![](media/image1.wmf){width="0.7875in" height="0.8208333333333333in"}**A
21^st^ Century Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)**

In order to better meet the needs of all individuals with disabilities,
the U.S. Department of Education is improving RSA by moving the work of
its regional offices into RSA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. RSA
administers and supports a comprehensive array of grant programs and
projects that serve and assist individuals with disabilities. Using
21^st^ century technology, RSA will continue to provide the same
important programs and services for individuals with disabilities across
the nation. The new structure of RSA will strengthen programs without
compromising services for individuals with disabilities by ensuring:

-   **Better Services for Individuals with Disabilities**

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-   Modernizing RSA will mean individuals with disabilities will
    continue to receive the same services from the states, but now more
    effectively.

-   Thanks to a new management approach supported by technology, RSA is
    now able to monitor and administer services from one central
    location instead of many throughout the country. This means that any
    problems that might arise will be identified and fixed in a more
    timely fashion so that much-needed services are not hindered.

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-   Administration from one location will help eliminate any disparities
    in program implementation for individuals with disabilities that may
    have occurred in the past. This will result in more integrated
    program planning.

-   The new structure will free up administrative and overhead resources
    so that they can be used to provide more programs and services.

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-   **Better Communication with State Agencies Serving Individuals with
    Disabilities**

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-   The network of State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies will
    continue to be there for consumers. But now state agencies will
    directly communicate with headquarters rather than using regional
    offices as a middleman. This means that State Agencies will get what
    they need faster so that they can serve individuals with
    disabilities faster.

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-   Services to states and tribal organizations will continue to be the
    primary focus of RSA operations. The new organization will include a
    unit that promotes meaningful communication between RSA and consumer
    organizations. This new unit will work with State Rehabilitation
    Councils, State Independent Living Councils, and disability advocacy
    organizations to assist persons with disabilities to become informed
    consumers of VR services.

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-   All services provided to the states will be more consistent. The
    range of expert guidance that RSA provides to state agencies will be
    increased because a team of at least five program staff will be
    assigned to work closely with each state. Each team will consist of
    program staff with expertise in one of the following five areas: VR
    program services, fiscal management, data collection and analysis,
    independent living, and technical assistance.

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-   **Better Accountability for Taxpayer Funds**

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-   Part of good government is ensuring that taxpayers' money is used as
    effectively as possible. It is imperative that taxpayer dollars are
    spent wisely.

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-   The new structure will better utilize employees' skills for the
    smooth operation of the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants
    programs. Moving the work of regional RSA offices into headquarters
    will mean that operations are not being duplicated. Eliminating the
    duplication of tasks will strengthen and streamline monitoring,
    technical assistance, fiscal management, and program implementation.

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-   The consolidation of the regional and headquarters functions will
    result in savings without compromising the services provided to the
    states, which serve individuals with disabilities.