Introduction to Tribal VR

1. Introduction to Tribal VR Section 121 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1978 as Amended

2. Statistics • 339 Federally Recognized Tribes • 227 Federally Recognized entities in AK alone • 60 State Recognized Tribes • @250 Native Languages still spoken

3. First Steps • 1947 – Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Bureau of Indian Affairs sign Cooperative Relationship Memorandum 21 resolving to focus efforts to server American Indians • The report notes "there is a very limited chronicle of integration of vocational rehabilitation services by the Tribal or Federal service agencies". • Little or no information exists to report the results of this effort.

4. 1978 Annual Report of Native Americans in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program provided the following summary: • "The greatest problems that face VR in the effort to improve services to Native Americans are ones that relate more to the potential client's status as an American Indian than to disability status. The Indian population on reservations, including the disabled population, is not conveniently located for easy participation in general Federal and State programs; they are usually dispersed in large rural areas. If there is a single, important step that RSA should consider in order to improve VR services to Native Americans, that step is developing ways to take VR to the reservation Indians. It is not likely that they will or even can come to VR in significant numbers."

5. Next Steps • In 1978 a tri-state grant entered into by the state vocational rehabilitation agencies in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah provided funds to Navajo to continue serving cases opened during the 1975-1978 period. • By 1978, Congress had written in Section 130 under Title I in the Rehabilitation Act which provided for American Indians projects to serve Indian people on reservations.

6. First Funding • The Navajo Nation applied for and received the initial grant in the amount of $650,000 and was the only project to provide vocational rehabilitation services to American Indians with disabilities until about 1985. • More than forty years after the 1947 memorandum, federal funds became available for the development of vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs in Indian Country.

7. Success • The Navajo Nation's successful endeavor paved the way for American Indian vocational rehabilitation programs and functioned as the model for service provision to American Indians with disabilities. • Support that included Native people who were from the community served, who knew the language, community, and resources.

8. 1998 Amendments • Section 130 authorizing Federally/State Recognized Tribes funding for VR is changed to Section 121 • Funding increased from $650,000 in 1985 to $23,998,000 in 2002 • Tribal VR programs increased from a few in 1978 to 69 in 2002 • There are currently 69 Tribal VR programs • Tribal VR programs successfully rehabilitated 1,088 American Indians with disabilities in FY 2001. • Currently, annual success rate of Tribal VR programs hovers at @64%

9. Reasons for Success • Services provided by Tribal Members • Identify with consumers • Flexibility to provide services in a culturally relevant manner • Knowledge of available resources (Local, Tribal, etc.)

10. Results of 1998 Amendments • State DVR MUST have a written cooperative agreement with the Tribal VR program(s). • Each agency is responsible for establishment of eligibility and IPE components but each agency can blend its service to best meet the needs of the consumer. • This collaborative assistance frequently results in both agencies claiming successful rehabilitations when an American Indian with disabilities is employed for 90 days. • 19 out of 22 suggested amendments presented by CANAR were accepted.

11. Any Questions?