Narrative: m. 1. A.

By March 2022, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services will conclude the promulgation process to change Order or Selection (OOS) by consolidating qualifying eligibility criteria from five (5) categories to three (3). The new Order of Selection (OOS) assures that individuals with the most significant disabilities receive priority for VR services. After determination of eligibility for VR services, each individual will then be classified by placement into one of the three following priority categories:

OOS Category I (Severe limitations in three or more functional capacity areas): An individual who has been determined eligible for VR services and:

1. Who has a significant physical or mental impairment which seriously limits three functional capacities (mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, motor skills, or work skills) in terms of an employment outcome; and,

2. Whose VR can be expected to require multiple VR services over an extended period of time; and,

3. Who has one or more physical or mental impairments resulting from amputation arthritis, autism, blindness, burn injury, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, deafness, head injury, heart disease, hemiplegia, hemophilia, respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction, mental illness, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders (including stroke and epilepsy), paraplegia, quadriplegia, other spinal cord conditions, sickle cell anemia, specific learning disability, end-stage renal disease, or another impairment or combination of impairments determined on the basis of an assessment for determining eligibility and VR needs to cause comparable substantial functional limitations.

*Definitions of terms in 2 above:

Multiple VR Services - are defined as vocational counseling and guidance and at least one other service needed to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment.

Extended Period of Time - Means that the individual requires VR services that are anticipated to extend three months or longer.

Order of Selection Category II (Severe limitations in one or two functional capacity areas): An individual who has been determined eligible for VR services, and:

1. Who has a significant physical or mental impairment which seriously limits one or two functional capacities (mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, motor skills or work skills) in terms of an employment outcome; and,

2. Whose VR can be expected to require multiple VR services over an extended period of time; and,

3. Who has one or more physical or mental impairments resulting from amputation, arthritis, autism, blindness, burn injury, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, deafness, head injury, heart disease, hemiplegia, hemophilia, respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction, mental illness, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders (including stroke and epilepsy), paraplegia, quadriplegia, other spinal cord conditions, sickle cell anemia, specific learning disability, end-stage renal disease, or another impairment or combination of impairments determined on the basis of an assessment for determining eligibility and VR needs to cause comparable substantial functional limitations.

Order of Selection Category III An individual with a physical or mental disability:

1. Who has been determined eligible for VR services; and

2. Who does not meet the criteria of an individual with either a “most significant” or “significant” disability as defined in Categories I - II above.

An individual's placement in the Order of Selection shall not be based upon residency requirements; economic status; type of disability; age, sex, race, color, creed, or national origin; source of referral; or expected employment outcome.

Individuals shall be classified in the highest priority category for which they are determined qualified. Upon placement into a priority category, individuals shall be notified in writing of the priority categories, which category they have been placed in and their right to appeal their category assignment.

LRS shall provide for continuity of services once an otherwise eligible individual is selected for services and has begun to receive services under an IPE, irrespective of the severity of the individual’s disability. LRS will continue to provide needed VR services to all individuals with an existing Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

All services, including post-employment services, shall be available to individuals receiving services under an Order of Selection insofar as such services are necessary and appropriate to the individual's Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) in order to ultimately place them in successful employment.

All LRS policies and procedures governing the expenditure of funds, consumer financial participation, and use of comparable services and benefits are applicable to individuals receiving services under an Order of Selection.

LRS will review the above Order of Selection criteria and in collaboration with the LRC and CAP will determine changes needed to ensure that those individuals who are eligible to receive Supported Employment services are receiving them as long as funding is available to serve individuals with the most significant disabilities.