Vocational rehabilitation services provided by the Department for the benefit of groups shall include, to the maximum extent possible with the resources available to the Department:

1. The establishment, development, or improvement of community rehabilitation programs, which shall be used to provide services under this section that promote integration into the community and prepare individuals with disabilities for competitive integrated employment, including supported employment and customized employment;

2. Transition services to youth with disabilities and students with disabilities, for which a vocational rehabilitation counselor works in concert with educational agencies, providers of job training programs, providers of services under the Medicaid program pursuant to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.), entities designated by the Department to provide services for individuals with developmental disabilities, centers for independent living, housing and transportation authorities, workforce development systems, businesses, and employers;

3. The use of telecommunications systems, including telephone, television, satellite, radio, and other similar systems that have the potential for substantially improving delivery methods of activities described in this section and developing appropriate programming to meet the particular needs of individuals with disabilities;

4. Technical assistance to businesses that are seeking to employ individuals with disabilities;

5. Consultation and technical assistance services to assist state and local educational agencies in planning for the transition of students with disabilities from school to post-secondary life, including employment;

6. The establishment, development, or improvement of assistive technology demonstration, loan, reutilization, or financing programs in coordination with activities authorized by the Assistive Technology Act of 1968 (29 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.) to promote access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities and employers; and

7. Support, including tuition where appropriate, for advanced training in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (including computer science fields), medicine, law, or business, consistent with the requirements in § 103 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.).

1985, c. 421, §§ 51.01-19, 51.5-19; 2002, c. 46; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2016, c. 27.