Order of Selection

NC DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Formerly From: Policy Manual

I. INTRODUCTION

The North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) intends to provide comprehensive services to all eligible individuals who apply for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services. Federal Regulations require the establishment of an Order of Selection (OOS), if VR Services cannot be provided to all eligible individuals who apply for VR Services due to Financial Responsibilities/Economic Need Requirements (On-Line DSB 4040-VR Economic Need Survey with instructions) limitations.

The State Agency will assure that the implementation of an OOS will not discriminate against any eligible individual. However, restrictions in financial support may prevent immediate VR Services to all eligible individuals with visual impairments. At any time it is determined that VR Services cannot be provided to all individuals expected to be determined eligible, the Director of the Agency may declare the implementation of an OOS. The Director will notify staff by Administrative Memorandum when the OOS is to be implemented or withdrawn.

The OOS will not preclude or restrict the provision of diagnostic and evaluation services to help determine Eligibility or ineligibility. Eligibility must be determined before applying the OOS. The Agency will continue to serve those individuals with ongoing Individual Plans for Employment (IPE) (On-Line DSB-4005b-VR Individual Plan for Employment with instructions), including the provision of Post-Employment Services (PES).

The OOS will preclude serving individuals with non-significant disabilities who are not already being served at the time of implementation for the OOS. It also precludes serving individuals who do not meet the service category in effect, even if the individual only needs non-purchased services.

II. ORDER OF SELECTION PRIORITY CATEGORIES

1. Priority Category One - Eligible individual(s) with the most significant disabilities if he/she has 2 or more significant disabilities.

2. Priority Category Two - Eligible individual(s) with significant disabilities.

3. Priority Category Three - Eligible individual(s) with non-significant disabilities.

III. GENERAL PROCEDURES

1. Classification - All eligible individuals of the Agency shall, upon determination of eligibility (Status 10 and above), be classified in a priority category with appropriate entries in the case record. Individuals will be placed in the highest category for which they are determined to be eligible. Supplemental Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries and Social Security Insurance (SSI) recipients will not be afforded any special consideration, notwithstanding the automatic classification as an individual with a significant disability.

2. Reclassification - If an individual’s status changes after having been classified in a priority category or when the Agency has determined that an individual has been misclassified, the priority classification shall be changed accordingly. In all cases whereby reclassification will alter in any way services being provided or proposed, the individual will receive written notice of such change.

a. Right of Appeal - An eligible individual may appeal initial priority classification or reclassification in accordance with the Agency’s standard appeal procedures. The appeal procedure will be outlined and explained to each individual.

b. Notification - When it is determined that the Agency cannot serve a priority category with VR Services, all eligible individuals who have been classified in that category shall be notified in writing within thirty (30) calendar days if their program of VR Services is to be affected by this decision. Individuals will be offered referral services. A waiting list based upon the date of application for VR Services will be used within a category.

Past and present experience indicates that the Agency will continue to be able to serve all eligible individuals who apply for VR Services. However, the Agency has developed an OOS policy as part of its contingency planning which will allow the Agency to quickly implement VR Services to priority groups only should the necessity arise.