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. C. The VR agency’s goals for serving individuals in each priority category, including how the agency will assist eligible individuals assigned to closed priority categories with information and referral, the method in which the VR agency will manage waiting lists, and the projected timelines for opening priority categories. NOTE: Priority categories are considered open when all individuals in the priority category may be served.
Current Narrative:
Projected Service Goals for PY 2025
Under the Order of Selection, DSHS/DVR will prioritize resources to serve students with disabilities and customers who are most in need of vocational rehabilitation services, per the following specifications:
- Continue to serve existing customers in all priority categories with approved Individual Plans for Employment (IPE)
- Continue to provide Pre-employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to eligible students if those students have begun pre-employment transition services prior to application and eligibility and to all potentially eligible students with disabilities in accordance with order of selection requirements (e.g., TPCAs).
- Serve individuals who are at immediate risk of losing their job in a competitive integrated setting for reasons related to their disability
- Serve individuals in eligibility status and new applicants based on priority of service category
DSHS/DVR has experienced a continued increase in the number of people in an individualized plan for employment as well as an increased average cost of purchased services per case in plan. These increases occurred even after closing three of our five categories in March of 2025.
The number of people in plan rose to 12,452 in performance year 2024. This is the highest level since performance year 2017. In addition, the average annual cost of services purchased per person in plan has risen to $3,000 per case. The cost of purchased services has increased beyond the amount expected because of inflation. We anticipate that other costs including those for staffing and for pre-plan services will remain stable even with all categories closed.
The rising trend in number of cases in plan and the average cost of services purchased per case can be seen in the graphs below.
Based on fiscal modeling and the trends in caseload growth, updates to our annual estimates completed on November 10, 2025, and costs for purchased case services DSHS/DVR has determined we do not have sufficient funds to serve all individuals applying for vocational rehabilitation services. DSHS/DVR will continue under an Order of Selection with all categories of service closed effective December 8, 2025. An overall caseload reduction of 500 to 600 people is needed for DSHS/DVR to operate within the expected available funds. As participants exit below that threshold, DVR plans to initiate monthly waiting list releases.
These estimates assume that the federal fiscal 2026 vocational rehabilitation budget will be flat funded and equal to the federal fiscal year 2025 budget. If less funding is available, we will need to reduce the caseload further. This would also mean a longer delay until we can initiate monthly waiting list releases. DSHS/DVR held an information session for the community during the November 13, 2025 State Rehabilitation Council to share the reasons for closing all categories under the Order of Selection and to respond to questions from the community. A letter has been sent to Leaders of Tribes and Indian Nations in Washington informing them of the closure of all categories. Individuals impacted by the closure of categories will receive written notice.
The DSHS/DVR budget status is reviewed monthly by the executive leadership team and every two weeks with the DVR Director. These fiscal monitoring steps will be continued.
Information and Referral for Individuals in Closed Categories
DSHS/DVR’s Customer Services Manual describes information and referral (I & R) as a service provided throughout the vocational rehabilitation process and “particularly at Eligibility for customers who have been assigned to a closed priority of service category” when the agency is under an order of selection. Policy also describes the purpose and scope of I & R services and minimum federal requirements.
Those determined to be in a closed category are informed of their eligibility, that DSHS/DVR is not currently serving their Priority of Service Category, and that they have been placed on a waiting list for services. Customers are advised that they can discuss the decision and possible redetermination of the category with their counselor. Information on customer rights and frequently asked questions about Order of Selection is enclosed with the letter.
In addition to resources discussed with customers in their initial meeting with staff, those placed on the waiting list receive a letter listing specific organizations which may help meet vocational rehabilitation needs while they wait for DSHS/DVR services to become available. This includes programs carried out by partners in Washington’s workforce development system, as well as other federal, tribal, and state programs.
Local offices maintain a comprehensive list of organizations, including other workforce development programs, to which customers can be referred. Staff use these resource lists to explore options that meet the customer’s needs. To the extent possible, the list includes specific points of contact within the organization.
A letter is sent every six months to all individuals on the waiting list to notify them of the status of their service category, provide referrals to other resources for training and employment, and remind them to keep their contact information up to date. Individuals on the waiting list may choose to be removed or provide information for redetermination of their category placement.
Waiting List Management
On a monthly basis, DSHS/DVR’s Executive Leadership Team will review:
- Projected and actual revenues and expenditures
- Projected and actual number of customers in each priority category
- Number of individuals on the waiting list for services
- Number of potentially eligible students with disabilities receiving Pre-ETS
- Pre-ETS expenditures
- Staff capacity and caseloads
These discussions will inform decisions about changes in the open and closed service categories, including the timing of re-opening categories and releasing customers from the waiting list.
For closed categories, DSHS/DVR will maintain a waiting list of individuals according to their date of application and priority of service category. This list will be used to manage six-month updates to waiting list customers. Customers will be served from the waiting list in order of date of application and category until the category is opened. Categories will be opened when resources are sufficient to serve all customers in the service category including all individuals assigned to the category upon eligibility determination and those individuals on that category’s wailing list . Once a closed category is opened, then individuals on the next category’s waiting list may begin to be served in order of application date.