, MD, VA, WV
• Region IV -- NC, SC,TN,KY,GA,FL,AL,MS
• Region V -- MN, WI, OH,MI, IL
• Region VI LA, OK, NM, TX, AR
• Region VII IA, KS, NE, MO

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Federal Structure-RSA

• Region VIII -- CO, UT, WY, MT, ND, SD
• Region IX CA, AZ, NV, HI, Guam, N. Marianas
• Region X AK, WA, ID, OR

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Federal Structure-RSA

• 5 Regional Commissioners responsible for 10
  Regions
• Regions I-II Allen Kropp, Regional Commissioner
• Regions III-IV Ralph Pacinelli, Regional
  Commissioner
• Regions V-VII Joseph Cordova

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Federal Structure-RSA

• Regions VI-VIII- Lorance Deaver, Regional
  Commissioner
• Regions IX-X Noel Nightingale

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Federal Structure-NIDRR

• NIDRR Mission
• To generate, disseminate, and promote new
  knowledge to improve the options available to
  individuals with disabilities
• NIDRR
• Conducts comprehensive and coordinated research
  program with focus on employment, health,
  technology for access and function, independent
  living and community integration.