Iowa VR Town Hall Series on Workforce Services for Iowans with Disabilities

IA Workforce Press Releases

Published February 24th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Iowa Department of the Blind are launching a new series of town halls to inform Iowans with disabilities and other stakeholders about available workforce services. The series will cover topics such as Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), Self-Employment, Assistive Technology, and Job Readiness.

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What changed

The Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Iowa Department of the Blind have announced a new series of town hall meetings scheduled throughout 2026. These sessions are designed to educate Iowans with disabilities, employers, and the general public about the range of workforce services available to support disability employment. The town halls will cover specific program areas including Pre-ETS, Self-Employment, Assistive Technology, and Job Readiness, with each session hosted via Zoom.

While this announcement is informational and does not impose new regulatory obligations, it serves as a resource for understanding state-provided services. Interested parties, including employers seeking to understand how to better support employees with disabilities or individuals seeking employment assistance, are encouraged to attend the virtual sessions. The first town hall on Pre-ETS is scheduled for March 24, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

New VR Town Hall Series: Understanding Workforce Services for Iowans with Disabilities

Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Announcement

Iowans with disabilities make up a significant and often underestimated portion of our state’s talent pool. Ensuring they have access to meaningful employment opportunities not only strengthens their own individual independence, but it also drives new growth across Iowa’s economy.

A new series of town halls aims to help various stakeholders and the public better understand the full range of services that are making a difference for this critical area of the workforce.

The VR Town Hall series will feature updates from both Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Iowa Department of the Blind, who together partner on the many programs that together improve disability employment across the state. Each townhall will focus on a specific program area.

2026 VR Town Hall Dates

Hosted by Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Iowa Department of the Blind

March 24, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Topic: Pre-ETS)
- Town hall Link (Zoom)
June 23, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Topic: Self-Employment)
- Town hall Link (Zoom)
September 22, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Topic: Assistive Technology)
- Town hall Link (Zoom)
December 22, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Topic: Job Readiness)
- Town hall Link (Zoom)