QUALITY OF THE PROJECT SERVICES 25 Points (recommend 6 pages)

Project Services Culturally relevant Comparable to State VR as described in Section 103 of the Rehabilitation Act Impact consumers to attain gainful employment

(d) Quality of Project Services The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project. The application should include information on the following factors: 1. Ensuring equal access and treatment 2. Appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients… 3. Impact of the services…on the intended recipients… 4. Involve the collaboration of appropriate partners

Selection Criteria (d) 1 The quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

Eligibility All American Indians with disabilities living on or near the reservation have equal chances to apply for VR services Eligibility criteria is the same for all applicants (a)Member of a state or federally recognized tribe (b)Live on or near the reservation or designated service area (c)Has a mental or physical disability that impedes their employment (d)Applicant require and will benefit from VR services resulting in successful employment outcome

Equal access and treatment Demonstrate that persons with disabilities will be able to access services as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Availability of program applications and material in alternate format Accessible facilities Provide interpreters and TDD/TYY services

Equal access and treatment (cont’d) Accommodations to ensure equal access and treatment Availability of traditional healing services used by the tribe Ensure privacy and confidentiality of all applicants and consumers Provide information on Client Assistance Program services Provide transportation and conduct home visits Satellite field offices

Selection Criteria (d) 2 The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services.

Services VR services described in Section 103 of the Act to assist consumers to achieve their vocational goal Traditional healing services by Native healers and services reflecting cultural background of consumers Section (a)(2)

Appropriateness of Services What services are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients to achieve employment outcomes? Ask individuals with disabilities and consumers Family members Employers Collaborators Staff

Selection Criteria (d) 3 The likely impact of the services to be provided by the proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.

Impact of Services Related to purpose of project Successful employment Integrated employment Employee benefits and career mobility Higher quality of life to live independently

Selection Criteria (d) 4 The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of the project services.

Collaboration explain how the cooperative working agreement with State VR will improve and expand services for tribal consumers 34 CFR (g) discuss how the project will use comparable benefits and services to maximize effectiveness of consumer services 34 CFR (h)

Collaboration (cont’d) explain how the tribe and project will ensure the use of qualified providers to prepare consumers for employment 34 CFR (j) Discuss agency partners and coordination of consumer services included under Project Design that will contribute to the efficacy of the project services.