Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities Annual Report, 2004

Annual report from Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities

Department of Human Rights Division of Persons with Disabilities Annual Performance Plan Report, September 2005

This report is published in accordance with the Accountable Government Act to improve decision-making and increase accountability to stakeholders and citizens. This report contains performance information regarding our primary programs including, the Youth Leadership Forum, the College Leadership Forum, the State Access Grant and the Client Assistance Program. Major accomplishments this year include continuation of our core programs, a key role in the Iowa Great Places initiative and providing Cultural Competency training to governmental and non-governmental agencies.

Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities Annual Report, 2003

This report highlights the achievements of the Division of Persons with Disabilities, especially new and innovative directions to improve the employment opportunities for Iowans with disabilities.

Division of Persons With Disabilities Annual Report, 2002

This report highlights the achievements of the Division of Persons with Disabilities, especially new and innovative directions to improve the employment opportunities for Iowans with disabilities.

Improving Transition Outcomes-An Innovative State Alignment Grant for Improving Transition Outcome for Youth with Disabilities Through the Use of Intermediaries, 2004

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a Division of the State of Iowa Department of Education, in partnership with six other state agencies, applied for and was awarded funding for “Improving Transition Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities Through the Use of intermediaries.” This Innovative State Alignment Grant is funded by the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. For clarity and brevity, the Iowa team chose to use “Improving Transition Outcomes” as the project name, thus providing the acronym ITO. Grant funding began October 1, 2003 with the possibility of renewal for five years.

Department of Human Rights Division of Persons with Disabilities Annual Performance Plan Report, September 2006

the Division of Persons with Disabilities, Iowa Department of Human Rights, Performance Report for fiscal year 2006 (July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006). This report is published in accordance with the Accountable Government Act to improve decision-making and increase accountability to stakeholders and citizens. This report contains performance information regarding our primary programs including, the Youth Leadership Forum, the College Leadership Forum, the State Access Grant and the Client Assistance Program.

The Americans with Disabilities Act: Employer/Employee Rights & Responsibilities, A Guide for Iowans, May 2015

This publication was designed with the belief that the ADA addresses both employers and employees to achieve a viable workforce and productive society. The law was intended to reflect the balance between the employer and the employee with a disability. This booklet contains information on Title I of the ADA but should not be considered legal advice. Title I is directly related to the employment provisions of the law. Both employers and employees have responsibilities and rights under the ADA and this booklet addresses the balance of rights and responsibilities under the law.

Division of Persons with Disabilities Agency Performance Plan, 2007

Agency Performance Plan

Division of Persons with Disabilities Annual Performance Plan Report, September 2007

Division of Persons with Disabilities Annual Peformance Report September 2007

Placement of Students Ages 3-21 with Disabilities Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): A Policy Discussion, May 2010

The provision of free appropriate public education (FAPE), an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and the least restrictive environment (LRE) have been important cornerstones of educating students with disabilities since the enactment of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA), Public Law 94-142, in 1975, and its subsequent reauthorizations, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990, 1997, and 2004. It is impossible to consider any one of these cornerstones without the others, when determining an appropriate educational placement for a student with a disability. The Iowa Department of Education has identified several practice issues regarding the interplay between FAPE, LRE, and the IEP in placement decisions for students with disabilities. To that end, this document will provide guidance for administrators of local education agencies (LEAs) and area education agencies (AEAs), as well as IEP teams (or other placement teams) within Iowa LEAs and AEAs when making placement decisions for eligible children with disabilities. This guidance will specifically discuss ten LRE and FAPE placement/program policy questions that have been identified by the Iowa Department of Education as needing attention. The policy discussions are consistent with the legal provisions of the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA (IDEA 2004) and its 2006 final federal implementing regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). This document is also consistent with the Iowa Administrative Rules of Special Education (2007) [hereinafter “Iowa Rules”]. In addition, the term local education agency (LEA) is used interchangeably for school district throughout this document. Prior to the discussion of specific policy questions, a federal and state legal framework for providing FAPE for students with disabilities within the LRE is briefly outlined. Pertinent FAPE and LRE court decisions that impact Iowa LEAs and AEAs are also included within Section II.

Safety and Mobility Impacts of Winter Weather – Phase I, August 2011

Highway agencies spend millions of dollars to ensure safe and efficient winter travel. However, the effectiveness of winter weather maintenance practices on safety and mobility are somewhat difficult to quantify. Phase I of this project investigated opportunities for improving traffic safety on state-maintained roads in Iowa during winter weather conditions. The primary objective was to develop several preliminary means for the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to identify locations of possible interest systematically with respect to winter weather-related safety performance based on crash history. Specifically, metrics were developed to assist in identifying possible habitual, winter weather-related crash sites on state-maintained rural highways in Iowa. In addition, the current state of practice, for both domestic and international highway agency practices, regarding integration of traffic safety- and mobility-related data in winter maintenance activities and performance measures were investigated. This investigation also included previous research efforts. Finally, a preliminary work plan, focusing on systematic use of safety-related data in support of winter maintenance activities and site evaluation, was prepared.

Application of Visualization and Simulation Program to Improve Work Zone Safety and Mobility, January 2010

A previous study sponsored by the Smart Work Zone Deployment Initiative, “Feasibility of Visualization and Simulation Applications to Improve Work Zone Safety and Mobility,” demonstrated the feasibility of combining readily available, inexpensive software programs, such as SketchUp and Google Earth, with standard two-dimensional civil engineering design programs, such as MicroStation, to create animations of construction work zones. The animations reflect changes in work zone configurations as the project progresses, representing an opportunity to visually present complex information to drivers, construction workers, agency personnel, and the general public. The purpose of this study is to continue the work from the previous study to determine the added value and resource demands created by including more complex data, specifically traffic volume, movement, and vehicle type. This report describes the changes that were made to the simulation, including incorporating additional data and converting the simulation from a desktop application to a web application.

Division of Persons with Disabilities Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, 2002-2005

The Division of Persons with Disabilities exists to promote the employment of Iowans with disabilities and reduce barriers to employment by providing information, referral, assessment and guidance, training, and negotiation services to employers and citizens with disabilities.

Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities, July 10-July 15, 2011

Five day leadership training program for 10th, 11th and 12th grade high school students with disabilities. Model program sponsored by the U.S Department of Labor Office National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability and developed locally by a collaboration of state and private agencies.

Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities Responsibilities of Primary Staff Volunteers, July 2011

Adults who can facilitate small group sessions. As a team they will be assigned to one of three small groups to assist students with completion of leadership exercises, facilitate small group discussions and help students develop their personal leadership plan. Responsibilities also include providing supervision, support and guidance to student delegates.