"Supported employment" means (i) competitive work in an integrated setting or employment in integrated work settings in which individuals are working toward competitive employment, consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual 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 their disabilities, need intensive supported employment services from DBVI and extended services after transition to perform this work or (ii) transitional employment for individuals with the most significant disabilities due to mental illness. (34CFR 361.5(b)(53)
SE involves full or part-time employment which is paid in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act SE takes place in an integrated work setting with no more than eight individuals with disabilities and requires extended services be provided at least twice monthly on or off the work site after termination of time-limited services. SE involves two consecutive phases:
Time-limited Services Phase
The Title VI, Part B, funds (452 funds) granted to the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) are utilized during the time-limited phase and are targeted for:
The time-limited services phase includes, but is not limited to, assessment (once eligibility has been determined), supplemental assessment, job development, job placement, other support services, and job site training by a qualified trainer until the customer has substantially met the hourly work goal on a weekly basis and is considered stable in employment.
Extended Service Phase
Title VI, Part B, and Title I/110 funds cannot be used to fund the extended services phase of SE.
The extended services phase begins as soon as the time-limited services phase ends. There can be no interruption. The extended services phase includes at least twice monthly follow-up on or off the job site. The purpose of follow-up services is to assess employment stability, and monitor, coordinate or provide (on or off the job site) the services needed to maintain employment as long as the individual remains employed and promotes job retention.
SE programs strive to place individuals with the most severe disabilities in the least restrictive, most integrated setting possible, consistent with the individual's need for support. The four major models in current use are individual placement, mobile crew, enclave, and entrepreneurial.
Four Models
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Referral
When DBVI received a referral for an individual who may require SE services, the individual must go through the regular eligibility process. All costs incurred in order to establish eligibility, such as extended evaluation studies, must be charged to regular case service funds (Title I/110). Once eligibility has been determined, SE assessments and supplemental assessments can be paid from Title VI, Part B, funds (cost code 452) unless otherwise directed.
Assessment
The SE assessment which is an authorized activity under federal regulations, focuses on the evaluation of the individual's functional abilities using one of a variety of integrated work settings in the community. If a SE assessment is not available, the counselor may utilize vocational evaluation or situational assessments through a local community rehabilitation provider or other approved service provider. The individual being considered for SE services may need a situational assessment to determine if SE services are necessary. A work evaluation at VRCBVI may prove useful as well.
The purpose of the assessment is to determine the individual’s feasibility for SE, the nature and intensity of support services, job duty restrictions, job modifications needed, post-employment training needs, least restrictive environment, the anticipated level of intervention, and the best job match. Through this assessment process, the service provider observes, records, and interprets vocational behaviors in an actual work setting(s).
The VR counselor should negotiate with the service provider to determine the number of recommended assessment hours for the individual needing an assessment. Situational assessments generally average 16 hours. The vendor will provide a written situational assessment report to the VR counselor describing the individual's strengths and how these strengths might be transferred to a variety of jobs and work sites in the community. The VR counselor will forward to the service provider form DBVI-04-126 (Word) to report the results.
Assessments can be purchased from an approved vendor of SE. The rate usually is equivalent to fees for time-limited job-site training, job coaching services, or job training.
A Supplemental Assessment from Title VI, Part B, funds can be used infrequently and only in those circumstances where additional information is needed to determine the most suitable placement, determine the nature and scope of the required extended services (including rehabilitation technology), to reassess the suitability of the SE placement, or to reevaluate any changes in the individual's functioning or medical condition.
