"Hello...and welcome to the Vocational Rehabilitation program from the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Thousands of Virginians like you have participated in this program since its introduction almost eight decades ago. They enjoy the success and fulfillment of making the most of their assets and living life to its fullest."
"The Vocational Rehabilitation program, also called the "VR program", provides services to customers throughout the Commonwealth. You, too, have discovered this program, talked with a counselor, and applied to use our services. This material will help you review the information your counselor gave you and remind you of the excellent opportunities that are out there.
This material is divided into four sections. A beep, like this one, will count out the section number, so you can easily search for and cue up to a section. In those sections, we will first talk about available services. Next, we'll review the application you submitted and the eligibility requirements to use our services. Then, we'll cover the rights and choices you have regarding the use of our services. Finally we'll review the "the Ticket to Work program" available to Social Security recipients who wish to enter or return to work.
"Again, Section 1 explains the services available to you, Section 2 reviews the application and eligibility requirements, Section 3 will help you understand more about your rights and choices throughout the process, and Section 4 reviews the Ticket to Work program."
Our mission is to provide you with the services you need to get or keep a job. We hope that by using our services, you can pursue a career consistent with your strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities.
The VR program has almost 20 counselors located in six regional offices around the state. We are dedicated to providing superior customer service and want you to achieve your goals and fully participate in the mainstream of life. We need your commitment to make this happen."
"Your commitment begins with adjusting to a new lifestyle. Whatever your experience with visual impairment, you'll likely encounter situations in the workplace you've never dealt with before.
We offer invaluable programs through the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, called the VRCBVI for short. Virginians, age 14 and over, can stay at this Center, located in Richmond, for as long as they need to develop their skills.
In your career, you'll be working with persons without visual impairments. So, many skills will come in handy... like using braille, tape recording, keyboarding, and exciting new computer technology for communication.
You'll also need to get to and from work, and navigate around the workplace. By learning independent travel skills and by using long canes and/or low vision aides, you can ride public transportation and move around your work environment safely.
These are just a few examples of the benefits the VRCBVI has to offer, and best of all they come at no cost to you. We also can arrange for you to receive adjustment services in your home or community. Attending classes at the Center, however, is the best and quickest way of learning how to do those things that will help you do your job, and do it well.
Regardless of your skill level, the Center provides individualized attention to students learning the skills necessary for greater independence, efficiency and safety on the job, at home, and in social settings."
"Speaking of individualized attention, let's talk about your Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. He or she will work with you to develop an Individualized Plan for Employment or IPE. During this process, your counselor will help you identify your goals and find the best way to attain them."
"In addition, we offer a wide array of services including vocational training... job placement... the purchase of adaptive computer and other equipment... the maintenance necessary to participate in vocational training or to begin a new job... and the transportation necessary to participate in vocational training or to begin employment. Even after you're employed, you may qualify for post-employment services when they're necessary for you to maintain employment.
The VR program arranges for the purchase ofmost vocational training from third-party vendors such as colleges and universities, community rehabilitation programs, on-the-job training with employers, and vocational training centers. The Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired , or DBVI, provides the following three additional programs.
The Randolph-Sheppard program which trains food service managers who work in vending facilities located throughout the Commonwealth.
The Customer Service program at the VRCBVI which trains individuals to become employed as customer service representatives in both the public and private sectors.
The Virginia Industries for the Blind is the third program and provides supervision, training and employment in numerous service occupations utilizing adaptive computer technology in other communities throughout the state. The Virginia Industries for the Blind also manages two manufacturing plants, one in Richmond, the other in Charlottesville.
Talk to your counselor about what interests you. After all, this is your career we're talking about."
"You recently applied for services mentioned earlier in this material. You should have a signed copy of the application, and it should have been carefully explained to you by your counselor.
On the form is your name and social security number, followed by these statements.
I am applying to the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired for vocational rehabilitation services.
I have received an explanation of services provided by the DBVI.
I have been informed that interpreter/translator services are available for individuals for whom English is not the primary language.
According to Section 46.2-221 of the Code of Virginia, the DBVI must report each year to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles the names of all legally blind or visually handicapped persons known to DBVI. This information shall be used by DMV solely for the purpose of determining qualifications of these persons for licensure under Sections 46.2-311 ad Sections 46.2-312 to operate motor vehicles.
My rights and responsibilities as an applicant have been explained, and I have received a copy of this form.
My signature on this line certifies that I understand the above information as explained to me."
"Following this last statement is your signature and the date. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian signed here. If you are over age 18 and someone signed for you, a witness' signature must follow. Your witness should not have been anyone on the DBVI staff."
