• CLIENT SERVICES SECTION
  Cynthia Burley, LPC Division Chief

The Client Services Division is charged with delivering vocational rehabilitation services under the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, a state-federal partnership that provides assistance and support to eligible clients with disabilities to prepare for, secure, regain or retain a successful employment outcome, or to become more independent in the home or community.  Services are provided according to the eligible individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, interest, capabilities, and informed choice.

• DISABILITY DETERMINATION SECTION
  Dr. Adeniyi Ibikunle, Chief

The Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Disability Determination Section (RSA/DDD), which is the disability determination services for the District of Columbia, makes disability determinations for two federal programs that provide benefits based on disability: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program (Title II of the Social Security Act (the Act)) and the Supplemental Security Income

 

(SSI) program (Title XVI of the Act). The RSSA/DDD is 100% funded by the Social Security Administration.
The Title II program (SSDI) provides for payment of disability benefits to individuals who are “insured” under the Act by virtue of their contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund through the Social Security tax on their earnings, as well as to certain dependents (with disabilities) of insured individuals.
The Title XVI program (SSDI) provides for SSI payments to individuals (including children under age 18) with disabilities, who have limited income and resources. Monthly federal cash payments are provided to low-income aged, blind, and persons with disabilities in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

SSDI is a social insurance program financed through Social Security or payroll taxes and paid by workers and employers.  Eligibility for SSDI is based on an individual’s work history, and the amount of the benefit is based on the individual’s earnings.  Claimants 18 and older, whose disability began before age 22, may qualify for Social Security childhood disability payment  if a retired or disabled parent is receiving Social Security benefits, or if a deceased parent worked long enough under Social Security.

• MARKETING AND EMPLOYMENT SECTION
  Lloyd Buckner, Rehabilitation Services Officer

The Marketing and Place Section has several functions:

• To canvass local area employees to develop relationship with said in an effort to garner meaningful employment options for clients.  The Placement Specialist needs to be aware of all local area employment trends, so as to advise clients to employment opportunities currently available and those to come. Placement Specialist must maintain an up to date list of vacancies of both public and private employers and the hiring practices, so as to direct perspective employees (clients) to jobs.
• The Unit also conducts tow ½ a day Orientation sessions for applicants of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
• Any client who has been place, and begins to experience trouble on the job; retention services are provided in the form of counseling, training, and /or re-assignment.
• The unit will also host job readiness training, which will include but not limited to dress for success interviewing techniques, interviewing the interviewer, and etc.

• BUSINESS ENTERPRISE SECTION (Blind and Visual Impairment Services)
  Randolph Sheppard Vending Facilities Program
  Tiffany Harris-Davis, Chief (Acting)

RSA is mandated through the Randolph Sheppard Act of 1936, as amended, to be the State Licensing Agency for the Randolph Sheppard Vending Facility Program (RSVFP) pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations 34 part 395 and the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations 29 Chapter 2.

 

The Randolph Sheppard Program is designed to provide employment for persons who are blind to assist them to operate retail facilities on federal and District of Columbia properties including snack bars, delis, gift shops, cafeterias, news stands, and dry cleaners.

 

The Program Monitors are the first line of management operations with responsibilities to inspect, monitor, and assist the blind vending facility operators with the daily challenges of running a business.  The program monitors work with the SLA staff to provide management support services.

 

The RSVFP staff includes a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, a Fiscal and Correspondence Secretary, (3) three Program Monitors and a Program Analyst.  The staff provides various management support functions including the acquisition and manageme4nt of financial operations and information, licensing provisions, the purchase of new equipment, the replacement and repair of equipment, and the inspections that guarantee health code compliance.

 

With 26 blind vendors, the program works with its federal partners (e.g. General Services Administration) to ensure the appropriate operation of 37 vending facilities operated by blind vendors and over 100 non-vendor operated machine locations throughout the District.  The program administers all vending for both the Federal and District Governments.