Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation

Program Purpose
The program helps Alaska Natives/American Indians with disabilities find or maintain employment, and/or learn skills necessary for independent living. The program emphasizes maintaining eligible clients in their communities, while providing and promoting culturally appropriate services.

Program Description
To be eligible an individual must: reside in Southeast Alaska; be an enrolled member of an Alaska Native or American Indian Tribe; and have a physical or mental impairment (including substance abuse) which constitutes, or results in, an impediment to employment or independent living. Services are designed to achieve objectives consistent with the circumstances unique to each client.

Accomplishments
In 1995, Central Council applied for and received a Vocational Rehabilitation Services Project for American Indians with Disabilities Grant. Our first objective was to develop the program into an effective service delivery system to our disabled population. Having completed its first full year of operation, the program has exceeded all plan objectives. During recent "Rehabilitation Services Administration" hearings, our program was held as "the model" for the 34 similar programs nationwide.

Goals
Our goal is to maintain and expand our vocational rehabilitation program through the development of policy and eligibility requirements and coordinated training programs for council staff and community liaison involvement. In addition, we want to continue to increase the number of Native clients with disabilities applying for and receiving comprehensive and successful vocational rehabilitation services in the rural populations of Southeast Alaska. This will be measured against numbers served by the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) from those same populations during the five years prior to establishment of the program.

Key Dates
The program is funded by a three year grant from the Department of Education; Rehabilitation Services Administration, under authority of Title 1. Section 130 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1992.