Order of Selection Division of Vocational Rehabilitation focusing resources on individuals with the most significant disabilities

What does Order of Selection Mean?  Funding is limited.  DVR identifies that it may not be able to serve all eligible applicants.  Rehabilitation Act directs vocational rehabilitation agencies to create categories of eligible applicants.  Categories must identify how DVR will give priority to serving individuals with the most significant disabilities.

Why now?  The number of eligible applicants for DVR services is increasing much more rapidly than the available funds.  In spite of ongoing efforts to reduce costs through service agreements and fee schedules, DVR may not have sufficient resources to serve all eligible individuals.

What specific efforts has DVR made?  Fee schedules:  A fee schedule sets limits on the amount of money that may be spent on a specific item or service identified on a person’s Individualized Plan for Employment.  The dollar amount set by the agency can not be so limited that there are no reasonable and qualified vendors or service providers who will provide the item or service at the fee schedule price.

What are some of the new fee schedules?  Fee schedule for post-secondary education found in section 15A.7 of the Casework Manual.  Updates and clarifications to the existing fee schedule that will more clearly define and structure the amount of money that may be spent on items and services.

Will OOS interrupt current Individualized Plans for Employment?  No!  Individuals who are currently receiving services under a signed Individualized Plan for Employment at the time the Order of Selection is established will continue to receive services as long as their current cases remain active.  If the case of an individual currently receiving services is closed, and in the future, a new case is opened for this individual, the new case will be subject to the Order of Selection.

What about current or future clients for whom plans are not yet signed when DVR goes on an Order of Selection?  Cases of individuals without signed Individualized Plans for Employment will be subject to the Order of Selection

What does “subject to Order of Selection” mean?  If DVR has sufficient funding, all eligible individuals will be served.  If DVR does not have enough funding to serve all eligible individuals, services will be provided FIRST: According to Priority Category THEN: From within the priority category(ies) being served, according to the date on which the individual signed the application for services.

How will people come off the waiting list?  On a regular basis, the Director, Deputy-Director, and Sr. Fiscal Officer will meet to review finances.  If funds are sufficient to move people from the waiting list to active services, those individuals will be identified.  Not everyone on the waiting list in a particular category will necessarily come off the waiting list at the same time.  Individuals will come off the waiting list: FIRST: According to Priority Category THEN: From within the priority category(ies) being served, according to the date on which the individual signed the application for services.

The Priority Categories…

Priority Category 1  Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities ( in addition to meeting basic VR eligibility criteria )  Disability(ies) that result in significant limitations in three (3) or more functional capacities  Need for multiple services over a period of six (6) months or longer

Priority Category 2  Individuals with the Significant Disabilities (in addition to meeting basic VR eligibility criteria)  Disability(ies) that result in significant limitations in one (1) or more functional capacities  Need for multiple services over a period of six (6) months or longer  An allowed SSDI beneficiary or SSI recipient is automatically considered to be, at least, an individual with a significant disability, and should be reviewed for possible Priority 1 status.

Priority Category 3  Individuals with Non-Significant Disabilities  Meet the basic criteria for eligibility under the Rehabilitation Act  But, either: Do not have a serious limitation that results in any functional capacities Or Do not require multiple rehabilitation services over a period of six (6) months or longer

Identifying an Individual’s Priority Group  Conduct your regular assessment to determine if the individual meets the basic requirements for VR services. If yes,…  Review your assessment data (e.g. interviews with the client and family, medical records, school records, psych records, etc.) to identify significant functional limitations.  Record limitations in functional capacity and services needed to overcome them in order to prepare for and enter into employment on the SD checklist.  Use the results to identify if the individual is MSD, SD, or Non-SD.

Social Security Disability Recipients  All Social Security Disability Recipients (i.e. recipients of SSI or SSDI) automatically meet, AT MINIMUM, the criteria for Priority Category 2.  Most SSI/SSDI recipients will meet the criteria for Priority Category 1 and should be evaluated for the MSD category.

May an individual appeal the assigned priority status?  Yes  If the individual believes that he or she has been incorrectly assigned, that individual may appeal the decision through the normal DVR Due Process channels.

What does the counselor need to do when an individual will be on a waiting list?  Notify the individual in writing  Use form letter written for this purpose  Include OOS brochure  Include Due Process brochure  Provide information and referral to the individual  Should include a referral to the One-Stop (Navigator Program)  Case should be put in Status 04

While on the Waiting List  Individuals on the waiting list will be contacted regularly to determine if they would like to remain on the waiting list.  The contact will be done by the field unit using a list that is computer generated.  The form of the contact will be a form letter that asks individuals to contact us if they no longer want to be on the waiting list.  This letter will reiterate referral information.  Individual who do not wish to remain on the waiting list will be closed in status 38.

When an Individual’s case is moved from the Waiting List (04) to Active Status (10)  The District Administrator will receive a list of individuals from the waiting list whose cases may now be moved to active status.  The District Administrator will assign the cases according to the best interest of the individual and field unit; cases may or may not be assigned to the original counselor.

Moving from Waiting List to Active Status (continued)  Not all cases in a priority status will necessarily be made active at the same time; cases will be made active in order of their date of application.  The assigned counselor will contact the individual to inform him/her that the case is being moved to active status and that an Individualized Plan for Employment may be developed.