IOWA DEPARTMENT FOR THE BLIND
CLIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES BROCHURE
What is Vocational Rehabilitation?
As an individual who is blind or has a severe visual impairment, you may have experienced difficulty in finding or keeping a job because of your vision loss. Vocational rehabilitation is an equal partnership between you and your counselor designed to overcome these difficulties. If you are planning to go to work, or become a homemaker, vocational rehabilitation is for you. If not, talk to your counselor about other options.
What does my counselor do?
When you apply for vocational rehabilitation services, your counselor will make sure you are eligible, help you obtain information you need to make choices, help you get the training you need, help you find a job, and help you settle into your job.
What choices do I have?
You will have many choices to make along the way. Your counselor can help you obtain the information you need to make informed choices about:
how to learn about your interests, skills, and abilities;
your job goal;
the services you need to reach your goal;
who will provide the services; and,
how the services will be arranged.
Your counselor will have helpful information about employment opportunities. If you are already employed, your counselor can help with job accommodations so you can keep your job.
What are the steps of Vocational Rehabilitation?
The steps of Vocational Rehabilitation are applying for services, being determined eligible for services, planning what job you want and how to prepare for it, completing any training you need, and finding a job.
How do I apply for Vocational Rehabilitation services?
To begin the process of vocational rehabilitation, you must complete and sign an application for services. The application asks for basic information about how to reach you. It also helps your counselor gather information that will be used to determine your eligibility for services and begin to outline a plan for employment. Only information that is helpful to the rehabilitation process is obtained, including information about your eye condition, your work history, and your work interests. Sometimes it may be necessary to obtain medical and psychological information as well. Your help is needed in gathering this information; without it, your counselor will not be able to determine eligibility and provide services.
Is this information kept confidential?
Personal information is obtained under the authority of Public Law 93-112, as amended. All information obtained is treated as confidential. You must provide written consent before information can be released. However, if information is important to your vocational rehabilitation, it can be released to rehabilitation facilities, training institutions, physicians, and/or other persons and agencies without your written consent.
When am I eligible for vocational rehabilitation
services?
You are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services from the Iowa Department for the Blind if you:
are blind or have a significant visual impairment;
want to work;
are present in Iowa and legally able to work;
need help getting or keeping a job; and,
are not receiving vocational rehabilitation services from another state VR agency.
Eligibility decisions are made as soon as possible. Sometimes there may be delays in obtaining necessary information. If you and your counselor anticipate that it may take longer than 60 days to determine eligibility, your counselor will discuss this with you, and together you can determine a target date.
How do I plan for the job I want?
Once you have been determined eligible for services, you will need to develop a comprehensive plan of action that will lead to the job of your choice. This plan is known as an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE). The IPE includes your employment goal, the date by which you expect to achieve your goal, the services you need to achieve your goal, and how these services will be provided (i.e., other service providers, funding sources, and starting dates). It is important to know how you are progressing toward your goal, so your IPE will also include a description of the way you and your counselor can review your progress. Both you and your counselor will need to agree to, and sign, the plan developed.
How do I develop an IPE?
Your counselor can help you design and write your IPE. Your counselor is a good source of information and is there to work with you. If you prefer, you can write it yourself or have someone else help you with it. Your counselor will provide you with any forms you need for this purpose. Your counselor must review the plan to make sure that your goal will lead to a job, that the services you request are necessary to reach your goal, and that your plan is complete.
What if my plan needs to be changed?
You, or someone else you choose, will talk with your counselor about your plan as often as necessary, but at least once a year. If the services and/or the goal you selected are not right for you, your plan can be changed. Your plan may also need to be changed if money or programs become limited. You and your counselor will sign a changed plan to show you are in agreement.
Will I have to pay for services?
You will never have to pay for any of the following services:
evaluation to determine eligibility and your priority for services;
evaluation to help decide the services you need;
rehabilitation counseling, advice, and referral services;
rehabilitation teaching services; and,
services to help you find a job.
Together, you and your counselor can determine how the cost of other services will be covered. You will be expected to apply for and use money from other programs, agencies, and organizations which can help with these costs. Your counselor can give you information on a variety of resources and help you with this process. If you and your counselor determine you are financially able, you will need to help with the cost of services listed on your plan. The Department will be able to cover the cost of planned services when other resources are not available.
What are my counselor’s responsibilities?
Your counselor wants to see you succeed and will work with you to achieve your goal as agreed in your plan. In addition, your counselor will:
consult with you on a regular basis;
help you obtain information you need to make successful choices;
tell you if a different counselor is assigned to you;
help you plan how costs of services will be covered;
arrange to pay those costs that will be covered by the Department;
help you receive the services you need in a timely manner;
review regularly and talk with you about how you are progressing toward your employment goal;
assist you in your job search; and,
discuss case closure with you, and inform you in writing when your case is closed.
What are my responsibilities?
In addition to following through on your plan, you will need to:
inform your counselor of any change in your address, phone number, or how you can be reached;
keep appointments;
follow medical and other needed advice;
help your counselor get reports, grades, or other needed information;
tell your counselor of any changes in your income or needs;
apply for and use money from any source that will help cover costs of services listed in your plan;
tell your counselor of major changes in your health or general situation that could affect your ability to complete your plan; and,
attend regularly and maintain required grade point average if you are in training.
What if I don’t meet my responsibilities?
Vocational rehabilitation services exist to help you get a job and are most successful when there is an equal partnership between you and your counselor. If you don’t participate equally with your counselor and fail to meet your responsibilities, then it is not likely that you will succeed in getting a job. If you are not serious about getting a job, vocational rehabilitation services are not for you, and you may be ineligible for further services. Your counselor is there to work with you and provide support, but success is up to you!
What if my counselor and I disagree?
If you and your counselor disagree, there are several things you can do. You can do all or some of these things. The choice is yours.
Talk to your counselor to see if you can work it out.
Talk to the person who supervises your counselor.
Seek assistance through the Iowa Client Assistance Program (ICAP). They can be reached at Iowa Client Assistance Program, Persons with Disabilities, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319; phone 1-800-652-4298 or 515-281-3957.
Ask for mediation. This means having an impartial third person work with you and your counselor.
Ask for a formal hearing before an impartial hearing officer. You have 120 days after you are told about the decision to ask for a formal hearing.
For more information about the above options, or to request mediation or a formal hearing, contact the Administrator in Charge of Field Operations, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2364; phone: 1-800-362-2587 or 515-281-1333.
Programs administered by the Iowa Department for the Blind are provided in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Iowa statutes on civil rights and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. All eligible applicants are served regardless of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, disability, or age. For further information, contact the Director of the Department at 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2364; phone: 1-800-362-2587 or 515-281-1333.
We at the Department for the Blind look forward to working with you and being a part of your future success.
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In the provision of services and in employment practices, the Department for the Blind does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, or physical or mental disability. For further information contact the Director of the Department.
Revised 9/19/00