Universal access is a key principle of the Workforce Investment Act.
RSA provides national leadership for, and administration of, basic State and formula grant programs, service projects and rehabilitation training discretionary grant programs, the Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities and Helen Keller National Center programs, and evaluates all authorized programs to improve management and effectiveness. These programs develop and implement comprehensive and coordinated programs of vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and independent living, for individuals with disabilities, through services, training, research and economic opportunities, in order to maximize their employability, independence, and integration into the workplace and the community. RSA is responsible for the formulation, development, and implementation of regulations, policies, and guidelines for the three statutes as described in the prior paragraph. RSA maintains close liaison with Federal counterpart agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor, National Institute of Mental Health, the President's Committee on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities, the Office of Special Education Programs, the Office of Adult and Vocational Education, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Funds availability is officially announced for each program in the Federal Register in the form of closing date notices.