Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
m. 1. B. The justification for the order
Current Narrative:
(B) The justification for the order
An order of selection is required under section 101 (a)(5) of the Rehabilitation Act if a rehabilitation agency determines that it is unable to provide services to all eligible individuals who apply for services. With an order of selection, services must first be provided to individuals with the most significant disabilities before they are provided to other eligible individuals.
Due to limited personnel and financial resources, DORS has been unable to provide services to all eligible individuals. Based on projected fiscal and personnel resources, an order of selection will remain in effect. The Division’s Order of Selection ensures that eligible individuals with the most significant disabilities receive priority.
Due to the following factors there is a high likelihood that DORS will need to close Category 1, those individuals with the most significant disability, and place those individuals on a waiting list:
- For the last 4 years, DORS has seen double digit growth in the number of students with disability who are applying for Pre-Employment Transitioning Services (Pre-ETS). Since 2015 DORS has gone from 400 clients who meet the definition of a student with a disability to over 5,700 students at the end of fiscal 2019. Based on the expected growth rate DORS expects to by serving 9,000 students with disabilities by the end of fiscal year 2020 and 11,000 by 2021. This increase has resulted in DORS having to shift staff from providing VR services to Pre-ETS.
- In addition, due to the economic down turn in the State’s economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced funding from the State will impact DORS funding, possibly dropping the agency below the federal Match requirement to be fully funded for FY 20 and possibly FY 21.
- Finally, the State has also implemented a hiring freeze, thus DORS is unable to fill counselor or other vacancies at this time.
DORS will continue to investigate methods to increase engagement of DORS consumers, including youth, while they are on the waitlist, such as by proactively providing information and referral services to WIOA partner agencies, including timely follow-up on those referrals.