Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
n. 2. A. The provision of extended services for a period not to exceed 4 years; and
Current Narrative:
Maine DVR has developed procedural guidance for staff on the use of extended services for youth. This guidance states that DVR will make available extended services for youth with the most significant disabilities in suppported employment for a period not to exceed four years or until such time that a youth reaches the age of 25 and no longer meets the definition of a youth with a disability. Extended services are defined as ongoing support services and other appropriate services that are needed to support an individual with the most significant disability in supported employment. During the comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation needs it may be determined that a youth with a most significant disability will benefit from supported employment services and may need to access extended support services.
If the youth does not have access to extended support services through a comparable benefit, and other supports are not available or do not meet the client's needs, the VR counselor will work with the client and guardian such that there is agreement that the employment placement and extended services with or without assistive technology and accommodations will enable the youth to develop adequate natural supports such that other supports are not needed or will connect them with other sources of support.
DVR will authorize one year of extended supports at a time. In limited individualized circumstances, the plan may be updated for an additional time period, up to one year at a time but under no circumstances for longer than four years or after the youth turns 25.