Evening star., 1929-06-30
D. c. TRAINING LAW
EFFECTIVE MONDAY
New Measure Entities Dis
abIed Residents to Learn
Vocation Fitting Disability.

The fiscal year which begins tomor-
row will be marked by the going into
effect of a new law enacted by the
last Congress, emitting disabled resi-
dents of the District of Columbia to
vocational training to fit them for oc-
cupatiof1s they are able*to fill in view
of the particular disabilities.
The Federal board for vocational
education, which will administer the
act, Is expected to complete arrange
ments during July to put the new SER
vice into full operation. A separate
division is to be set up under the board
to handle the local work, and a super
visor remains to be appointed to direct
1t. The Civil Service Commission is
arranging to hold an examination dur
ing the coming month for this position
Separate Law for Service.
There has been a Federal law since
1920 for the rehabilitation of injured
civilians In the States, but it did not
apply to Washington The Seventieth
Congress passed a separate law to make
this service applicable here, and ap-
propriated $4,000 for its operation
during the coming year. This appro-
prtation is on fifty-fifty basis between
the District and Federal Governments.
When an application is received the
function of the board is to determine
what kind of work the applicant could
perform, taking into account his or her
particular disability, and then arrange
to train the person for that activity.
By observing and studying the results
obtained in rendering this service in
Washington, the Federal board expects
to gain a wider knowledge Of the sub
ject with view TO improving rehabilita-
ton methods throughout the country.
bRAG HNvs awA1a
that while methods Of rehabilitation for
those who have lost an arm or a leg
are fairly well established, further study
could be made of the problem from the
standpoint of persons affected by all
ments which bear an important rela-
ton to the kind of labor they could
perform.
Will Formulate Set of Rules.
The Federal board. under the au-
thority contained in the new law, will
formulate a set of rules and regulations
to govern the administration of the
service. The law defines those to whom
the service would apply as follows:
That on and after July /, 1929, the
Federal board for vocational education
is authorized and directed to provide
for the vocational rehabilitation and
return to employment of any disabled
Sec. 2. For the purposes of this act
% the term disabled resident of the
District of Columbia means any bona
fide resident in the District of Colum-
bia who, by reason of physical defect
or inflrmity, whether congenital or ac-
quired by accident, injury or disease,
is or may be expected to become to-
tally or partially incapacitated for re-
munerative occupation, and (2) the
term vocational rehabilitation means
the rendering of any such disabled
resident fit to engage in a remunera-
tive occupation"
The law authorizes the Public Health
Service and other governmental agen-
cies to cooperate with the Federal
board in making it effective.
Another interesting feature of the
act is that it authorizes the Federal
board and the United States En-
ployes' Compensation Commission to
formulate a plan for the vocational
rehabilitation Of civilian employees of
the Government in Washington who
may be disabled in the performance
Of duty.