Policy on Assessment for Determining Eligibility and Priority for Services
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
Upon application for vocational rehabilitation services by an individual, the Department will use medical information along with vocational, educational, and other related factors to determine eligibility and priority for services. An individual will be determined eligible based on the presumption that the applicant can benefit in terms of employment, the individual intends to achieve an employment outcome, the individual has a qualifying visual impairment which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment and the individual requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment.
If the Department experiences a significant decrease in fiscal or personnel resources or an increase in its program costs, priority for services will be determined by the Department’s Order of Selection policy.
B. Criteria
Each assessment will be conducted in the most integrated setting possible consistent with the individual’s needs and informed choice. A qualifying visual impairment means:
1. Legal blindness as it is customarily defined either in terms of a qualifying reduction in visual acuity or a qualifying reduction in visual field.
2. A visual impairment sufficient to warrant attendance at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School or programs for the severely visually impaired in the public schools.
3. A visual impairment which is progressive in nature and can be expected to lead to blindness within a reasonable period of time.
4. Reductions in both visual acuity and visual fields such that the effect is substantially that of legal blindness or visual efficiency is so reduced as to have substantially the effect of legal blindness.
5. A visual impairment which by agreement between the Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Education and the Department for the Blind is such that the individual can be served best by the Department for the Blind.
Any individual who has been determined eligible for Social Security benefits under Title II or Title XVI of the Social Security Act (SSI or SSDI) based on blindness is presumed eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. This individual is considered to be a person with a significant disability. It is the Department’s responsibility to verify an individual’s eligibility.
Under an Order of Selection, the Department will serve individuals with the most significant disabilities first consistent with the Department’s policy on Order of Selection and Federal rules and regulations. Determinations of eligibility or ineligibility will not be based on applicant’s resources, presence or type of additional disabilities, duration of residence in the State, age, gender, race, color, creed, national origin, or the particular service needs or anticipated costs of services for that applicant.
Ineligibility determinations will be based on
clear and convincing evidence that the applicant does not meet one of the basic
criteria for eligibility. In cases where an applicant is believed to be
incapable of benefiting from services because of the severity of the
disabilities, the determination of ineligibility will be made only after a trial
work experience provides clear and convincing evidence to support this finding.
Revised: 08/10/01
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