Substantiality of Services Policy:
The definition of substantiality of services includes all the needs that should be met in the IPE, its amendments, and otherwise in the case record. These needs should include both those pertaining to the vocational abilities of the individual and those relating to the barriers to employment posed by the disability or disabilities. Substantial services are those services that address an individual's major needs as identified in the assessment process or later in the case record that the counselor and the client agree have to be met in order for the individual to achieve an employment outcome consistent with that individual's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice. The services required to meet the needs of an individual should be planned on the IPE and/or its amendments, regardless of the source of payment or service provider. The source of payment and service provider must be listed on the IPE for each service.
Specific Vocational Rehabilitation Services are any services described in an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) necessary to assist an individual in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, including:
1. assessment for determining eligibility and
priority for services by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an
assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology.
2. an assessment for determining vocational
rehabilitation needs by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an
assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology;
3. vocational rehabilitation counseling and
guidance, including information and support services to assist an individual in
exercising informed choice as defined in the OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section
4.4 page 21;
4. referral and other
services necessary to assist applicants and eligible individuals to secure
needed services from other agencies, including other components of the
statewide workforce investment system and to advise those individuals about
Client Assistance Programs (OVR/OVRB Policy Manual Section 1.1.9; OVR/OVRB
Resource Guide Section 4.4 page 28 & Form MDRS-VR-02, Information and
Referral, following Section 2.7.3 of the Resource Guide);
5. Physical and mental restoration services,
to the extent that financial support is not readily available from a source
other than the Agency (such as through health insurance or a comparable service
or benefit.
6. vocational and other
training services, including the provision of personal and vocational
adjustment, books, tools, and other training material, except that no training
services provided at an institution of higher learning shall be paid with funds
under this title unless maximum efforts have been made by the counselor and the
individual to secure grant assistance, in whole or in part, from other sources
to pay for such training;
7.
maintenance for additional costs incurred while participating in an assessment
for determining eligibility and rehabilitation needs or while under an IPE as
defined in the OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section 4.4, page
28;
8. transportation,
including adequate training in the use of public transportation vehicles and
systems, that is provided in connection with the provision of any other service
described in this section and needed by the individual to achieve an employment
outcome as defined in the OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section 4.4, page
36;
9. vocational
rehabilitation services to family members of an applicant or eligible
individual if necessary to enable the applicant or eligible individual to
achieve an employment outcome;
10.
interpreter services, including sign language and oral interpreter services,
for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and tactile interpreting
services for individuals who are deaf-blind provided by qualified
personnel;
11. reader services,
rehabilitation teaching services and orientation and mobility services for
individuals who are blind;
12.
job-related services, including job search and placement assistance, job
retention services, follow-up services, and follow-along services as defined in
the OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section 3.11;
13. supported employment services in
accordance with the definition in the OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section
4.4, pages 34 35;
14.
personal assistance services in accordance with the definition in the
OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section 4.4, page 31;
15. post-employment services in accordance
with the definition in the OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section 4.4, page
32 - 33;
16. occupational
licenses, tools, equipment, and initial stock and supplies;
17. rehabilitation technology services
including vehicular modifications, telecommunications, sensory and other
technological aids and devices in accordance with the definition in the
OVR/OVRB Resource Guide, Section 4.4, page 33 & Section
3.2;
18. transition
services in accordance with the definition in the OVR/OVRB Resource
Guide, Section 4.4, page 35 - 36 & Section 3.17;
19. technical assistance and other
consultation services to conduct market analysis, develop business plans, and
otherwise provide resources, to the extent such resources are authorized to be
provided through the statewide workforce investment system, to eligible
individuals who are pursuing self-employment or telecommuting or establishing a
small business operation as an employment outcome;
20. Other goods and services determined
necessary for the individual with a disability to achieve an employment
outcome.
