PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

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PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
• Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)

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MISSION STATEMENT

• The mission of the Division of Rehabilitation
  Services is to provide leadership and support in
  promoting the employment, economic
  self-sufficiency, and independence of individuals
  with disabilities.

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DORS provides public rehabilitation services
through two programs

• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
• Independent Living (IL)

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Vocational Rehabilitation vs. Independent Living

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR)
• The VR program, the primary rehabilitation
  program offered through DORS, provides programs
  and services that assist persons with
  disabilities who want to work or need services to
  keep their current jobs.
• Independent Living Services (IL)
• The smaller IL program, provides assistance to
  persons who do not have employment goals. This
  program helps individuals with significant
  disabilities achieve greater independence in
  their homes and/or communities.

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WHAT IS THE VR PROCESS?

• Referral
• Application/Initial Interview
• Gathering existing records/eligibility assessment
• Eligibility/Order of Selection
• Comprehensive assessment of skills and abilities
• Development of an Individualized Plan for
  Employment (IPE)
• Service Provision
• Job Development/Placement
• Case Closure
• Post-Employment Services (if needed)

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REFERRAL

• DORS develops and maintains relationships with
  organizations, agencies and persons in the
  community to obtain appropriate and timely
  referrals
• Referrals can come from any interested party
• Referrals can be made online at
  www.dors.state.md.us
• Referrals can also be mailed, faxed, phoned, or
  dropped off at a local office
• DORS will respond within 10 days of referral
• An individual will be scheduled for an initial
  interview within 30 days, to meet with a
  counselor and informed of what to bring to the
  appointment

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APPLICATION/INITIAL INTERVIEW

• The counselor/consumer discuss
• The consumers disability and how it affects work
• The VR program, process, and available services
• Non-discrimination
• The consumers goals, needs, concerns options
• Rights and responsibilities to include the
  Appeal Process, the availability of the Client
  Assistance Program, and confidentiality
• Eligibility/Order of selection
• Comparable benefits/Financial participation
• Preferred mode of communication/alternate format
  needs
• The consumers assistive technology needs, if
  necessary

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HOW IS ELIGIBILITY FOR VR DETERMINED?

• A consumer may be eligible if
• The consumer has a physical, mental, cognitive,
  or sensory impairment that results in a
  substantial impediment to employment
• The consumer requires vocational services to
  prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment
  consistent with their strengths, interests, and
  abilities
• The consumer is presumed eligible if they receive
  SSI or SSDI

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ELIGIBILITY/ORDER OF SELECTION ASSESSMENT

• Includes
• Reviewing existing medical or educational
  records, determinations made by other agencies,
  information provided by consumer, and counselor
  observations
• Providing medical assessments at no cost, if
  needed

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DORS may provide a comprehensive assessment to

• Identify interests, strengths, and needs
• Assist in development of vocational goal
• Comprehensive assessment includes career
• decision making, counseling and referral for
  other
• needed services.

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INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT (IPE)

• An IPE identifies employment goal consistent with
  strengths, resources, abilities, interests and
  informed choice. The plan lists the steps and
  services necessary to achieve the goal, and who
  will provide those services.
• The IPE identifies how the financial
  contribution, if any, will be applied to
  services.
• A consumer may draft an IPE or have help from
  others, including the counselor.
• The IPE must be approved prior to implementation.

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DORS provides and/or arranges personalized
support and employment services so the consumer
can plan and follow a path to success.
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SERVICE PROVISION MAY INCLUDE

• Career Assessment
• Career Guidance and Counseling
• Prevocational Services
• Vocational Training/Higher education
• Supported Employment Services
• Self-Employment Services

• Medical Rehabilitation Services
• Transitioning Services
• Services to the Blind and Vision Impaired
• Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Job Development and Placement Services
• Assistive Technology

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Celebrating Employment

• Once the consumer begins working, keeping in
  touch with the DORS counselor to discuss the
  progress and job satisfaction is essential
• DORS can provide services to assist the consumer
  with maintaining employment as needed
• Once the consumer has worked at least 90 days,
  they become a DORS success story and the case is
  closed
• Post-Employment Services can be requested as
  needed following case closure
• If the consumer needs services again in the
  future, they may reapply for DORS services

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DORS also operates the Workforce and Technology
Center (WTC).

