Fact Sheet
The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program
What is the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program?
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), states receive Federal
grants to operate a comprehensive VR program. This State-operated program
is designed to assess, plan, develop and provide VR services to eligible individuals
with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities,
concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice. By providing
services in this way, the VR program enables individuals with disabilities
to prepare for and engage in gainful employment.
What does it mean to be an "Individual with a Disability"?
An "individual with a disability" means any individual who: ·
Has a physical or mental impairment which constitutes or results in a substantial
Impediment to employment for the individual; and · Can benefit from
VR services to achieve an employment outcome. 3. Who is eligible for VR services?
To be eligible for VR services, an individual must:
- be an "individual with a disability", as defined above; and
- require VR services to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment.
Is anyone presumed eligible for VR services leading to employment?
Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are presumed to be eligible
for VR services leading to employment, unless there is clear and convincing
evidence that they are too severely disabled to benefit form VR services.
Does every eligible Individual receive VR services?
No. The Act requires VR to serve individuals with the most significant disabilities
first when there are not enough resources to serve everyone who is eligible
for VR services. This means that individuals with the most significant disabilities
are given a priority over those with less significant disabilities. This process
is called an "order of selection."
How does an Individual apply for VR services?
- An individual has the right to submit a written application.
- An individual will be considered to have "submitted an application"
when she/he "requests" VR services and provides sufficient information
for VR to determine eligibility.
- VR should determine eligibility within 60 days of application.
How does an individual receive VR services?
- The VR agency assigns a VR counselor to each eligible individual.
- The counselor gathers as much information as possible about the individual's
work history, education and training, abilities and interests, rehabilitation
needs, and possible career goals. In gathering the information, the counselor
will first look to existing information so it is important for an individual
to bring copies of medical, educational and similar documentation.
- If existing information is not sufficient to determine whether the individual
is eligible for VR services, then VR will provide assessment services to
gather the needed information.
- Based on the information gathered in this assessment phase of the VR process,
an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) that identifies the individual's
desired employment outcome is developed. The IPE also lists, among other
things, the steps necessary to achieve the individual employment outcome;
the services needed to help the individual achieve the outcome, and evaluation
criteria used to determine progress toward the employment outcome. The VR
agency may only provide those services listed on the IPE.
- The State VR counselor provides some services directly to the eligible
individual and arranges for other services from providers in the community.
How does an individual develop an IPE?
- Once an individual is determined eligible to receive VR services, he or
she must develop an IPE. The individual must be given the opportunity to
make an informed choice in selecting, among other things, an employment
outcome, needed VR services, and providers of those VR services.
- The individual may develop the IPE: on his/her own; with the assistance
of a qualified VR counselor; or with the assistance of anyone else who is
willing to help.
- The VR agency must provide the individual with the information in writing,
as well as in an appropriate mode of communication, explaining the assistance
available to the individual when developing the IPE as well as the full
range of components that must be included in the IPE.
- The IPE must be approved by the VR counselor and signed by both the individual
and the VR counselor.
What are the VR services an eligible Individual may receive?
- VR services are those services that an eligible individual may need in
order to achieve his/her employment outcome. These include, but are not
limited to, the following:
- An assessment for determining eligibility and VR needs;
- Vocational counseling, guidance, and referral services;
- Physical and mental restoration services;
- Vocational and other training, including on-the-job training;
- Maintenance for additional costs incurred while the individual is receiving
certain VR services;
- Transportation related to other VR services
- Interpreter services for individuals who are deaf;
- Reader services for individuals who are blind;
- Services to assist students with disabilities to transition from school
to work;
- Personal assistance services (including training in managing, supervising,
and directing personal assistance services) while an individual is receiving
VR services;
- Rehabilitation technology services and devices;
- Supported employment services; and
- Job placement services.
Does the eligible individual have to pay for VR services?
Based on the individual's available financial resources, the State VR agency
may require an eligible individual to help pay for services. However, the
following services are available to all eligible individuals, regardless of
their financial resources, without charge:
- Assessments to determine eligibility and VR needs;
- Vocational counseling, guidance, and referral services; and
- Job search and placement services.
What are comparable services and benefits?
"Comparable services and benefits" are those benefits or services
that are:
- Paid for, in whole or part, by another Federal, State or local public
agency or employee benefits;
- Available at the time the individual needs them; and
- Comparable to the services that the individual would receive from the
VR agency.
Merit-based awards and scholarships are not considered "comparable services
and benefits."
Before providing certain VR services, the counselor must determine whether
another source, such as medical insurance or Medicaid, etc., can pay for the
service. However, the counselor is not required to look for a "comparable
service or benefit" if it would delay:
- The individual's progress toward achieving an employment outcome;
- An immediate job placement; or
- The provision of services to an eligible individual who is at extreme
medical risk.
What is the Client Assistance Program (CAP)?
CAP is available in each State to assist individuals in their relationships
with the VR agency. If an applicant for or recipient of VR services is not
satisfied with the services received or the decisions made by the VR counselor,
CAP may be able to help resolve the dispute.
Do Individuals have appeal rights with the VR program?
Yes. If an applicant for or recipient of the VR program is unhappy with a
decision made by a VR employee, he/she may request a review of that decision.
The law requires the VR agency to offer at least two methods of resolving
a dispute; mediation or a formal hearing process. An individual may choose
to use one or both of these processes to resolve the matter. In addition,
the law provides the VR agencies with the flexibility to develop and implement
informal review procedures to resolve disputes prior to the mediation or formal
hearing process. These informal review procedures generally involve the applicant
or individual, or, as appropriate, the applicant or individual's representative,
negotiating a resolution with the counselor or the counselor's supervisor.
Where can I get more information about the VR agency in my State?
The addresses and telephone numbers of the local VR agency offices generally
are listed under "State Government" in the local telephone directory.
*Fact Sheet developed by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
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