"At the bottom of the document is your permission to release information about your medical condition. It reads, "I give my permission to the DBVI to obtain general medical information regarding my eye condition from the doctor or doctors listed below." Here it gives room to list two doctors' names and the type of information requested.
Again, this section was signed and dated by either you or your parent or guardian, and a witness after the necessary information was filled in. This information allows the DBVI to obtain general medical and/or information on your eye condition quickly and efficiently so we can get you started as soon as possible."
"You will receive an eligibility determination within 60 days of applying for VR services unless you agree to extend the eligibility period due to extenuating circumstances. You will be determined eligible if you have a physical or mental disability that results in difficulty finding employment. If you want to work, you meet this criterion if you receive benefits for SSDI...Social Security Disability...or SSI, Supplemental Security Income.
You also must demonstrate clear need for VR services either to gain or maintain employment. If existing information is not enough to determine your eligibility, we will provide at no cost to you the evaluations needed. You will receive extended evaluation services should a disability be deemed "too severe." In this case, before determining ineligibility we will consider functional assessments, such as trial work experiences.
Certain Vocational Rehabilitation services are based on financial need, such as tuition for college and eye surgery or treatment. To be eligible for these services, you must provide financial information. If your financial situation changes, you must notify DBVI within 10 days.
If you have any questions about your application or the eligibility requirements, don't hesitate to call your counselor!"
"As part of the application process, your rights have been explained to you with regard to our services. We truly care about your rights and hope to protect them to the best of our ability, so let's review them with you again.
Anyone presently in Virginia may apply for vocational rehabilitation services. You have the right to equal treatment regardless of age, race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or disability.
During the development of your IPE, your VR counselor must inform you, or your parent, guardian, or other representative about various options available to you. Issues that must be discussed in relation to these options include: information relating to cost, accessibility, duration of potential services, qualification of service providers, whether other customers have been satisfied, and whether services are provided in an integrated setting."
"After discussing these issues, if more than one vendor is able to provide the needed service at comparable costs, you have the right to choose among them, as long as the choice does not violate any state or federal requirements.
In situations where a fee for service has been established by the VR program, the vendor must be willing to accept the fee as payment in full and not charge you a fee, unless together we agree to the payment prior to providing the service.
Although it may seem like there are a lot of regulations, they are designed to help and protect you. We really want to emphasize you have a right to make your own decisions when using our services. After getting the necessary forms and assistance from your counselor, you can even do things like develop your IPE on your own! Don't limit yourself to what you think is possible. Ask questions – you may be pleasantly surprised!
"In order to protect you, and in compliance with the Code of Virginia Section 2.1-377-386, under the Privacy Protection Act, we will not release information about you without your written consent. The only exception is for purposes directly connected with DBVI service programs. If you have any questions or want to see the information in your record, you may request this information through the DBVI Regional Manager in your area."
"If you have a concern regarding our services, you can contact the Client Assistance Program, also known as CAP. You can call CAP at 1-800-552-3962. CAP is a federally funded independent program is designed to assist customers with service concerns in vocational rehabilitation. They advocate for people's rights by mediating any disagreements between customers and providers of rehabilitation services."
If you are not satisfied with our decision on your eligibility for services based on the requirements reviewed in Section 2 of this material, you have the right to appeal. To ask for a conference or hearing, call or write to the regional office where you applied. Or simply dial this toll free number: 1-800-622-2155. You may also write to the Deputy Commissioner for Services of the DBVI. That address can be obtained by the regional office manager in your area."
If you are a SSI and/or SSDI recipient, age 18 to age 65, you will receive a Ticket from the Social Security Administration. This ticket is part of a new program under the Social Security Administration called the Ticket to Work Program. It is your decision to participate in the program.
If you have received a ticket and wish to enter or return to work, DBVI would like for you to assign the ticket to our agency. Again, participation is voluntary. A DBVI vocational rehabilitation counselor will be happy to explain the Ticket to Work program, the benefits associated with your participation in the program and, how the ticket may relate to your VR program. Questions on Ticket to Work may also be directed to Maximus, a private company hired by Social Security to manage the "Ticket to Work" program. Maximus can be reached by Voice telephone at 1-866-968-7842, by TDD telephone at 1-866-833-2967(TDD), or on the Internet at www.maximus.com...that's www dot m-a-x-i-m-u-s-dot com.
"Thank you for taking the time to review this material. If you thought of any questions about our program or want more information on a specific detail, please don't hesitate to contact your counselor. And for more information about DBVI, visit our website at www.vdbvi.org. No matter how you reach out to us, we're here to help you any way we can and look forward to working with you.
Keep in mind there are more opportunities out there than ever before. Technology allows us new ways of doing things every day. Discover abilities you didn't know you had, explore new career options and live a more satisfying life. Let us help get you there."