PARTNERSHIPS PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCETHAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Division of Rehabilitation The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)Services (DORS)

Maryland State Department of Education Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)(MSDE)

MISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Division of The mission of the Division of Rehabilitation Services is to provide Rehabilitation Services is to provide

leadership and support in promoting the leadership and support in promoting the employment, economic self-sufficiency, employment, economic self-sufficiency,

and independence of individuals with and independence of individuals with disabilities.disabilities.

DORS provides public DORS provides public rehabilitation services through two rehabilitation services through two programs:programs:

• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

• Independent Living (IL)Independent Living (IL)

Vocational Rehabilitation vs. Vocational Rehabilitation vs. Independent LivingIndependent Living

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR):Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR):• The The VRVR program, the primary rehabilitation program offered program, the primary rehabilitation program offered

through DORS, provides programs and services that assist through DORS, provides programs and services that assist persons with disabilities who want to work or need services to persons with disabilities who want to work or need services to keep their current jobs.keep their current jobs.

Independent Living Services (IL):Independent Living Services (IL):• The smaller The smaller ILIL program, provides assistance to persons who program, provides assistance to persons who

do not have employment goals. This program helps do not have employment goals. This program helps individuals with significant disabilities achieve greater individuals with significant disabilities achieve greater independence in their homes and/or communities.independence in their homes and/or communities.

WHAT IS THE VR PROCESS?WHAT IS THE VR PROCESS?

• ReferralReferral• Application/Initial InterviewApplication/Initial Interview• Gathering existing records/eligibility assessmentGathering existing records/eligibility assessment• Eligibility/Order of SelectionEligibility/Order of Selection• Comprehensive assessment of skills and abilitiesComprehensive assessment of skills and abilities• Development of an Individualized Plan for Employment Development of an Individualized Plan for Employment

(IPE) (IPE) • Service ProvisionService Provision• Job Development/PlacementJob Development/Placement• Case ClosureCase Closure• Post-Employment Services (if needed)Post-Employment Services (if needed)

REFERRALREFERRAL

• DORS develops and maintains relationships with DORS develops and maintains relationships with organizations, agencies and persons in the community to organizations, agencies and persons in the community to obtain appropriate and timely referralsobtain appropriate and timely referrals

• Referrals can come from any interested partyReferrals can come from any interested party• Referrals can be made online at Referrals can be made online at www.dors.state.md.uswww.dors.state.md.us• Referrals can also be mailed, faxed, phoned, or dropped off at Referrals can also be mailed, faxed, phoned, or dropped off at

a local officea local office• DORS will respond within 10 days of referral DORS will respond within 10 days of referral • An individual will be scheduled for an initial interview within An individual will be scheduled for an initial interview within

30 days, to meet with a counselor and informed of what to 30 days, to meet with a counselor and informed of what to bring to the appointmentbring to the appointment

APPLICATION/INITIAL APPLICATION/INITIAL INTERVIEWINTERVIEWThe counselor/consumer discuss:The counselor/consumer discuss:• The consumers disability and how it affects workThe consumers disability and how it affects work• The VR program, process, and available servicesThe VR program, process, and available services• Non-discriminationNon-discrimination• The consumers goals, needs, concerns & optionsThe consumers goals, needs, concerns & options• Rights and responsibilities to include: the Appeal Process, the Rights and responsibilities to include: the Appeal Process, the

availability of the Client Assistance Program, and availability of the Client Assistance Program, and confidentialityconfidentiality

• Eligibility/Order of selectionEligibility/Order of selection• Comparable benefits/Financial participationComparable benefits/Financial participation• Preferred mode of communication/alternate format needsPreferred mode of communication/alternate format needs• The consumers assistive technology needs, if necessaryThe consumers assistive technology needs, if necessary

HOW IS ELIGIBILITY FOR VR HOW IS ELIGIBILITY FOR VR DETERMINED?DETERMINED?A consumer may be eligible if:A consumer may be eligible if:• The consumer has a physical, mental, The consumer has a physical, mental,

cognitive, or sensory impairment that results in cognitive, or sensory impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employmenta substantial impediment to employment

• The consumer requires vocational services to The consumer requires vocational services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment consistent with their strengths, employment consistent with their strengths, interests, and abilitiesinterests, and abilities

• The consumer is presumed eligible if they The consumer is presumed eligible if they receive SSI or SSDIreceive SSI or SSDI

ELIGIBILITY/ORDER OF ELIGIBILITY/ORDER OF SELECTION ASSESSMENTSELECTION ASSESSMENT

Includes:Includes:

• Reviewing existing medical or educational Reviewing existing medical or educational records, determinations made by other records, determinations made by other agencies, information provided by consumer, agencies, information provided by consumer, and counselor observationsand counselor observations

• Providing medical assessments at no cost, if Providing medical assessments at no cost, if needed needed

DORS may provide a comprehensive DORS may provide a comprehensive assessment to:assessment to:

• Identify interests, strengths, and needsIdentify interests, strengths, and needs

• Assist in development of vocational goalAssist in development of vocational goal

Comprehensive assessment includes career Comprehensive assessment includes career

decision making, counseling and referral for otherdecision making, counseling and referral for other

needed services.needed services.

INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN FOR INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT (IPE)EMPLOYMENT (IPE)

• An IPE identifies employment goal consistent with An IPE identifies employment goal consistent with strengths, resources, abilities, interests and informed strengths, resources, abilities, interests and informed choice. The plan lists the steps and services necessary choice. The plan lists the steps and services necessary to achieve the goal, and who will provide those to achieve the goal, and who will provide those services.services.

• The IPE identifies how the financial contribution, if The IPE identifies how the financial contribution, if any, will be applied to services.any, will be applied to services.

• A consumer may draft an IPE or have help from A consumer may draft an IPE or have help from others, including the counselor.others, including the counselor.

• The IPE must be approved prior to implementation.The IPE must be approved prior to implementation.

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

SERVICE PROVISION MAY INCLUDE:SERVICE PROVISION MAY INCLUDE:

• Career AssessmentCareer Assessment

• Career Guidance and Career Guidance and CounselingCounseling

• Prevocational ServicesPrevocational Services

• Vocational Training/Higher Vocational Training/Higher educationeducation

• Supported Employment Supported Employment ServicesServices

• Self-Employment ServicesSelf-Employment Services

• Medical Rehabilitation Medical Rehabilitation ServicesServices

• Transitioning ServicesTransitioning Services• Services to the Blind and Services to the Blind and

Vision ImpairedVision Impaired• Services to the Deaf and Services to the Deaf and

Hard of HearingHard of Hearing• Job Development and Job Development and

Placement ServicesPlacement Services• Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology

Celebrating EmploymentCelebrating Employment

• Once the consumer begins working, keeping in touch with the Once the consumer begins working, keeping in touch with the DORS counselor to discuss the progress and job satisfaction is DORS counselor to discuss the progress and job satisfaction is essentialessential

• DORS can provide services to assist the consumer with DORS can provide services to assist the consumer with maintaining employment as neededmaintaining employment as needed

• Once the consumer has worked at least 90 days, they become Once the consumer has worked at least 90 days, they become a DORS success story and the case is closeda DORS success story and the case is closed

• Post-Employment Services can be requested as needed Post-Employment Services can be requested as needed following case closurefollowing case closure

• If the consumer needs services again in the future, they may If the consumer needs services again in the future, they may reapply for DORS servicesreapply for DORS services

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

WTCWTC is one of nine state-operated comprehensive is one of nine state-operated comprehensive rehabilitation facilities in the country.rehabilitation facilities in the country.

WTCWTC provides a wide range of services to individuals provides a wide range of services to individuals with significant disabilities.with significant disabilities.

WTCWTC offers participants the skills and information offers participants the skills and information needed to move into today’s competitive workplace, needed to move into today’s competitive workplace, along with the individual attention that participants along with the individual attention that participants need to learn at their own pace.need to learn at their own pace.

WTCWTC services include: services include:

Career Assessment Services (CAS):Career Assessment Services (CAS):

• Provide information about strengths, capabilities, Provide information about strengths, capabilities, priorities, concerns, and interestspriorities, concerns, and interests

• Are systematic and organizedAre systematic and organized

• Are flexible and customizedAre flexible and customized

• Requires collaborationRequires collaboration

• Requires several sources of inputRequires several sources of input

• Are used to make decisionsAre used to make decisions

• Are used to develop plansAre used to develop plans

Rehabilitation Technology ServicesRehabilitation Technology Services

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

Comprehensive Outpatient Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility Program:Rehabilitation Facility Program:

• Medical-Functional EvaluationsMedical-Functional Evaluations• Functional Capacity EvaluationsFunctional Capacity Evaluations• Individual Therapy AssessmentsIndividual Therapy Assessments• Physical Restoration ServicesPhysical Restoration Services• Equipment RecommendationsEquipment Recommendations• Home AssessmentsHome Assessments• Workplace AssessmentsWorkplace Assessments• Case Management ServicesCase Management Services

VR Policies and ProceduresVR Policies and Procedures

• Overview of Self-EmploymentOverview of Self-Employment

• RISE ProgramRISE Program

• Role of DivisionRole of Division

Overview of Self-EmploymentOverview of Self-Employment

• Consistent with Division policy and procedures, Consistent with Division policy and procedures, services may be provided to individuals with a services may be provided to individuals with a vocational goal involving development and vocational goal involving development and management of their own businesses. management of their own businesses.

