[node:field_meeting_type] | April 2011

Report of

REGENTS ACCES COMMITTEE

To

The Board of Regents

April 5, 2011

Your ACCES Committee held its scheduled meeting on April 4, 2011.  All members were present.  Additional members of the Board attending where: Chancellor Tisch, Regent Cashin, Regent Phillips, Regent Jackson and Regent Young.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

The Committee was informed about the roles and responsibilities of the Adult Career and Continuing Education Services–Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) State Rehabilitation Council (SRC).  The New York State Rehabilitation Council advises, consults and works in partnership with ACCES-VR to advance the principles articulated in Section 100 of the Rehabilitation Act.  The SRC and ACCES-VR partner to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive appropriate, timely, and effective services leading to integrated employment outcomes.  The SRC draws upon its diverse membership to provide a range of perspectives and constructive input into ACCES-VR’s goals and priorities, policy development and service delivery.  The mix of perspectives from parent training centers and P-12 special education representatives have served to refine ACCES-VR’s approach to support for students in transition from school to adult life.  Similarly, the views of SRC representatives from business, industry and labor along with those of vocational rehabilitation counselors and community rehabilitation programs have served to refine ACCES-VR’s focus on the needs and wants of employers and the requisite skills workers possess to be successful in the workplace.  The role of the Council is critical to ensuring appropriate and quality services are available to all of ACCES-VR’s consumers.  ACCES-VR places a high priority on the recruitment of Council members that have extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the employment needs of individuals with disabilities.  The collective efforts of SRC and ACCES-VR will continue to ensure that the Council membership is reflective of New York State’s diverse communities.

This concludes our report.