Division of Rehabilitation Services Memo:
For the past year, the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services has taken severe cost saving measures to help alleviate severe budgetary shortfalls due to reduced federal funding and increases in usual and customary operations expenses.
As you may already be aware, due to limited fiscal resources, the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) closed all categories under its order of selection priority system effective June 8, 2006. The Federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 (the Act) provide order of selection as a management tool to assure that individuals with disabilities who are currently receiving vocational rehabilitation (VR) services under an individualized plan for employment (IPE) continue to receive necessary services without delay.
DRS has operated under an order of selection since 1985. Prior to June 8, DRS served categories one through three under our order of selection priority system. DRS’ current priority categories are:
Category 1:Eligible applicants with the most significant disabilities.
Category 2:Eligible applicants with significant disabilities.
Category 3: Eligible applicants with non-significant disabilities which result in permanent functional limitations.
Category 4: Eligible applicants with non-significant disabilities which do not result in permanent functional limitations.
The DRS Director has the authority to open and close priority categories as needed. While the decision to close all categories under order of selection was not easy, our goal in doing so is to be able to continue to serve those clients to whom we have already made a commitment while closely monitoring our fiscal situation.
The closure of all order of selection categories will be temporary. DRS will open categories as fiscal resources permit beginning with Category 1 and then by date of application for services. It remains important to continue to apply for services so that once the order of selection is re-opened that individual will already have secured a placement on the waiting list.
DRS will continue to provide services to individuals with disabilities who have been determined eligible and who have started a plan for employment with the Division. Individuals with disabilities needing assistance from DRS who have not developed a plan for employment with the Division prior to June 8, 2006, will apply and be placed on a waiting list for services if determined eligible.
As individuals with disabilities apply and are determined eligible for VR services, they are assigned to the appropriate category within the order of selection. All individuals will be notified of their category assignment and their right to appeal that assignment. Additionally, all applicants will continue to receive information and referral services specific to their location and needs.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 766-4797. We appreciate your continued support during this fiscally difficult time.
Sincerely,
LuAnn Summers
Program Supervisor School Transition Services