Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan* must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA:
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* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. M. i. II. The Justification for the Order.
Current Narrative:
DVR implemented an Order of Selection on March 1, 1993, in anticipation of projected economic and funding difficulties, to ensure DVR’s ability to manage limited funds, and to guarantee continuity and fairness in the provision of rehabilitation services to persons eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. This action resulted from increased costs for vocational rehabilitation services, increased demand for services and increased numbers of applicants with disabilities.
Since March 1, 1993, DVR has restricted services through activation of the order of selection, four times. Most recently, on March 1, 2013, DVR implemented a wait list for all individuals whose disabilities were not most significant or significant. Following implementation, based on continued increases in case service expenditures, DVR determined the need to establish wait lists for all priority categories. As a result, on April 22, 2013, DVR established wait lists for all three of DVR’s priority categories.
During the next two years, DVR carefully monitored and managed staff resources, fiscal resources and the wait list, which consisted of 9,891 individuals during the period from March 1, 2013 through April 30, 2015. During the period from March 1, 2013 through April 30, 2015 all individuals who were determined eligible for services and placed on the wait list were provided accurate information and referral services using appropriate modes of communication, to assist them in preparing for, securing, retaining, advancing in or regaining employment. Individuals receiving information and referral services were referred to programs within the statewide workforce development system.
Through a series of eleven discrete releases of eligible individuals from the wait list and into active status, DVR was able to eliminate the wait list on April 30, 2015. Since that date, no wait list has been in place. Additionally, based on the number of individuals anticipated to be served in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2017 and based on the fiscal and staff resources projected to be available to serve these individuals, DVR does not anticipate the need to establish a wait list under an active Order of Selection.