Customized Employment

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Disability Program Navigator TrainingA Joint
Initiative of theU.S. Department of Laborand
theSocial Security Administration
Collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation Beyon
d Co-location Working Together to Meet
Employment Objectives Joe Skiba.
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Vocational Rehabilitation
Title IV of WIA contains the 1998 amendments to
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
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Context for Effective System Navigator
Implementation
Customer Needs
Policy
Practice
Culture
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Principles Driving the VR Program

• Independence
• Self Determination
• Informed Choice
• Meaningful Careers
• Individual Empowerment
• Maximize Employment/ Self sufficiency
• Inclusion/Integration
• Support for Individual and Systemic Advocacy

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Principles Driving WIA

• Universal Access.
• State and Local Flexibility.
• State and Local Accountability.
• Choice.
• Streamlining Services.
• Strong Role for Workforce Investment Boards.
• Improved Youth Services.

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According to ADAThe nations goals regarding
individuals with disabilities are to assure

• equality of opportunity
• full participation (empowerment)
• independent living
• economic self- sufficiency
• 
  Bobby Silverstien Disability Policy
  Framework

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Principles Driving WIA

• Universal Access.
• State and Local Flexibility.
• State and Local Accountability.
• Choice.
• Streamlining Services.
• Strong Role for Workforce Investment Boards.
• Improved Youth Services.

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Purpose of the Programs Funded under the Rehab
Act

• To empower individuals with disabilities to
  maximize employment, economic self sufficiency,
  independence, and inclusion and integration into
  society.

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VR services to enable individuals with
disabilities to pursue meaningful careers by
securing employment commensurate with their
abilities and capabilities.
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State VR - Mandated Partner of the One-Stops

• Co-location
• Collaboration
• Linked planning
• Use of Memoranda of Understanding
• Cost allocation to share expenses based on usage
  standards.

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Eligibility and Planning

• Focus on the strengths, resources, priorities,
  concerns, abilities, capabilities interests and
  informed choices of the individual.

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Informed Choice
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Full and Active Partners in the VR
processInvolvement and informed choice of the
individual in decisions directly affecting them.

• Assessments to be conducted.
• Selection of vocational goals objectives.
• Services and supports provided.
• The right to refuse or terminate.
• Selection of service providers.
• Measures of progress used.

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Informed Choice, Achieved Only When

• Individuals have Access to All Pertinent
  Information.
• Have Clarity Around Decision Making Process in
  Culturally Relevant Context.
• Individuals have Opportunity to Understand
  Information and have REAL OPTIONS.
• Are Actively Involved in Making Decisions and
  Following Through.
• Are Responsible for Evaluating Results and
  Integrating into Future Choices.

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Eligibility

• VR services provided to eligible persons with
  disabilities to prepare for, secure, maintain or
  regain employment.

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Eligibility

• Person must have a physical or mental impairment.
• Impairment results in a substantial impediment to
  employment
• Person requires VR services to prepare for,
  secure retain or regain employment.

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Eligibility

• Person presumed to be able to benefit from VR in
  pursuing employment unless clear and convincing
  evidence the individual is incapable of
  benefiting related to vocational outcomes.
• Those receiving SSI or SSDI are presumed
  eligible.

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Ineligibility

• Determination made only after involvement of
  customer or their representative.
• Informed in writing including reasons and means
  to express disagreement and seek remedy.
• Advised of CAP services.
• When decision based on individual is incapable of
  benefiting from VR to achieve employment
  outcomedecision to be reviewed within 12 mos.

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Employment

• Competitive
• Full time or part-time if that is the maximum for
  the individual
• Self employment
• Supported Employment
• Competitive work, in an integrated setting

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Individual Plan for Employment

• Developed with qualified VR counselor or option
  for customer or representative to develop and
  present to VR.

