I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 604 
To amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to authorize grants for the transi-
tion of youths with significant disabilities to adulthood, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2011 
Mr. HARPER (for himself and Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to authorize grants 
for the transition of youths with significant disabilities 
to adulthood, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transition toward Ex-
cellence, Achievement, and Mobility through Employment 
Act of 2011’’ or ‘‘TEAM–Employment Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Disability is a natural part of the human 
experience and in no way should diminish the oppor-
tunity of citizens with disabilities, including individ-
uals with the most significant disabilities, for full 
participation in society (including school, work, fam-
ily, social engagement, interpersonal relationships, 
and community), independent living, and economic 
self sufficiency. 
(2) Self-determination and informed choice are 
essential elements in all program and service op-
tions. 
(3) Work for pay (employment) is a valued ac-
tivity both for individuals and society. Employment 
provides both tangible and intangible benefits. Em-
ployment helps people achieve independence and eco-
nomic self-sufficiency. Employment also gives people 
purpose, dignity, self-esteem, and a sense of accom-
plishment and pride as well as an ability to con-
tribute to society as a whole. 
(4) Individuals with disabilities, including those 
with the most significant disabilities, should enjoy a 
presumption that they can achieve integrated em-
ployment with appropriate services and supports. 
(5) More than 30 years of research and experi-
ence demonstrates that all youth, including youth 
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with disabilities, achieve better outcomes when they 
have access to— 
(A) high quality standards-based education 
in an inclusive setting; 
(B) information about career options and 
exposure to the world of work, including struc-
tured internships; 
(C) participation in post-secondary edu-
cation; 
(D) opportunities to develop social, civic, 
and leadership skills; 
(E) strong connections to caring adults; 
(F) safe places to interact with their peers; 
and 
(G) support services and specific accom-
modations to allow them to become independent 
adults. 
(6) The diverse and complex needs of today’s 
youth cannot be met by one’s family, school district, 
government program, or private organization acting 
alone. The successful transition of all youth to adult-
hood and a productive, independent, self-sufficient 
life demands coordination and collaboration across 
agencies, along with an integrated services approach 
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to serving youth at the Federal, State, and local lev-
els. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the fol-
lowing: 
(1) To create a systemic focus on cultivating 
the high expectations for youth with significant dis-
abilities to transition successfully into adulthood and 
be able to work in integrated employment, earn a 
liveable wage, and live independently in integrated 
communities through public policies that advance 
equality of opportunity, informed choice, employ-
ment first principles, and economic self-sufficiency. 
(2) To promote innovative strategies to foster 
academic, professional, and social inclusion, and the 
solidification of long-term services and supports re-
quired to ensure full integration into the society (in-
cluding school, work, family, social engagement, 
interpersonal relationships, and community living). 
(3) To better define and coordinate specific 
services related to the effective transition of youth 
with significant disabilities. 
(4) To eliminate barriers and provide incentives 
for multiple stakeholders to collaborate and improve 
transition services for youth with significant disabil-
ities. 
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(5) To create a holistic system across multiple 
Federal, State, and local public entities promoting 
employment first strategies and the successful tran-
sition of youth with significant disabilities into 
adulthood through strengthened coordination among 
and between public entities, including the alignment 
of planning processes, implementation systems, and 
funding streams. 
(6) To align, enhance, and improve performance 
and accountability measures among public entities 
involved in the transition of youth with significant 
disabilities into adulthood. 
(7) To provide financial incentives to States to 
align their planning processes across and within 
public entities involved in transitioning, strengthen 
and coordinate regulations to ensure cross-agency 
emphasis on the promotion of employment first poli-
cies and practices, and rebalance resources toward 
an employment first paradigm to focus on the pre-
ferred outcomes of advancing integrated employ-
ment, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, 
and community participation for youth and adults 
with significant disabilities. 
(8) To ensure proper level of professional devel-
opment training of publicly financed service delivery 
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professionals involved in the transition of youth with 
significant disabilities into adulthood on evidence- 
based promising practices. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT
FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY 
AND
VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION
NEEDS.—Section 
7(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(2)) 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (iv), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(v) uses, to the maximum extent pos-
sible, information obtained from experi-
ences in integrated employment settings in 
the community and other integrated com-
munity settings, and does not include in-
formation from assessments of experiences 
in sheltered workshops and similar seg-
regated settings;’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘Such term shall be based on the presumption that 
the individual is capable of attaining post-secondary 
education, integrated employment, or both.’’. 
