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
m. 1. B. 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. During the next two years, DVR carefully monitored and managed staff resources, fiscal resources and the wait list.
Through a series of eleven discrete releases of eligible individuals from the wait list, 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 Program Years 2020-23 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 Order of Selection. Continuing to operate under an Order of Selection, even with all categories open allows for improved consistency in program management. Placement into an Order of Selection priority category is a standard operating procedure, so DVR Counselors understand the requirements and complete determinations consistently across the state. This also enables clear communication with recipients of services and stakeholders on an ongoing basis about DVR's ability to serve all eligible individuals, rather than initiating this conversation for the first time when resources are limited. DVR has found that maintaining consistent practices with regard to Order of Selection has allowed for effective program management and minimized the administrative burden for staff created by such drastic policy change as implementing Order of Selection only when there is an immediate need for a wait list.