Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Friday, December 6, 2002 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Alexander

News Media Contact Rachel Langenohl 608/266-8710 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Department Must Delay Employment Services For Some DVR Applicants As It Faces Highest Caseload In Recent History
  
People with most significant disabilities will continue to be served

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development Secretary Jennifer Alexander announced today that applicants in Category 2 who have applied for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services, will experience a delay in receiving those services as they will need to be placed on a waiting list. Applicants in Category 1, which include individuals with the most significant disabilities, will continue to receive services without delay. DVR provides employment services to people with disabilities.

A federal mandate requires those with the most significant disabilities be served first (Category 1), followed by those in Category 2 who have significant disabilities, and finally Category 3, those with less significant disabilities. Applicants in Category 3 are already being placed on a waiting list.

"The good news is, we have been able to activate more than 10,000 cases since January of 2001, which is the result of increased funding from Governor McCallum and the legislature in the last budget," said Secretary Alexander. "Unfortunately, because our caseloads are the highest in recent history, we cannot afford to continue the activation of cases in Category 2 at this time. We will however, continue to immediately serve cases in Category 1, which includes people with the most significant disabilities," added Alexander.

Currently there are more than 15,000 individuals actively involved in an employment plan. These clients will not see any disruption in the services they are currently receiving.

"It is also important to recognize that even though we cannot immediately serve people in Category 2, we will activate them on a case by case basis as funding allows. And as those individuals are notified that their employment plan can proceed, they will be assured DVR will have the resources to support those plans," said Secretary Alexander.

"The department is being fiscally responsible by creating a waiting list for new cases in Category 2 and by serving those individuals with the most significant disabilities, many of whom are already in the pipeline moving toward employment," said Linda Vegoe, Chair of the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Council.

The delayed development of an employment plan will affect approximately 4,400 people in Category 2 and 3.

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