Transcript Customized Employment

Disability Program
Navigator Training
A Joint Initiative of the
U.S. Department of Labor
and the
Social Security Administration
Collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation
Beyond Co-location: Working Together to
Meet Employment Objectives
Joe Skiba.
1
Vocational Rehabilitation
Title IV of WIA contains the 1998
amendments to the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973
2
Context for Effective System Navigator
Implementation
Customer Needs
Policy
Practice
Culture
3
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
4
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.
5
According to ADA
The nation’s goals regarding individuals
with disabilities are to assure:




equality of opportunity
full participation (empowerment)
independent living
economic self- sufficiency

Bobby Silverstien
Disability Policy Framework
6
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.
7
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”.
8
VR services to enable individuals with
disabilities to pursue meaningful
careers by securing employment
commensurate with their abilities and
capabilities.
9
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”.
10
Eligibility and Planning

Focus on the strengths, resources,
priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities
interests and informed choices of the
individual.
11
Informed Choice
12
Full and Active Partners in
the VR process
Involvement 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.
13
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.
14
Eligibility
VR services provided to eligible
persons with disabilities to
prepare for, secure, maintain or
regain employment.
15
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.
16
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.
17
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 outcome—decision to be
reviewed within 12 mos.
18
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
19
Individual Plan for Employment
Developed with qualified VR counselor or
option for customer or representative to
develop and present to VR.
20
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.
21
Order of Selection
22
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.
23
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.
24
Services
25
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.
26
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
27
employment.
Customer Choice
Challenges 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.
28
Customer Choice
Challenges 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.
29
Due Process Requirements





Provide information on rights and
responsibilities
Provision for internal hearings
CAP
Voluntary Mediation
Appeals outside of specific VR agency
30
Other provisions

Defines qualified rehab professionals.





Establish System of Personnel Development
Encourages coop agreements with other Onestop 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.
31
Performance Indicators

Employment outcomes





Equal access to services
Consumer satisfaction
Retention of employment


# achieving employment
% with significant disabilities earning minimum
wage
6 and 12 months
Use of resources
32
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.
33
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.
34
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.
35
We can’t solve problems
by using the same kind of
thinking we used when we
created them
Albert Einstein
36
Reference Web Sites










www.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/rehabact.doc
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/programs.html
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
37