Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 5.djvu/728

 106 STAT. 4366 PUBLIC LAW 102-569—OCT. 29, 1992 "(B) as a group, individuals with disabilities experience staggering levels of unemployment and poverty; " (C) individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most severe disabilities, have demonstrated their ability to achieve gainful employment in integrated settings if appropriate services and supports are provided; "(D) reasons for the significant number of individuals with disabilities not working, or working at a level not commensurate with their abilities and capabilities, include— "(i) discrimination; "(ii) lack of accessible and available transportation; "(iii) fear of losing health coverage under the medicare and medicaid programs under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. and 1396 et seq.) or fear of losing existing private health insurance; and "(iv) lack of education, training, and supports to meet job qualification standards necessary to enter or retain or advance in employment; "(E) enforcement of title V and of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) holds the promise of ending discrimination for individuals with disabilities; and "(F) the provision of vocational rehabilitation services can enable individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most severe disabilities, to pursue meaningful careers by securing gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities. "(2) The purpose of this title is to assist States in operating a comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient, and accountable program of vocational rehabilitation that is designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities, so that such individuals may prepare for and engage in gainful employment. "(3) It is the policy of the United States that such a program shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the mllowing principles: "(A) Individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most severe disabilities, are generally presumed to be capable of engaging in gainful employment and the provision of individualized vocational rehabilitation services can improve their ability to become gainfully employed. "(B) Individuals with disabilities must be provided the opportunities to obtain gainful employment in integrated settings. "(C) Individuals with disabilities must be active participants in their own rehabilitation programs, including making meaningful and informed choices about the selection of their vocational goals and objectives and the vocational rehabilitation services they receive. "(D) Families and natural supports can play an important role in the success of a vocational rehabilitation program, if the individual with a disability requests, desires, or needs such supports. "(E) Qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors, other qualified rehabilitation personnel, and other qualified personnel

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