Technical Specifications

List of Services

• Customized Employment uses an approach called Discovery to identify the strengths of an individual in community settings. The role of the service provider in Customized Employment is to facilitate customizing a job for the individual matching those strengths to a business's needs. Customized Employment is an option when typical supported employment strategies have not been successful, or when customized employment strategies may more successfully meet a consumer's individualized support needs. More information about Customized Employment can be found in the Service Details page.
• Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) is competitive integrated employment that uses an evidence-based model of Supported Employment for consumers with the most significant disabilities (Category 1) including youth with a most significant disability who have a primary diagnosis of serious and persistent mental illness or substance use disorders. IPS services are provided in a working alliance with mental health services and DVR. To build ongoing collaboration, DVR meeting attendance and continued use of information and training from the IPS Employment Center is encouraged, including resources on implementation of the IPS model, agency guidance, fidelity reviews and recommendations, policies, and regulations to guide the service for consumers.
• Internship/Temporary Work (I/TW) is time-limited, paid work. This service is designed to provide DVR consumers in-depth knowledge of day-to-day work requirements in a competitive integrated setting. Possible purposes may be to try out a job, determine an appropriate vocational goal, determine needs for rehabilitation technology or job accommodations, assist with work hardening, or develop a current work reference or new skills.
• Job and Task Analysis and Systematic Instruction are task-based employment supports provided by service provider staff to assist DVR consumers on the job site. These supports include help with learning the job, talking, and working through different situations, and communication strategies, and may also include individualized discussion of options to get to the job site.
• Job Preparation, Development, Hire, and Retention are a comprehensive set of services to assist DVR consumers in their efforts to plan for, seek, obtain, and maintain employment. Three services are included in this statewide service category.
• Student Work Based Learning Services are a set of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to be used for students with a disability in high school or a post-secondary education training program, aged 14-21. Skills gained through these experiences are meant to help with future job goal identification and attainment as the student ages. The experiences are not intended to be the student's final IPE goal.
• Supported Employment is competitive integrated employment in an integrated work setting in which an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a most significant disability, is working consistent with their unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice, with ongoing support services.
• Vocational Evaluation assist DVR consumers to identify viable employment options and make decisions about their vocational direction by participating in identified assessment services. In partnership with an evaluator, these services allow consumers to explore their individual interests, skills, and abilities.
• Work Incentive Benefits Services are intended to assist consumers receiving Social Security disability benefits and other public benefits toward self-sufficiency. These services address questions or concerns related to work and earnings and help consumers navigate benefit, entitlement, and economic assistance programs.

Other Services

There are other services that have been developed that are not a part of the DVR Statewide Service Agreement and a formal service agreement is not required to deliver the service. Other Services may have established fees, rates, reports, procedures, and service descriptions developed by DVR.

Some require a different agreement or require expertise in a specific area. Providers of Other services agree to provide the service based on the description of the service, the published information about the services and the purchase order issued to the provider.

• Assistive Technology (AT) services, accommodations, and devices are intended to assist with disability-related needs. If a consumer has a need at any time during the VR process for AT to participate in services or work toward achieving their IPE goal, AT services can be explored and provided as needed.
• Customized Self-Employment The customized self-employment process unites person-centered planning strategies with the development of a business plan. The goal of the planning process is to develop an individualized, profitable, and sustainable microenterprise.
• Explore Work is a web-based learning program that covers topics critical to a successful career outcome. The modules are geared toward youth but may be helpful for adults as well. Individual, remotely delivered sessions may be authorized to ensure timely and appropriate services for the consumer. Skills are taught using a variety of activities that are engaging and targeted to the youth or adult learner.
• Job Shadow is a career exploration activity, designed to increase an individual’s awareness. It takes place in an integrated, community-based work environment. The individual is allowed to walk through the workday, within the actual environment; witnessing firsthand the work they may be interested in.
• On the Job Assessment can be used to provide the consumer with a short-term experience in a community-based, competitive integrated work setting at commensurate wages. The purpose for the assessment may include further exploration of an occupation, determine readiness for employment, gain employer feedback, develop new skills, and must be identified in the service authorization from DVR.
• On-The-Job Training (OJT) is a hands-on method of teaching employees the duties, knowledge, and skills needed to perform a specific job within the workplace. DVR sponsors two OJT initiatives, one connecting DVR consumers to permanent employment and another connecting students to employment and training opportunities. Each initiative provides an excellent strategy to bring new talent into your workforce!
• Partners with Business (PwB) is a strategy for providing on the job support using a consumer's co-workers instead of a provider employee. The employer is reimbursed for the time a co-worker spends assisting a consumer. This service is especially effective for consumers transitioning to Long Term Supports but can also be used for consumers that will not.
• Project SEARCH is a business led collaboration that enables young adults with disabilities to gain and maintain employment through training and career exploration.
• Skills to Pay the Bills is a group-based learning program that covers the soft skills required for workplace success.
• Visual Resume is an alternative way to display information found on a traditional resume in a way that uses visual materials to represent a person and their skills. The use of a visual resume format in lieu of a traditional resume is an innovation used in Customized Employment, but can be used for other DVR consumers, especially those with limited formal employment history.
• Walgreens Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative (REDI) is an in-store training program that aims to help individuals with disabilities gain retail and customer service skills.

Resources/Links

• DVR Service Providers List
• DVR Office Locations
• FAQs for Service Providers by Topic & Service Type
• How To Set Up and Use DVR's Scanning Methods
• Internship/Temporary Work (Employer of Record) Related Materials
• Interagency Agreements, Cooperative Agreements, & Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
• Laws and Legislation - Government Resources
• Partner Organizations
• Proposal for DVR Program/Project
• Rehabilitation/Assistive Technology
• Report Use & Instructions
• Service Report Header (DVR-17545-E)
• Shared Roles and Responsibilities in DVR Services
• Wage Documentation Sample Form
• Wage Document Requirements.

Wage Documentation Requirements for Statewide Service Providers

The Rehabilitation Services Administration requires DVR to collect wage verification and start date documentation from consumers and/or employers. DVR asks as a part of the delivery of services, service providers assist in getting that documentation.

Before receiving a payment for retention or transition to long term support DVR Service Providers are required to provide the start date of employment and the hourly wage rate documentation to DVR as part of service delivery in the following services:

• Customized Employment
• Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
• Job Preparation and Development, Job Development Hire and Job Retention
• Student Work Based Learning
• Supported Employment

If a service provider is collecting documentation, they are expected to have the consumer's permission. The provider may use their own form if it contains all required information. DVR also created a Sample Wage Verification Form that can be used to record wage documentation.

Wage Documentation Sample Form

DVR service providers may get the wage documentation from consumers or employers. Documentation of the hourly wage and start date does not have to be on a single document (e.g., a pay stub showing hourly wage and a letter from the employer with start date is acceptable).

The following are acceptable forms of wage and start date verification: wage stubs, offer letter, or employer documentation containing:

• the employer/business name,
• signature of the employer, (including their job title)
• start date
• hourly wage

If the information is emailed, the message must contain information indicating the email is directly from the employer (e.g., signature line that includes employer name and title).

Questions about wage documentation should be directed to the DVR case facilitator.