(b) SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT.—Section 7(35) of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(35)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘, or em-
ployment in integrated work settings in which indi-
viduals are working toward competitive work’’ and 
inserting ‘‘or integrated employment’’; and 
(2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) 
MINIMUM
COMPENSATION
AND 
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS.—Such term includes 
placement in individual integrated employment 
settings and not in enclave or segregated set-
tings, at the greater of minimum or competitive 
wages that are paid for by the employer, with 
benefits comparable to benefits of other employ-
ees.’’. 
(c) SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.—Section 
7(36) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
705(36)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
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(2) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘18 months’’ and inserting 
‘‘48 months’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(D) maximize integration of the indi-
vidual within the workplace, with emphasis on 
facilitating the use of existing natural supports 
supplemented as necessary with staff supports 
paid for through funds authorized by the des-
ignated State unit; and 
‘‘(E) allow for activities related to cus-
tomized employment, or a set of activities im-
plemented during the search for employment 
leading to an integrated employment outcome 
for an individual with a disability, which in-
cludes a negotiated relationship with an em-
ployer that focuses on unmet needs and other 
specific value-added to employers rather than 
open, demand job slots; and a process of dis-
covery, job seeker exploration, development of 
descriptive profile documents, individualized 
employment planning, development of innova-
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tive representation materials, completion of an 
employer needs analysis, job negotiation and 
representation by a job developer as determined 
by the individual.’’. 
(d) TRANSITION SERVICES.—Section 7(37) of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705(37)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The term’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and customized employment’’ 
after ‘‘supported employment’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘, asset development services’’ 
after ‘‘adult services’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘The coordinated set of activi-
ties’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) COORDINATED SET OF ACTIVITIES.— 
The coordinated set of activities’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘objectives,’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘objectives; school-based preparatory expe-
riences, career preparation, and integrated work- 
based learning experiences (inclusive of in-school, 
after school and work experiences outside the tradi-
tional school setting where other youth without dis-
abilities are engaged in similar activities); youth de-
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velopment and leadership; connecting activities; 
training in self-advocacy, self-determination skills, 
and peer mentoring; family involvement and sup-
ports;’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Such 
term does not include the use of facility-based 
employment and activity settings, such as shel-
tered workshops, day habilitation centers, and 
enclave work settings. Additionally, the coordi-
nated set of activities should lead to the attain-
ment of at least one of the following outcomes: 
post-secondary education, long-term integrated 
employment (including supported employment 
or customized employment), asset development, 
independent living, and community participa-
tion.’’. 
(e) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—Section 7 of the Rehabili-
tation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(40) ASSET DEVELOPMENT.—The term ‘asset 
development’ means a strategy to assist low-income 
workers and job seekers, including individuals with 
disabilities, move toward economic security and 
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greater financial self-sufficiency through income 
preservation, effective money and credit manage-
ment, the pursuit of post-secondary education, the 
purchase of a home, business startup and growth, 
and the setting aside of resources for longer-term 
needs and retirement. 
‘‘(41) ASSET
DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES.—The 
term ‘asset development services’ means services re-
lating to asset development, including services such 
as financial education, tax filing assistance and ac-
cess to beneficial tax credits and other provisions, 
and use of social security work incentives and indi-
vidual development accounts (IDAs) and coordina-
tion with other savings programs, including family 
self-sufficiency programs, college savings accounts, 
and home and small business ownership assistance. 
‘‘(42) INTEGRATED
EMPLOYMENT.—The term 
‘integrated employment’ means work compensated at 
the greater of minimum wage or competitive wages 
with related employment benefits, occurring in a typ-
ical work setting where the employee with the dis-
ability interacts or has the opportunity to interact 
continuously with non-disabled co-workers, has an 
opportunity for advancement and mobility, and is 
preferably engaged in full-time employment.’’. 
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SEC. 4. DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(b)(1) of the Rehabili-
tation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 773(b)(1)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘The Com-
missioner may provide up to 10 grants to or enter into 
10 contracts with (or a combination thereof, not to exceed 
a total of 10 grants and contracts) eligible entities under 
this subsection during a fiscal year. A grant provided or 
contract entered into under this subsection shall be pro-
vided or entered into, as the case may be, for a period 
of five years. An eligible entity may not receive more than 
one grant or enter into more than one contract during a 
five-year period.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) takes effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and applies with respect to grants provided 
under section 303(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
for fiscal years beginning on or after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR TRANSITION OF YOUTHS WITH SIG-
NIFICANT DISABILITIES TO ADULTHOOD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 771 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 307. GRANTS FOR TRANSITION OF YOUTHS WITH SIG-
NIFICANT DISABILITIES TO ADULTHOOD. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) BRAIDED
FUNDING.—The term ‘braided 
funding’ means a resource utilization strategy to 
maximize the efficient access and use of existing re-
sources through the coordination, sequencing, and 
integration of available funding from multiple public 
agencies and private sources. 