Eligibility
To be eligible for SE, the individual must have a documented secondary disability in addition to blindness and vision impairment. The secondary disability may be deafness, hard of hearing, mental retardation, chronic mental illness, or another severe physical disability. A visual impairment alone does not meet the eligibility criteria for extended support services. All individuals with secondary disabilities may not need SE to obtain and maintain competitive employment. One of the following situations would give good cause for considering SE as an option:
DBVI may plan with school staff and sponsor SE services for students with severe disabilities who are in the final semester of their Individual Educational Program (IEP). DBVI sponsorship requires that the student be placed in a job that meets all SE federal criteria. The same extended services funding availability requirements apply. Resource unavailability should not impede the determination of eligibility; this means that a customer can be determined eligible for VR services without extended services being currently available. There must, however, be reason to believe that extended services will be available when the individual is ready to transition from time-limited to extended services.
Development of the IPE or Substantial Amendment
The following information is required on the IPE for an individual receiving SE services:
The VR counselor and the service provider should negotiate the following:
Funding Codes
Regular Title I/110 funds are charged for any expenses incurred to establish VR eligibility.
Title VI, Part B, (452) funds are charged for expenditures related to the purchase of support services in the time-limited phase of the SE program.
State General Funds (454 funds) are used for expenditures related to the purchase of extended services for individuals with physically disabling conditions.
Case Closure
The case cannot be closed as a SE case unless the following criteria are met:
A case may be closed in Closed Rehabilitated if the above SE criteria have not been met; yet the individual did receive substantial VR services that enabled him/her to become employed or be rehabilitated as a homemaker. These cases, however, cannot be closed as SE cases.
The VR counselor will ensure that arrangements are in place for the job coach or the employment specialist to continue regular contacts with the individual or as appropriate the individual’s parents, guardians, other representatives, other professionals, and informed advisors in order to reinforce and maintain the job placement following case closure.
General Fund Cases Transfer at Closure in SE (only those DBVI is sponsoring in extended services)
The VR counselor takes the following actions when preparing an individual’s case for closure and extended services:
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)--Signature Requirements
The commitment for extended services is established by the receipt of appropriate and authorized signatures. The VR counselor will be responsible for obtaining signatures on the appropriate MOU. The MOU is to be filed in the customer's permanent case folder and a copy sent to the VR program director.
The memo entitled Memorandum of Understanding Between DBVI and the CSB (DBVI-04-131) (Word) will be used specifically for persons who have a mental disability in addition to blindness and vision impairment. The VR counselor will provide the authorized signature for DBVI. A copy of the signed memorandum must be sent to the VR program director.
The memo entitled Memorandum of Understanding Between DBVI and the Vendor of SE Services (DBVI-04-132) (Word) will be used specifically in the sponsorship of persons with physical disabilities in addition to blindness and vision impairment. The VR program director will provide the authorized signature for DBVI.
The memo entitled Memorandum of Understanding for Natural Supports (DBVI-04-133) (Word) also in the AWARE Letters Catalog is to be used specifically when someone other than the CSB or DBVI provides the extended services. Providers of natural support may include, but not limited to, co-workers, supervisors and other volunteers. In some instances, the deafblind specialists with DBVI may provide natural support services for persons who are deafblind. The provider of natural supports, the customer, and the VR counselor all sign the memo and a copy must be sent to the VR program director.
If a provider of Natural Supports requests a non-enforcement clause be added to the Memorandum of Understanding for Natural Supports the following statement is to be added to the agreement:
"It is also understood that the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired will not enforce this agreement should I be unable to continue the support needed for this individual."
TERMINOLOGY
Competitive Work
Full or part-time work paid in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act performed in the most integrated work setting.
Discrete Post-Employment Services
Means limited re-intervention by the state VR agency after the transition from time-limited to extended services. The required services are not available from an extended service provider and are needed to maintain the job placement, such as job station redesign, repair and maintenance of assistive technology, and replacement of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
Discrete post-employment services should not be used in instances where under employment is present or there is a need for extensive retraining. The case may need to be reopened in these instances.
Eligibility
Individuals declared eligible for SE must be eligible for Title I/110 funded services. They must be the individuals with the most severe disabilities, and for whom SE has been identified as the appropriate rehabilitation objective on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation needs (including an evaluation of rehabilitation, career, and job needs).
