FOREWORD.

This Handbook has been prepared under the direction of Mr. John Aubel Kratz, Chief, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, of the Federal Board for Vocational Education, by the staff of the division. Special mention is due Mr. Claude H. Anderson, of the staff, who assembled the material and prepared the original manuscript. This Handbook is the sixth of a series of publications prepared by the Vocational Rehabilitation Division.

Bulletin 57, No. 1 of the series, gives a statement of the policies in the administration of the vocational rehabilitation act. Bulletin 64, No. 2 of the series, deals with administration and case procedure. Bulletin 70, No. 3 of the series, deals specifically with concrete rehabilitation problems. Bulletin 72, No. 4 of the series, shows the application of vocational rehabilitation to rural communities. Bulletin 76, No. 5 of the series, shows how compensation commissions and rehabilitation departments may cooperate to the mutual benefit of their respective service. Bulletin 77, No. 6 of the series, presents in brief form the policies thus far adopted by the Federal Board for the administration of the vocational rehabilitation act. In addition, it gives such information as is required by State officials in their dealings with the Federal Board in the administration of the Federal act. J. C. WRIGHT,

Director.

V

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INTRODUCTION.

Under the vocational rehabilitation act approved June 2, 1920, the Federal Government does not undertake the organization and immediate direction of vocational rehabilitation in the States, but does agree to make substantial financial contributions to its support. It undertakes to pay over to the States annually certain sums of money, and to cooperate in fostering vocational rehabilitation. The grants of Federal moneys are conditional and the acceptance of these grants imposes upon the States specific obligations to expend the money paid over to them in accordance with the provisions of the act.

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This cooperation of the States with the Federal Government is based upon four fundamental ideas: First, that vocational rehabilitation for persons disabled in industry or otherwise, being essential to the national welfare, it is a function of the National Government to encourage the States to undertake this new and needed form of service; second, that Federal funds are necessary in order to assist in bearing the financial burden of carrying on the work among the States; third, that since the Federal Government is vitally interested in the success of vocational rehabilitation it should participate in this work; and, fourth, that by creating such a relationship between the National and State Governments proper standards of efficiency in vocational rehabilitation can be developed.

The machinery established by the act is devised to secure effec3 tive cooperation in promoting vocational rehabilitation. The Federal Board for Vocational Education was created by the vocational education act, signed by the President February 23, 1917. By its provisions the members of this board are the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, and the Commissioner of Education, together with three private citizens appointed by the President who represent, respectively, the manufacturing and commercial, the agricultural, and the labor interests of the Nation. One member is elected annually by the board as chairThe three members last named and the Commissioner of Education are designated by the board as the standing committee, and one of the four is then selected as a vice chairman of the board. These four members conduct the regular business of the board as it occurs from day to day.

man.

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State boards for vocational education exist in each of the States, having been created or designated to enable the States to cooperate with the Federal Board for Vocational Education in the

administration of the vocational education act. The purpose of this act and the object in the creation of the State boards has been the promotion of vocational education through the public-school systems of the country. The vocational rehabilitation act provides that each State board shall act as the State agency for cooperation.

Before a State can take advantage of the funds available to 5 it under the provisions of this vocational rehabilitation act the legislature must empower and direct its State board to cooperate with the Federal Board in the administration of the vocational rehabilitation act.

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The proposed program of vocational rehabilitation requires that each State shall submit to the Federal Board a plan outlining the method by which it proposes to conduct its vocational rehabilitation activities. These plans the Federal Board must carefully examine. If it finds them to be in conformity with the spirit and purpose of the act, it is authorized to certify that the moneys apportioned to the various States are payable. In other words, partly by the act itself, partly by the Federal Board, and partly by the State board in cooperation with the Federal Board, standards of vocational rehabilitation are to be established meeting the approval of both the Federal and State Governments.

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The guiding principle of the vocational rehabilitation act is that the service to be furnished must be under the supervision and control of the State board for vocational education, and must be designed to establish disabled persons in remunerative employment. The State board is, however, under obligation to work in cooperation with the State workmen's compensation commission or similar board whenever such a board exists in a State.

PART I.

DIGEST OF FEDERAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ACT

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(Rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise.)

SECTION 1.

PURPOSE.

To provide for promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise and their return to civil employment.

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Allotment to a State from general appropriations is based on the proportion of the State's population to that of the United States excluding Territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia.

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A minimum allotment of $5,000 for each year is provided. The special appropriations are for raising allotments to the minimum in cases where a State would receive less than the minimum on the basis of population.

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CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH FEDERAL ALLOTMENTS are made.

(1) That for each dollar of Federal money expended there shall be expended in the State under the supervision and control of the State board at least an equal amount for the same purpose. This condition may be analyzed as follows:

a. All money must be expended "in the State."

NOTE. This does not indicate any particular source from which the State moneys must be drawn. Therefore, the "amount" (of money) referred to may, within the meaning of the act, be moneys appropriated by the lawmaking body of the State or moneys otherwise secured, if the State board for vocational education is authorized to receive such gifts or donations.