Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

(q) Quality, Scope, and Extent of Supported Employment Services. Include the following:

(1) The quality, scope, and extent of supported employment services to be provided to individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with the most significant disabilities.

The quality, scope, and extent of supported employment services are consistent with the definition of supported employment as it is contained in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. As required by the WIOA of 2014, 50 percent of the total Supported Employment Allotment will be utilized to provide supported employment services, including extended services, to youth with the most significant disabilities.

The quality of supported employment services is assured through the Division’s case review process. Records are reviewed in terms of eligibility, Individualized Plan for Employment, service delivery, case closure, and expenditures. The review emphasizes technical compliance with the Title I and Title VI-B regulations. DORS uses case review findings to identify policies that may require modification or clarification and to identify staff training needs. DORS also conducts periodic onsite reviews of supported employment providers to assure compliance with established policy and procedure and regularly updates cooperative agreements with these facilities.

Supported employment means competitive employment in an integrated setting, or employment in integrated work settings in which individuals are working on a short-term basis toward competitive employment, consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individuals with ongoing support services for individuals with the most significant disabilities:

• For whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred or for whom competitive employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of a significant disability; and
• Who, because of the nature and severity of a disabilities, need intensive supported employment services and extended services after transition in order to perform this work.

The scope of supported employment services is contained in DORS’ Rehabilitation Services Manual II, Section 800. DORS provides ongoing training to counselors about supported employment policy and best practices, including to new staff at the Quality Rehabilitation Training Program conducted at least twice a year.

Supported employment services are defined in the regulations as ongoing support services and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain an individual with the most significant disability in supported employment.

In recognition of the time required to develop employment opportunities and place individuals with the most significant disabilities in employment, DORS policy permits payment of job development and placement as discrete activities within “job coaching”.

Supported employment services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Job coaching assistance to stabilize an individual in competitive integrated employment settings for the maximum number of hours possible based on the unique strengths, resources, interests, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of individuals with the most significant disabilities;
• Intensive on-site job skills training and other training provided by skilled job trainers, coworkers, and other qualified individuals;
• Off-site supports to address issues and concerns;
• Follow-up services, including regular contact with employers, trainers, parents, guardians, or other representatives of trainees, and other suitable professional and informed advisors to reinforce and stabilize the job placement;
• Other services specified in the regulations needed to achieve and maintain job stability; and/or
• Discrete post-employment services following transition that are unavailable from an extended services provider and that are necessary to maintain the job placement.

All supported employment services are available to all individuals, including youth with the most significant disabilities, determined eligible to receive supported employment services. Individuals are eligible if:

• The individual is eligible for VR services;
• The individual is determined to be an individual with a most significant disability;
• A comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation needs of the individual, including an evaluation of rehabilitation, career, and job needs, identifies whether or not supported employment is the appropriate rehabilitation objective; and
• If Supported Employment is not found to be appropriate at the time of comprehensive assessment, DORS will reassess annually.