Extended Services
After job stabilization extended services begin; this is also known as monitoring or on-going support. Extended services means on-going support services and other appropriate services provided by the agency or a private nonprofit organization, employer, or any other appropriate resource after the individual with the most severe disabilities has made the transition from time-limited to extended services.
Integrated Work Sites
Means interaction by the individual, with a severe disability, with non-disabled employees at job sites where employees are not disabled OR job interaction with other non-disabled individuals, including members of the general public, if the individual works alone or only with other employees who have disabilities. It means that contacts cannot be satisfied by the individuals who provide the extended support at the job site.
Job Site Training
Means intensive on-the-job skills or other training assistance to acquire the production skills and general worker traits needed by the employer. It also means development of positive work relationships with the employer and fellow workers. Examples include: learning the actual job, learning to negotiate the work site to perform the job and learning to get to and from the work site using private and/or public transportation. Training must be furnished to each individual who needs it by the most appropriate means available utilizing a qualified trainer.
Job Stability
Refers to the individual in SE performing satisfactorily in all job duties and be reasonably expected to continue that level of performance
Stabilization has generally been defined to occur when the average intervention time falls below 20 percent of the individual's working hours over a 30 - 60 day period. This is the evaluative criteria to be used on the IPE to transition from time-limited to extended services.
Natural Supports
Means utilizing fellow workers, supervisor, family member, or other individuals to provide services or complete tasks necessary for the individual to remain employed.
Examples of supports include, but not limited to: fellow worker handles telephone calls and interprets for individual unable to speak; individual activates computer signal (programmer programmed signal for employee) to notify fellow worker that individual needed assistance with selected tasks; individual with mobility problems is met by fellow worker at beginning/ending of work time and other times as needed to negotiate the work environment; employee having trouble returning from breaks and lunch period on time meets fellow worker at mid point between work station and cafeteria and is assisted to return to work on time.
Ongoing Support/Monitoring
Ongoing support services must include, at a minimum, two visits per month to monitor the work site of each individual, to assess employment stability and the coordination or provision of specific services (on or off from the work site) that are needed to maintain employment stability. On-site or off-site monitoring must be indicated on the IPE/Amendment. Off-site monitoring requires two face-to-face visits with the individual off the job site, and at least, one contact with the employer monthly. Follow-up means regular contact with employers, the individuals, the parents, family members, guardians, advocates or authorized representatives of the individuals and other suitable professional and informed advisors in order to reinforce and stabilize the job placement.
Qualified Trainer
Means a job coach, employment counselor, fellow employees, skilled job trainers, or other qualified individuals through the use of natural supports.
SE Assessment
Means determining the feasibility for SE, nature and intensity of support services, job duty restrictions, job modifications needed, post-employment training needs, least restrictive environment, the anticipated level of intervention, and the best job match.
Supplemental Assessment
Supplemental assessment for SE should be needed infrequently and used only in those circumstances where additional information is needed to determine the most suitable placement or to determine what on-site supports are needed. This includes the need for rehabilitation technology, reassessment of the suitability of the placement if warranted or if an individual's medical condition changes.
Supported Employment
Means competitive work in an integrated work setting with extended services for individuals with the most severe disabilities for whom competitive employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of their disabilities.
Time-Limited Time Frame
Normally the time-limited phase should not exceed 18 months of sponsorship during the period an individual's case is open with VR. An exception to the 18-month limitation can be made on a case-by-case basis under special circumstances, and it has been jointly agreed to by the individual and the rehabilitation counselor and the need established on the IPE/Amendment before the individual makes the transition to extended services.
Transition Requirements
Extended services must be provided without interruption in services in order to serve the interest in long-term job stability for individuals with severe disabilities. If extended services are not immediately available, an individual cannot be transitioned. Twice-monthly monitoring must continue without interruption during extended services.
Work Goals
The minimum hourly work goal must be separately determined that would maximize the individual's vocational potential at the time of transition, and they must be included on the IPE/Amendment.