What to Expect when Working with Vocational Rehabilitation

An Overview of Vocational Rehabilitation November 07, 2012

Steve Etheridge, MSVR, CRC, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Indiana

AgrAbility Mission“ The vision of AgrAbility is to enable a

lifestyle of high quality for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural workers with disabilities so that they … continue to succeed in rural America.”

Success includes gainful employment in production agriculture, related occupations, access to appropriate assistive technology and evidence-based information related to the treatment and rehabilitation of disabling conditions.

The Purpose of Vocational Rehabilitation

“The purpose of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program is to empower individuals with disabilities, particularly individuals with significant disabilities, to achieve high quality employment outcomes to which they aspire and that are consistent with their unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice.”

34 CFR 361.50: Written Policies Governing the Provision of Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Federal MandateRehabilitation Act of 1997 as amended in 2001

Any state that submits to the Secretary a State plan eligible to get funding

78% Federal and 22 % State match for funding

Available in all 50 states distributed across each state

Vocational Rehabilitation Mission

To serve eligible people with disability in obtaining and retaining employment that is commensurate with abilities, interests and limitations.Meeting individual rehabilitation needs

of each person Managing financial resources that are

necessary and reasonable

VR Process Flow

00Referral

02Application

10Eligibility &

Plan Dev.

12IPE Approved

16Restoration

18Training

20Ready for

Employment

22Employment

26Successful

Closure

Additional Status Codes06

Extended Evaluation

24Service

Interrupted

32Post Employment

Service

Eligibility for ServicesTo be eligible for VR services an

individual mustHave a physical or mental impairment

which, for such an individual, constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment

Require VR servicesWill benefit from these services to

successfully obtain and retain employment

Types of ServicesAssessments

Counseling and guidance

Vocational and other training

Physical and mental restoration

Support - mileage, childcare, living maintenance

Types of ServicesInterpreter services for deaf

Job development and placement

Occupational licenses, tool, supplies

Home and vehicle modification

Assistive Technology

Types of ServicesSmall business development

Transition services

Other goods & services

Referral to other services

IPE drives services

Services

IPE

Assessment

Assessment ExamplesCurrent academic skills, how one learns best

and psychological well beingFunctional capacity evaluationHearing evaluation Seating and positioning evaluationAssistive technology evaluationVehicle or home modification evaluation

IPE Mandatory ComponentsDescription of the specific employment

outcomeDescription of the specific rehabilitation

servicesTimeline for achieving employment outcome

and the initiation of servicesDescription of the vendors chosen by the

consumer to provide servicesDescription of criteria to evaluate progress

toward goalTerms and conditions of the IPE

(responsibilities)

26 ClosureConsistent with the individual’s abilities,

interests and limitationsCan include self-employment, telecommuting,

business ownershipJob is in integrated environment (not in

isolated environment or sheltered workshop)After 90 days of status 22At or above federal minimum wage income