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. A. The order to be followed in selecting eligible individuals to be provided VR services
Current Narrative:
Justification for Order of Selection
The DVRS entered into an order of selection in 2001 but quickly recovered and was able to serve all categories within several months. Since that time the agency opted to remain in the order of selection in the event that budget constraints limited the ability to hire new staff. DVRS currently has a staffing target of 150 counselors. Due to recent changes in the DDD, every individual served by them is now required to have an employment goal in their support plan. Individuals who are served by DDD and in need of employment services must come to the DVRS for services to determine eligibility prior to accessing employment services through DDD. The DDD currently serves approximately 25,000 individuals and estimates an additional 600-700 youth coming in yearly, and the local offices are starting to receive the influx of consumers with significant developmental disabilities.
Description of Priority Categories
The DVRS continues to monitor the need for an Order of Selection in FY 2020.
The DVRS does not rely solely on a diagnosis as a determination of significant disability but considers every disability or combination of disabilities evaluated during the assessment, to determine eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs. If the disability, or combination of disabilities, presents impairments that seriously limit at least one functional capacity (such as mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, inter-personal skills, work tolerance, or work skills), in terms of an employment outcome, and if vocational rehabilitation can be expected to require multiple services over an extended period of time; the person will be considered to be significantly disabled.
Priorities under Order of Selection
Priority 1: Clients classified as individuals with a most significant disability who meet the following criteria:
- Have a significant physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments which seriously limit two or more functional capacities in terms of employment outcome; and
- Require multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time.
Priority 2: Clients classified as individuals with a significant disability who meet the following criteria:
- Have a significant physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments which seriously limit at least one functional capacity in terms of employment outcome; and
- Require multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time.
Priority 3: All other eligible individuals, who do not meet the criteria for Priority Category 1 or Priority Category 2, but.
- Have a physical or mental impairment which limits employment in a functional capacity area; and,
- Are not expected to require multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time.
The Order of Selection shall not preclude:
- Diagnostic services necessary to establish a client’s eligibility;
- Post-employment services; and
- Information and referral services.
The DVRS will first serve in the order of selection Priority 1 followed by Priority 2 then Priority 3.