Policy on Assessment for Determining Vocational Rehabilitation Needs
34CFR Section 361.48 requires the Department for the Blind to develop and maintain current policies covering the nature and scope and the criteria under which each service is provided.
A. Nature and Scope
The Department will conduct an assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs if appropriate for each eligible individual, or if the State is operating under an Order of Selection for each eligible individual to whom the State is able to provide services. The purpose of this assessment is to determine the employment outcome and the nature and scope of vocational rehabilitation services to be included in the IPE. To the extent possible, the employment outcome and the nature and scope of rehabilitation services to be included in the individual’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) must be determined based on the data used for the assessment of eligibility and priority for services. If additional data is necessary to determine the employment outcome and the nature and scope of services to be included in the IPE of an eligible individual, the State unit must conduct a comprehensive assessment of the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and interests, including the need for supported employment services of the eligible individual in the most integrated setting possible consistent with the informed choice of the individual. An assessment also includes information obtained through provision of rehabilitation technology services of the individual’s capacities to perform in a work environment including in an integrated setting to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the individual’s informed choice.
B. Criteria
In preparing the comprehensive assessment, the State unit
must use, to the maximum extent possible and appropriate in accordance with the
confidentiality requirements, existing information that is current as of the
date of the development of the IPE including: information available from other
programs and providers, particularly information used by education officials and
the Social Security Administration; information provided by the individual and
the individual’s family; and, information obtained under the assessment for
determining the individual’s eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs.
Revised: 08/10/01
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