• WTC is one of nine state-operated comprehensive
  rehabilitation facilities in the country.
• WTC provides a wide range of services to
  individuals with significant disabilities.
• WTC offers participants the skills and
  information needed to move into todays
  competitive workplace, along with the individual
  attention that participants need to learn at
  their own pace.

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WTC services include
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Career Assessment Services (CAS)

• Provide information about strengths,
  capabilities, priorities, concerns, and interests
• Are systematic and organized
• Are flexible and customized
• Requires collaboration
• Requires several sources of input
• Are used to make decisions
• Are used to develop plans

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Rehabilitation Technology Services

• Provides professional consultations,
  assessments and training in the use of assistive
  technology, designed to enable individuals with
  disabilities to be successful in the areas of
  work, education, independent living and personal
  care.

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Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility
Program

• Medical-Functional Evaluations
• Functional Capacity Evaluations
• Individual Therapy Assessments
• Physical Restoration Services
• Equipment Recommendations
• Home Assessments
• Workplace Assessments
• Case Management Services

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VR Policies and Procedures

• Overview of Self-Employment
• RISE Program
• Role of Division

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Overview of Self-Employment

• Consistent with Division policy and procedures,
  services may be provided to individuals with a
  vocational goal involving development and
  management of their own businesses.
• Structure and extensive assessment and planning
  are required in order to provide the individual
  with information needed to make decisions which
  will lead to successful employment outcomes.

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RISE Program

• Self-employment services are provided through the
  RISE program (Reach Independence through
  Self-Employment), which is designed to promote
  and facilitate self-employment.
• The RISE program involves partnerships with
  community providers and agencies, and provides
  participants with market information critical to
  selection of an industry/business and assist in
  the identification of financial resources.

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Role of Division

• The primary role of the Division in assisting an
  individual with a vocational goal of
  self-employment is to provide support and
  information throughout the assessment, planning
  and implementation process, including assisting
  with the identification of community resources.

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• What if a consumer is unable to work, but still
  needs some type of assistance to increase
  independence at home or in the community?

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DORS Independent Living Services

• A consumer may be eligible if
• The consumer has a significant physical, mental,
  cognitive or sensory impairment which
  substantially limits the consumers ability to
  function independently in their family or
  community
• It is determined that IL services will improve
  the consumers ability to function, continue
  functioning, or move toward functioning
  independently

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INDEPENDENT LIVING PLAN (ILP)

• An ILP is developed in collaboration with the
  consumer to achieve the IL goal.
• The ILP includes the independent living goal,
  services, providers and projected time frames for
  services, and information regarding financial
  participation.

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Case Studies. . .
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Mr. P

• A 54 year old who had his right leg amputated,
  eight inches below the knee. Owned 250 acres of
  land which he grows corn, soybean, wheat, barley
  and hay. Has 50 head of cattle, which he grows
  for meat and breeding.
• Referral received from the Delaware-Maryland
  AgrAbility Project with supporting documentation
• AgrAbiity, DORS, WTC and Center for Independent
  Living representatives visited the consumer at
  home for the initial intake
• Consumer received worksite modifications, vehicle
  modifications and home modifications

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Mrs. L

• A 54 year old poultry grower diagnosed with
  Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Disc Disease and Depression
  which hindered her ability to perform her job
• Referral received from Delaware-Maryland
  Extension Center
• Delaware-Maryland Extension Center, DORS, Easter
  Seals, Choptank Electric, RISE Program and WTC
  involved in the initial intake
• Consumer received services and funding from the
  Design Unit at WTC, funding for simple
  modifications from Choptank Electric Cooperative
  Grant, and evaluation of the business through the
  RISE program for DORS funding

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Mrs. F

• A 50 year old poultry grower who has been
  dignosed with arthritis in her hands,arms, back,
  knees, and hips.
• Referral received from Delaware-Maryland
  AgrAbility Project with documentation
• Easter Seals, Extension Center, WTC, RISE Program
  and DORS involved in initial meetings
• Consumer unable to perform functions without
  extreme strain on her body joints
• Consumer received services through WTC and
  funding through DORS

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Questions and Answers

• ..

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• An online referral form is available at
• www.dors.state.md.us. This form can also be
• mailed, faxed or taken to a DORS office.
• Call the nearest DORS office. To find your
• nearest office, call toll-free
• 1-888-554-0334 or visit www.dors.state.md.us
• E-mail dors_at_dors.state.md.us