Agency 30. Department For Aging and Rehabilitative Services [Details]

• Library: Virginia Administrative Code
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 9, December 18, 2023
• Year: 2023

AGENCY SUMMARY

The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services is designated as the state agency authorized to carry out the purposes and provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended ( P.L. 102-569 ), including receiving and administering federal funds to provide vocational rehabilitation and supported employment services to individuals with disabilities (Code of Virginia, Title 51.5, Chapter 14, Article 1) and to provide state independent living services and to develop and support a statewide network of centers for independent living (Code of Virginia, Title 51.5, Chapter 14, Article 10). The commissioner of the department is authorized to operate and maintain the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, which provides comprehensive training, vocational evaluation, physical and mental restoration, and independent living services to persons with disabilities who have complex or multiple service needs. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate regulations necessary to carry out provisions of the laws administered by the department. (Code of Virginia, Title 51.5, Chapter 14, Article 2)

The department is responsible for (i) coordinating rehabilitative services to persons with functional and central nervous system disabilities (Code of Virginia, Title 51.5, Chapter 14, Article 1); (ii) establishing procedures and policies for soliciting and receiving applications for grants from the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Trust Fund and criteria for reviewing and ranking such applications in order to prevent traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries and to improve the treatment and care of persons with such injuries (Code of Virginia, Title 51.5, Chapter 14, Article 12) ); (iii) in cooperation with local education agencies, facilitating the transition of students with disabilities from secondary school programs to post-secondary training, education, and independent living (Rehabilitation Act); and (iv) providing personal assistance services to assist individuals with disabilities who are receiving vocational rehabilitative services (Rehabilitation Act). The department is responsible for administering the Social Security Administration's Disability Determination Services for SSDI and SSI claimants.

The department has the duty and power to act as the single state agency for administering the federal Older Americans Act...