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Individual Plan for Employment

• Employment goal.
• Specific VR services needed.
• Specific service provider selected by customer.
• Outline criteria to evaluate progress toward
  achieving vocational goal.
• Responsibilities of customer and VR agency.
• Plan to be reviewed annually.
• Rights and remedies provided to customer.

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Order of Selection
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Order of Selection

• When a State VR Agency is unable to serve all
  eligible individuals, an OSS must be implemented.
• Requires an order of priority based on serving
  those with the most significant disabilities
  first.
• VR must provide Info and Referral services.
• Implications for One-Stops related to referral of
  those outside the priority categories.

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Comparable Services and Benefits

• VR must pursue other available resources when
  developing a plan for services with customers.
• Not required if the search would delay progress
  of the individual toward achieving employment
  outcome.

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Services
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Services

• Vocational and other training, personal
  adjustment books, supplies.
• Counseling and Guidance.
• Corrective surgery or treatment to correct
  /modify substantial employment impediment.
• Prosthetic and orthotic devices.
• Assistive technology/accommodations.
• Support services, maintenance-transportation
  costs related to VR services.

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Services

• Assessment for determining eligibility and rehab
  needs.
• Interpreter services, reader services.
• Diagnosis and treatment for those with mental or
  emotional disorders.
• Tools and licenses.
• Assistance to conduct market analysis, business
  planning toward self employment.
• Placement and follow along services.
• Post employment services to retain employment.

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Customer ChoiceChallenges in Implementation(WIA)

• WIB Determines Training Areas Based on
  Occupational Demand.
• WIB Decides If and How Much Directed to
  Training.
• Labor Market vs. Individual driven System.
• Individual can Get Training only When no Job
  Results from Core or Intensive Services.

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Customer ChoiceChallenges in Implementation(V.R.
)

• Individual-Consumer Driven.
• Assessments to Determine Eligibilty.
• IPE.
• Vocational Goal.
• Services.
• Service Providers.
• Methods to Obtain Services.
• Partner in Monitoring/ Evaluating own Plan.

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Due Process Requirements

• Provide information on rights and
  responsibilities
• Provision for internal hearings
• CAP
• Voluntary Mediation
• Appeals outside of specific VR agency

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Other provisions

• Defines qualified rehab professionals.
• Establish System of Personnel Development
• Encourages coop agreements with other One-stop
  agencies.
• Emphasis on transition services for school aged
  youth.
• Innovation and expansion capability.
• Independent living programs funded through the VR
  amendments State Independent Living Councils.

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Performance Indicators

• Employment outcomes
• achieving employment
• with significant disabilities earning minimum
  wage
• Equal access to services
• Consumer satisfaction
• Retention of employment
• 6 and 12 months
• Use of resources

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Challenges and Opportunities

• Create other options rather than automatic
  referral of persons with disabilities to VR.
• Blending of resources rather than each agency or
  partner viewing resources as last dollar.
• VR and Workforce agencies support PWD as
  recipients for WIA funded training and other
  support services.

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Challenges and Opportunities

• Local workforce board targets PWD for training
  and other intensive services.
• WIA agencies begin to recognize part time or self
  employment as successful outcome.
• Multiple partners work together to implement
  employment objectives for PWD recognizing short
  and long term career goals of individuals.

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Challenges and Opportunities

• Sharing relevant information across One-stop
  partners within confidentiality and release of
  information requirements.
• Put in place service architecture for
  coordinating and planning and support of PWD as
  part of a seamless system.
• Work toward better alignment of multiple agencies
  with varied cultures and traditions.

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We cant solve problems by using the same
kind of thinking we used when we created them

• Albert Einstein

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Reference Web Sites

• www.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/rehabact.doc
• www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/programs.h
  tml
• www.onestops.info
• www.disabilityinfo.gov
• www.onestoptoolkit.org
• www.promising-practices.org
• www.virtualcil.net/cils/
• www.ncil.org
• www.nga.org
• www.nationalrehab.org