Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Priority Categories:

Effective August 1, 2017, individuals are served in the following order of priority under the Order of Selection:

• Priority Category 1: Individuals determined to have a most significant disability (MSD);
• Priority Category 2: Individuals determined to have a significant disability (SD); and,
• Priority Category 3: All other eligible individuals (Individuals determined to have a non-significant disability (NSD)).

MSD: An individual who has a severe physical or mental impairment that seriously limits three or more functional capacities (communication, interpersonal skills, mobility, self-care, self-direction, work skills, or work tolerance) in terms of an employment outcome, requires multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time, and has one or more physical or mental disabilities determined to cause comparable substantial functional limitation.

SD: An individual who has a severe physical or mental impairment that seriously limits one or more functional capacities (communication, interpersonal skills, mobility, self-care, self-direction, work skills, or work tolerance) in terms of an employment outcome and whose vocational rehabilitation can be expected to require multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time.

NSD:     All other VR eligible individuals.

Basis for Order of Selection – Prohibited Factors:

The Order of Selection shall not be based on any other factors, including:

(1)         Any duration of residency requirement, provided the individual is present in the State;

(2)         Type of disability;

(3)         Age, gender, race, color, or national origin;

(4)         Source of referral;

(5)         Type of expected employment outcome;

(6)         The need for specific services or anticipated cost of services required by an individual; or

(7)         The income level of an individual or an individual’s family

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, followed by SD (category 2). Individuals in the other disability priority categories will be deferred for services, and will be served according to application date and in order of priority, as sufficient resources become available. The process if further outlined below:

1. VR will continue to take all referrals and schedule individuals for intake appointments, per federal requirements.
2. VR Counselors will meet with each applicant for their intake appointment and will determine eligibility and disability priority category assignment for all VR eligible individuals, per federal requirements.
3. Eligible individuals who are MSD and SD will jointly develop the IPE with their VR Counselor, and necessary services will be implemented. Individuals who are NSD will be deferred for services. Information and referral will be provided as appropriate for these individuals including sharing of local area office resource guides. Note, on or before 12/31/24, individuals in all priority categories (MSD, SD, and NSD) will jointly develop the IPE with their VR Counselor, and necessary services will be implemented. At that time, no individuals will be deferred for services)
4. As sufficient resources become available to serve individuals who were deferred for services, BRS will assign individuals released from deferred services status to the appropriate VR Office and VR Counselor. Individuals in priority category 3, NSD, are the final remaining priority group for release from deferred services status, based on earliest application date, and in accordance with federal requirements.  
5. Once the individual is released from deferred services status, the case will be distributed to the appropriate office/VR Counselor, and IPE will be developed and necessary services will be implemented as appropriate.