Training Opportunities & Information Updates

From the Kentucky Supported Employment Training Project
April 8^th, 2025

Information Updates

In an effort to ensure you are aware of information shared by the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, please read the following announcement and notice of upcoming Public Hearings.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet

Public Hearing Announcement

Contact: Lametta Isaacs, Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator, at lametta.isaacs@ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky (April 7, 2025): The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has updated its drafted proposed changes to the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the 2024-2027 Combined State Plan to implement an Order of Selection. An Order of Selection is a tool defined within the Rehabilitation Act for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs to manage the consumer caseload when there is insufficient funding. OVR has scheduled two public hearings and a 10-day comment period to give stakeholders in the VR community and members of the public the opportunity to provide input and comment on the updated proposed policy changes affecting VR Services.

The primary purpose of the hearings is to present updated information regarding the closure of all priority categories. The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) recently identified duplicative language in the priority category definitions for Priority Category 1 and Priority Category 2 that affects the original proposed state plan amendment. These definitions were approved by RSA in 2018; however, during this recent amendment submission, RSA identified an issue with the definitions. Given the identification of the duplicative language and the guidance received, OVR will be closing all categories. OVR will address the necessary changes to the definitions through the regulatory process, which allows public input. The agency will work expeditiously to address concerns with the definition and open categories as funding allows and updated regulations are approved. The hearings will focus on the reason for these changes and provide clarity on how they will enhance OVR’s commitment to serving individuals with disabilities. Stakeholders in the VR community and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Written comments should be sent via e-mail to OVRPublicComment@KY.gov or by mail to the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Public Hearing Comment, 500 Mero Street, 4th Floor., Frankfort, KY 40601. The public comment period begins on April 7, 2025, at 4:00 PM EDT and ends on April 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM EDT.

You may access the draft policy changes from the Vocational Rehabilitation - Kentucky Career Center on our website under the heading “Order of Selection.” The information presented will be the same at each hearing. The hearing schedules with links for accessing the meetings are below.

• Virtual Only - Monday, April 14, 2025 (Morning) from 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM EDT (Meeting ID: 871 0116 9402)
• Virtual Only - Monday, April 14, 2025 (Evening) from 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM EDT (Meeting ID: 840 7235 5077)

Sign language interpreting services and CART services will be provided during each virtual hearing.

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet’s Department of Workforce Development, assists Kentuckians with disabilities achieve gainful employment and independence. For more information about services, call the office toll free at 1-800-372-7172 or KCC.ky.gov. The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet coordinates learning programs from P-16 and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department of Workforce Development. For more information about our programs, visit elc.ky.gov.

Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out! The Supported Employment Training Project is here to offer training and technical assistance to providers across Kentucky. We are available to bring trainings to your agency and for individual conversations. Contact Katie Wolf Whaley at kwolf@uky.edu (or reply to this email).

With our expanded team, we look forward to offering more events and to having the ability to meet one-on-one with agencies and Employment Specialists. Let us know how we can help and support you in this work.

Thank you for all you do to move Employment First forward and help people find successful employment.

Katie