Legislative History

Summary of Title VII - Chapter 1, Part B of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended

What is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended?

The Rehabilitation Act was initially enacted by Congress in 1920 as a way of providing assistance to injured workers so they might return to their employment. The Act has since been expanded and in 1973 Congress gave priority under the Act to individuals with severe disabilities. The Act provides federal grant monies for vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living and client assistance programs. The Rehabilitation Services Administration within the US Department of Education oversees the program. The Act was last amended and re-authorized in 1998.

The Rehabilitation Act is broken up into seven titles:

I. Vocational Rehabilitation Services
II. Research and Training
III. Special Projects and Demonstrations
IV. National Council on Disability
V. Rights and Advocacy
VI. Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities
VII. Independent Living Services and Centers for Independent Living

For more information on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, you can visit: Department of Education Web site.

What is the Title VII - Chapter 1, Part B Program?

The purpose of this chapter is to promote a philosophy of independent living that includes a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and system advocacy in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society by:

Providing financial assistance to states for providing, expanding and improving the provision of independent living services;
Providing financial assistance to develop and support statewide networks of centers for independent living; and
Providing financial assistance to states for improving working relationships among state independent living, rehabilitation service programs, centers for independent living, and statewide independent living councils.

Funding for the Chapter 1 Part B program is awarded to a Designated State Unit (DSU). In West Virginia, the DSU is the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services which is located in Institute, WV.

In 2003, the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services developed a contract with the WV Centers for Independent Living to implement the Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B independent living program for people with disabilities in 27 counties of our state.