1. New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS): Referral and Service Process
Presented by:
Interim DVRS Supervising Counselor Gilda Escobar &
Jess Cole VRC 2
of the DVRS Hackensack office

2. Evaluation of records & C/Scope
Process
Rehabilitation
/Closure
Referral
Application
Eligibility
Service
Evaluation of records & C/Scope
assigned
Amendment

3. How to get started? Step One: The Referral
It is preferred that students are referred two years before they graduate
School staff typically makes the referral – this fosters the collaboration between the school and DVRS and streamlines the process of obtaining needed school documentation-IEPs, Evals, Transition documentation, among others.
Parents/guardians can ask the school to make a referral or do it themselves
What are the steps in getting started with DVRS? The first step is the referral. Read 2nd through 3rd bullets.
Please know that being referred to DVRS does not mean that student has officially applied to DVRS.
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4. What to include…
Most recent IEP, psychological , social and learning assessments
Disability category as per Child Study Team IEP for the student and a current assessment of academic functioning
Department of Education’s “Vocational Profile”:
Reports from Structured Learning Experiences (SLE), or Community-Based Instruction (CBI), or job sampling sites
Results from career interest testing (e.g. NJCAN.org, etc.)
Medical or psychiatric evaluations
Student’s Summary of Performance, developed in senior year
Student’s postsecondary goals related to employment/career
Let’s talk about what to include in a referral. It is helpful for the DVRS counselor to receive…read 1st bullet, it is important for there to be a diagnosis related to the student’s disability and a current assessment of the student’s academic functioning.
The other items listed on this slide are also important in giving DVRS a full and complete picture of the student’s disability, their potential vocational rehabilitation needs as well as their strengths and capabilities in regard to future employment.

5. Step Two: The Application
After the referral has been made, the student is assigned to a DVRS counselor
Client receives a letter and calls for a Survey Interview (or intake appointment)
Parents often accompany the student to this appointment. Please keep in mind the student is the consumer.
If the student wants to pursue services with DVRS, he or she will then officially apply for services at this time.
Step 2: After the referral has been made, the student is assigned to a DVRS counselors for an Intake appt., what DVRS calls a “Survey Interview” Parents or guardians may accompany the student to the interview, but please keep in mind that the student is the consumer so it is important for the DVRS counselor to spend as much time as possible speaking to the student directly. Read 3rd bullet.
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6. What to know about the Survey Interview…
Students will need to bring proof of identification, social security card/number, proof of benefits, i.e. SSI, important school and medical records that have not already been sent to DVRS.
It is important for a student to know that when they meet with a DVRS counselor that they will be asked personal questions about themselves. This may include having an understanding of their disability and how it may impact their future employment. In addition, the student will be asked to identify as best they can, what vocational goal they have for themselves, and what type of assistance they would like to receive from DVRS. Of course, the student may not readily know the answer to all of the questions, but should be aware that such questions will be asked. School staff and parents can play a crucial role in preparing the student for this process. All of this is outlined in the document “Steps in the DVRS process” which can be found on the DVRS website.
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7. Step 2: Survey Interview (cont.)
Students can benefit from knowing what they will be asked about by their DVRS counselor such as …
-Their personal information
-Disability history
-Education
-Employment
-Vocational goals
-Expectations of DVRS.
All of this is outlined in the document “Steps in the DVRS process” found on the DVRS website.

8. Step Three: Eligibility
In order to be eligible for DVRS services, students must have a documented physical, cognitive, or mental/emotional impairment that poses a substantial barrier to employment, and
Requires vocational rehabilitation services in order to prepare for, secure, maintain, or regain employment
The student’s school and medical records are reviewed as part of the eligibility determination.
Read slide then say…
It is important to know that students who are blind or have significant visual loss are typically referred to the NJ Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired for vocational rehabilitation services. The Commission is part of the NJ Dept. of Human Services.
It is also important to be aware that our local offices have counselors who are deaf language specialists. These counselors are available to work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

9. Step Four: Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
An IPE
is a written agreement between the student and the counselor
will be developed after the consumer is determined eligible for DVRS services; and…
when the student and counselor have identified a vocational goal and have determined the specific services that will be needed by the student to achieve such goal.
The 4th step in the DVRS process is the development of the consumer’s Individualized Plan for Employment, what is called the “IPE.” Read the bullets.
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10. well as the consumer’s interests, abilities and strengths.
Provision of services is individualized based on the person’s work history, skill level & disability related limitations as
well as the consumer’s interests, abilities and strengths.
Vocational counseling and guidance is the core service provided on every IPE and transition.
All services on an IPE must be related to the vocational goal and serve the intended purpose of successful employment: Job club, job coaching, training.
Generally speaking, services other than vocational counseling & guidance will be provided after the student has exited the school system.
Read bullets.

11. Last Step: Case Closure
The consumer’s case is closed when the individual has been successfully employed for a minimum of 90 days
Typically this means that the specific services provided through DVRS have ended
Consumers may reapply to DVRS at any time in the future if their job situation changes
Read slide.

12. OUR CONTACT INFORMATION: (For Bergen County Residents) DVRS Office 60 State Street, Suite 203, 2nd Fl Hackensack, NJ (201) v (201) f
Read There are 18 local DVRS offices located …, then “DVRS also has administrative office located in Trenton, NJ that we refer to as “Central Office”
This office’s contact information is listed on this slide.

13. Evaluation of records & C/Scope
Process
Rehabilitation
/Closure
Referral
Application
Eligibility
Service
Evaluation of records & C/Scope
assigned
Amendment

14. Questions?????