‘‘(2) CUSTOMIZED
EMPLOYMENT.—The term 
‘customized employment’ means a set of strategies 
implemented during the search for employment lead-
ing to an integrated employment outcome for an in-
dividual with a disability, which includes the fol-
lowing components: 
‘‘(A) A negotiated relationship with an em-
ployer that focuses on unmet needs and other 
specific value-added to the employer rather than 
open, demand job slots. 
‘‘(B) A process of discovery, job seeker ex-
ploration, development of descriptive profile 
documents, individualized employment planning, 
innovative representation materials, employer 
needs analysis, and representation by a job de-
veloper. 
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‘‘(3) EMPLOYMENT FIRST.—The term ‘employ-
ment first’— 
‘‘(A) means a delivery model of publicly fi-
nanced supports for individuals with disabilities, 
including individuals with significant disabilities 
and individuals with the most significant dis-
abilities, that effectuates on a systemic basis 
the presumption of integrated employment as 
the primary or preferred employment outcome 
of such individuals; and 
‘‘(B) includes policies, practices, and proce-
dures promulgated through Federal and State 
governmental entities, including policies, prac-
tices, and procedures requiring that public sys-
tems have a statutory responsibility to provide 
services that align their priorities, funding and 
reimbursement practices, and policies and guid-
ance to promote, encourage, incentivize, and 
prioritize services and supports that lead to in-
tegrated employment outcomes. 
‘‘(4) PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING PROCESS.— 
The term ‘person-centered planning process’ means 
a process that enables and assists a youth with a 
significant disability to identify and access a person-
alized mix of paid and non-paid services and sup-
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ports that will assist such youth to achieve individ-
ually defined outcomes in the most integrated com-
munity setting. 
‘‘(5) STATE
INTELLECTUAL
AND
DEVELOP-
MENTAL
DISABILITIES
AGENCY.—The term ‘State 
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agency’ 
means the primary State agency or subdivision with 
administrative, programmatic, and operational re-
sponsibility for the full range of services and sup-
ports furnished to individuals with intellectual and 
developmental disabilities. 
‘‘(6) 
YOUTH
WITH
A
SIGNIFICANT
DIS-
ABILITY.—In this subsection, the term ‘youth with a 
significant disability’ means an individual who— 
‘‘(A) is an individual with a significant dis-
ability or an individual with a most significant 
disability; and 
‘‘(B) has attained the age of 14 but has 
not attained the age of 27. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each of the fiscal years 
2012 through 2016, the Assistant Secretary for Spe-
cial Education and Rehabilitative Services, in co-
operation with the officials specified in paragraph 
(2), is authorized to provide grants to eligible enti-
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ties to carry out the activities authorized under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) OFFICIALS SPECIFIED.—The officials spec-
ified in this paragraph are the Commissioner of the 
Agency on Developmental Disabilities, the Director 
of Medicaid Operations at the Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid Services, and the Assistant Secretary 
of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. 
‘‘(3) NUMBER OF GRANTS; DURATION; NUMBER 
OF GRANTS PER ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The Assistant 
Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services may provide up to 10 grants under this 
subsection during a fiscal year. A grant provided 
under this subsection shall be provided for a period 
of five years. An eligible entity may not receive more 
than one grant during a five-year period. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall be a consor-
tium that— 
‘‘(1) consists of and is managed by, at a min-
imum, representatives from the State educational 
agency, the State Intellectual and Developmental 
Disabilities Agency, the State vocational rehabilita-
tion agency, the State Medicaid agency, the State 
department of labor and workforce investment 
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board, and the State department of higher edu-
cation; 
‘‘(2) includes stakeholders who will be involved 
in the planning and implementation of funds made 
available through the grant, including— 
‘‘(A) representatives from local or regional 
University Centers for Excellence in Develop-
mental Disabilities Education, Research, and 
Service, State protection advocacy and client as-
sistance programs, State councils on develop-
mental disabilities, and centers on independent 
living; and 
‘‘(B) representatives from self-advocacy or-
ganizations and family organizations; and 
‘‘(3) includes additional public and private indi-
viduals and entities with demonstrated expertise in 
providing transition services that result in post-sec-
ondary education, integrated employment, and eco-
nomic advancement for individuals with significant 
disabilities and individuals with the most significant 
disabilities with expertise in the provision of sup-
ported employment services and customized employ-
ment strategies and that— 
‘‘(A) provide services resulting in inte-
grated post-secondary education outcomes or in-
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