• Structure and extensive assessment and planning are Structure and extensive assessment and planning are required in order to provide the individual with required in order to provide the individual with information needed to make decisions which will information needed to make decisions which will lead to successful employment outcomes. lead to successful employment outcomes.

RISE ProgramRISE Program

• Self-employment services are provided through the Self-employment services are provided through the RISE program (Reach Independence through Self-RISE program (Reach Independence through Self-Employment), which is designed to promote and Employment), which is designed to promote and facilitate self-employment. facilitate self-employment.

• The RISE program involves partnerships with The RISE program involves partnerships with community providers and agencies, and provides community providers and agencies, and provides participants with market information critical to participants with market information critical to selection of an industry/business and assist in the selection of an industry/business and assist in the identification of financial resources.identification of financial resources.

Role of Division Role of Division

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

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

DORS Independent Living DORS Independent Living ServicesServices

A consumer may be eligible if:A consumer may be eligible if:

• The consumer has a significant physical, mental, The consumer has a significant physical, mental, cognitive or sensory impairment which substantially cognitive or sensory impairment which substantially limits the consumers ability to function independently limits the consumers ability to function independently in their family or communityin their family or community

• It is determined that IL services will improve the It is determined that IL services will improve the consumers ability to function, continue functioning, consumers ability to function, continue functioning, or move toward functioning independentlyor move toward functioning independently

INDEPENDENT LIVING PLAN INDEPENDENT LIVING PLAN (ILP)(ILP)

• An ILP is developed in collaboration with the An ILP is developed in collaboration with the consumer to achieve the IL goal.consumer to achieve the IL goal.

• The ILP includes the independent living goal, The ILP includes the independent living goal, services, providers and projected time frames services, providers and projected time frames for services, and information regarding for services, and information regarding financial participation.financial participation.

Case Studies. . .Case Studies. . .

Mr. PMr. P

• A 54 year old who had his right leg amputated, eight inches A 54 year old who had his right leg amputated, eight inches below the knee. Owned 250 acres of land which he grows below the knee. Owned 250 acres of land which he grows corn, soybean, wheat, barley and hay. Has 50 head of cattle, corn, soybean, wheat, barley and hay. Has 50 head of cattle, which he grows for meat and breeding.which he grows for meat and breeding.

• Referral received from the Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Referral received from the Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project with supporting documentation Project with supporting documentation

• AgrAbiity, DORS, WTC and Center for Independent Living AgrAbiity, DORS, WTC and Center for Independent Living representatives visited the consumer at home for the initial representatives visited the consumer at home for the initial intakeintake

• Consumer received worksite modifications, vehicle Consumer received worksite modifications, vehicle modifications and home modificationsmodifications and home modifications

Mrs. LMrs. L

• A 54 year old poultry grower diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, A 54 year old poultry grower diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Disc Disease and Depression which hindered her Lupus, Disc Disease and Depression which hindered her ability to perform her jobability to perform her job

• Referral received from Delaware-Maryland Extension CenterReferral received from Delaware-Maryland Extension Center• Delaware-Maryland Extension Center, DORS, Easter Seals, Delaware-Maryland Extension Center, DORS, Easter Seals,

Choptank Electric, RISE Program and WTC involved in the Choptank Electric, RISE Program and WTC involved in the initial intakeinitial intake

• Consumer received services and funding from the Design Unit Consumer received services and funding from the Design Unit at WTC, funding for simple modifications from Choptank at WTC, funding for simple modifications from Choptank Electric Cooperative Grant, and evaluation of the business Electric Cooperative Grant, and evaluation of the business through the RISE program for DORS fundingthrough the RISE program for DORS funding

Mrs. FMrs. F

• A 50 year old poultry grower who has been dignosed with A 50 year old poultry grower who has been dignosed with arthritis in her hands,arms, back, knees, and hips.arthritis in her hands,arms, back, knees, and hips.

• Referral received from Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project Referral received from Delaware-Maryland AgrAbility Project with documentationwith documentation

• Easter Seals, Extension Center, WTC, RISE Program and Easter Seals, Extension Center, WTC, RISE Program and DORS involved in initial meetingsDORS involved in initial meetings

• Consumer unable to perform functions without extreme strain Consumer unable to perform functions without extreme strain on her body jointson her body joints

• Consumer received services through WTC and funding Consumer received services through WTC and funding through DORSthrough DORS

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

……....

An online referral form is available atAn online referral form is available at

www.dors.state.md.uswww.dors.state.md.us. This form can also be. This form can also be

mailed, faxed or taken to a DORS office. mailed, faxed or taken to a DORS office.

Call the nearest DORS office. To find yourCall the nearest DORS office. To find your

nearest office, call toll-free nearest office, call toll-free

1-888-554-0334 or visit 1-888-554-0334 or visit www.dors.state.md.uswww.dors.state.md.us

E-mail: E-mail: dors@dors.state.md.usdors@dors.state.md.us