Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
g. 2. B. The order (priority categories) to be followed in selecting eligible individuals to be provided VR services ensuring that individuals with the most significant disabilities are selected for services before all other individuals with disabilities; and
Current Narrative:
As part of every customer’s eligibility determination process, a qualified DSHS/DVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) will evaluate: 1) disability-related functional limitations; 2) anticipated number of needed services; and 3) whether services are anticipated to be needed over an extended period to time. The VRC will use these criteria to assign eligible customers to one of five priority categories, based on the severity of the customer’s disability. Priority categories ensure that DSHS/DVR services are prioritized for individuals with the most significant disabilities.
Priority Category 1: Individuals with a most significant disability
An eligible customer is assigned to Priority Category 1 if:
- The customer experiences serious functional limitations in four or more of the following areas in terms of an employment outcome: mobility, communication, self-care, cognition, and learning (self-direction), interpersonal, work tolerance, and work skills; and
- The customer requires multiple VR services over an extended period of time.
Priority Category 2: Individuals with a significant disability
An eligible customer is assigned to Priority Category 2 if:
- The customer experiences serious functional limitations in three of the following areas in terms of an employment outcome: mobility, communication, self-care, cognition, and learning (self-direction), interpersonal, work tolerance, and work skills; and
- The customer requires multiple VR services over an extended period of time.
Priority Category 3: Individuals with a significant disability
An eligible customer is assigned to Priority Category 3 if:
- The customer experiences serious functional limitations in two of the following areas in terms of an employment outcome: mobility, communication, self-care, cognition, and learning (self-direction), interpersonal, work tolerance, and work skills; and
- The customer requires multiple VR services over an extended period of time.
Priority Category 4: Individuals with a significant disability
An eligible customer is assigned to Priority Category 4 if:
- The customer experiences serious functional limitations in one of the following areas in terms of an employment outcome: mobility, communication, self-care, cognition and learning (self-direction), interpersonal, work tolerance, and work skills; and
- The customer requires multiple VR services over an extended period of time.
Priority Category 5: Individuals with Disabilities
An eligible customer is assigned to Priority Category 5 if:
- The customer is determined eligible for vocational rehabilitation services but does not meet the criteria for Priority Categories 1-4.
Priority categories will be assigned consistently, objectively, and with customer rights to review and due process. Consistent with federal regulations, DSHS/DVR will not consider duration of residency in Washington State, type of disability, age, sex, race, color, national origin, type of expected employment outcome, source of referral, particular service needs or anticipated service costs, individual or family income level, when assigning a priority of service category. In addition, applicable State law and DSHS/DVR policies regarding anti-discrimination apply to eligible customers who are assigned a priority of service category.