Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Table of Contents
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
On August 7, 1998, the President Clinton signed into law the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, which includes the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. Section 508 was originally added to the Rehabilitation Act in 1986; the 1998 amendments significantly expand and strengthen the technology access requirements in Section 508.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorized WIA was signed into law in July 2014. This legislation is designed to strengthen and improve our nation's public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.
Implications to transition youth with disabilities includes:
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Emphasizes the provision of services to students and youth with disabilities to ensure they have opportunities to receive the training and other services necessary to achieve competitive integrated employment
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Expands the population of students with disabilities who may receive services and the kinds of services that the VR agencies may provide to youth and students with disabilities who are transitioning from school to postsecondary education and employment;
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Increases opportunities to practice and improve workplace skills, such as through internships and other work-based learning opportunities
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Requires VR agencies to reserve not less than 15 percent of the Federal VR allotment to provide, or arrange for the provision of, pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities transitioning from school to postsecondary education programs and employment in competitive integrated settings, and that these services be coordinated with local educational agencies (LEA)
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) determines eligibility for service according to a disability definition contained in WIOA. OOD generally provides employment services with some limited residential and education support if needed for success in employment.