Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

VR will continue to process referrals, complete application/intake, and determine eligibility and severity determination for all new referrals. Individuals who are determined to be an individual with a MSD (Priority category 1) will be prioritized for services. Individuals in the other severity determination categories will be placed on a deferred for services, and will be served according to application date as sufficient resources become available.

1. VR will continue to take all referrals and schedule individuals for intake appointments, per federal requirements. 2. VR Counselors will see the consumer for their intake appointment and will determine eligibility and severity for the consumer, per federal requirements. 3. Eligible individuals who are MSD will jointly develop the IPE with the VR Counselor, and necessary services will be implemented. Individuals who are SD and NSD will be deferred for services. 4. As sufficient resources become available to serve individuals who were deferred for services, BRS will assign individuals coming off of the deferred list to the appropriate VR Office and VR Counselor. Individuals in priority category 2, SD, will be the first individuals to come off of the deferred list, based on earliest application date, and in accordance with federal requirements. 5. Once the case is distributed to the appropriate office/VR Counselor, the VR Counselor will create a service plan with the individual and commence implementation of necessary services.

Implementing the order of selection is expected to increase focus on services to individuals with a MSD. As this population will become the largest population of individuals receiving VR services, BRS has and will continue to align training initiatives to focus on improving the quality of services to this population. Additionally, opportunity for further collaboration with other WIOA core partners may also be enhanced. BRS has been in communication with core WIOA partners at the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) regarding strategies to enhance access to Work One services by individuals with disabilities who may be unable to receive services from VR. DWD and BRS co-hosted a roundtable summit in June, 2017 in preparation for implementation of the order of selection, to bring together key representatives from state and federal organizations that may be in a position to expand services to individuals with disabilities. Statewide training was provided to Work One center staff following the roundtable summit to provide resources and information intended to help Work One staff to effectively serve individuals with disabilities, in anticipation of Hoosiers with disabilities accessing Work One centers at an increased rate following implementation of the order of selection. Furthermore, BRS continues to invest in pre-employment transition services which are available to students with disabilities, age 14-22, who are either eligible or potentially eligible for VR services. Through pre-employment transition services activities, students will also be educated about resources to assist them in pursuing their post-secondary training and employment goals.