03 Eligibility Status
Revised: 08/03
03-03 Order of Selection
03-03-01 Purpose
In the event that the agency deems it necessary, due to the lack of sufficient resources to serve all eligible individuals, an Order of Selection will be implemented. All eligible individuals will be assigned a priority code based on the significance of disability. The agency will decide which priority level(s) will be funded at the point in time that an Order of Selection must be implemented, starting with the first priority.
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03-03-02 Definition
03-03-02-01 Most Significant Disability
The term "individual with a most significant disability" means an individual:
who has a severe physical or mental disability that seriously impedes the individuals functional capacities in two or more areas (such as mobility, communication, self care, self direction, interpersonal skills, cognitive abilities, or work tolerance or attendant factors) in terms of an employment outcome, and
for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred or has been interrupted or intermittent; and
whose vocational rehabilitation can be expected to require multiple and intensive vocational rehabilitation services in order to result in an employment outcome.
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03-03-02-02 Significant Disability
The term "individual with a significant disability" means an individual:
who has a severe physical or mental impairment that seriously limits one or more functional capacities (such as mobility, communication, self care, self direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, or work skills) in terms of an employment outcome; and
for whom vocational rehabilitation can be expected to require multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time.
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03-03-03 Assignment of Priority Order
Assign priority as follows:
03-03-03-01 Priority Group I
The most significantly disabled individuals who require cost and/or no cost vocational rehabilitation services.
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03-03-03-02 Priority Group II
Significantly disabled individuals who require cost and/or no cost vocational rehabilitation services.
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03-03-03-03 Priority Group III
Eligible individuals with non-significant disabilities who require cost or no cost vocational rehabilitation services.
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03-03-04 Guidelines for Instituting an Order of Selection
At the time that an Order of Selection is implemented, those individuals receiving services under an IPE will not be affected by the priority codes and will continue to receive cost and no cost services.
Upon determining a participant eligible for services, the counselor shall assign a priority code (priority group I through priority group III).
The participant shall be informed of his/her priority code and his/her right to appeal the priority code assignment.
While the agency is operating under an Order of Selection, the counselor may only assist those individuals in those priority categories for which the agency has determined there are sufficient resources to serve.
All other eligible participants that do not fit a funded category shall be placed in a holding status.
There will be a "delayed status" for those eligible participants who are interested in DVR services and are waiting for a change in the Order of Selection which would allow them to be served. If the individual is not interested in being placed on a waiting list, then the case should be closed accordingly.
If at any time the agency lifts the Order of Selection for a particular priority group, those individuals within that priority group will automatically be changed in the system and the individual will need to be contacted to initiate the development of an IPE.
Every six months the agency shall inquire of the individuals in the "delayed status" as to whether they are still interested in VR services and/or if there are changes in the individual's disability, which may make them eligible for a serviceable priority code. If they are still interested in services but their disability has not changed, they will continue to remain in a "delayed status."
If their disability has changed, the counselor shall contact the participant for further assessment. Based on this information, the Order of Selection priority code may be upgraded by the counselor at any time. If the participant indicates that he/she are no longer interested in DVR services or is non-responsive to inquiries, his/her case will be closed.
When a participant is placed in delayed status, the Counselor shall refer the individual to other appropriate community programs including other components of the Workforce Investment System which are best suited to address their employment needs. Referrals shall be made in writing and include information and advice regarding the most suitable services to assist the individual and a specific point of contact within the agency to which the individual is being referred.
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