Job-Related Services Defined

Assessment of Job Goal: assessing the characteristics and tasks of an eligible individual’s job choice to determine the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to perform the tasks involved in the job along with assessing current competitive labor market information for the individual’s job choice.

Customized Employment: Customized employment means competitive integrated employment, for an individual with a significant disability, that is:

Based on an individualized determination of the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the person;
Designed to meet the specific abilities of the individual and the business needs of the employer; and
Carried out through flexible strategies, such as—
Job exploration by the individual; and
Working with an employer to facilitate placement, including—
Customizing a job description based on current employer needs or on previously unidentified and unmet employer needs;
Developing a set of job duties, a work schedule and job arrangement, and specifics of supervision (including performance evaluation and review), and determining a job location;
Using a professional representative chosen by the individual, or if elected self-representation, to work with an employer to facilitate placement; and
Providing services and supports at the job location.

Disability Awareness Training: enhancing disability awareness through educating eligible individuals and businesses about various disabilities and resulting vocational implications, assistive technology, job accommodations, services provided by the agency, incentives to the business, and current disability-related legislation.

Follow-up: a time-limited service for at least 90 days which begins after stabilization, and:

Involves contact with the individual and/or employer on or off the job site using the agreed upon mode of communication (e.g., email; text; telephone; face-to-face) to determine ongoing satisfaction with the terms of employment;
requires a minimum of two contacts per month with the individual; and
requires communication with VRS at least twice monthly to share progress and coordinate the need for additional services, as needed.

Internship: a time-limited opportunity available to job seekers in situations where an internship will significantly enhance skill development and future opportunity for competitive integrated employment (e.g., individuals who are ready to begin work but need relevant work experience related to their educational training, individuals in a training program, recent post-secondary graduates or students currently enrolled in a post-secondary training program).

Job Accommodation/Modification: assisting businesses to identify, modify, or eliminate architectural, procedural, instructional, attitudinal, or communication barriers to the competitive integrated employment and advancement of individuals with disabilities.

Job Analysis: making sure the job is a good match, providing on-site job analysis, consultation, and recommendations for work site and job modification.

Job Coaching: providing training and consultation to the individual or the business to facilitate successful competitive integrated employment. Job coaching can be performed on or off the job site. The definition of job coaching can include any or all of the following:

Job destination training; transportation coordination;
job site skills training and assistance to perform work duties;
training in new duties, including new employee orientation and other responsibilities that assure job retention;
training and assistance with work behaviors and interpersonal skills;
training to develop understanding of employment practices and business policies;
assistance in changes in the work environment impacting potential for job retention;
identifying, utilizing and integrating natural supports in the workplace; and
exploring and seeking job advancement.

Job Development:contacting businesses to develop or identify job opportunities and assisting eligible individuals to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in, or regain competitive integrated employment.

Job Seeking Services: providing group or individual counseling or training or both regarding the techniques to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in, or regain competitive integrated employment. This includes assisting eligible individuals in preparing resumes, job applications and developing job interviewing skills; providing training on how to address business’ perceptual barriers and prepare to meet business’ expectations, assisting the eligible individual to become knowledgeable about job duties, personnel benefits, rates of pay, employment policies and practices, and the job location prior to job acceptance.

Job Shadow: contacting businesses to develop opportunities for individuals to observe different jobs and ask businesses questions about the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to perform the tasks involved in the job.

Job Tryout: short-term work experience which allows an individual the opportunity to demonstrate to an employer their capacity to effectively perform in a job related to a specific employment goal on their employment plan. (There is a Job Tryout brochure available.)

Occupational Communication Specialist Services (OCSS): OCSS are a specialized form of job coaching or specialized placement and retention services designed to meet the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in, or regain competitive integrated employment. Occupational Communication Specialists (OCS) provide all of the same services as a job coach or placement specialist, and in addition, possess fluency in all forms of manual communication, knowledge of deafness and psycho-social implications of hearing loss, sensitivity to cultural issues, familiarity with community services, and awareness of adaptive technology options for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

To be considered a qualified OCS, minimum qualifications include:

Intermediate Plus rating on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) OR Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf certification.
Minimum of two years paid work experience serving individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deafblind in a social service, educational or employment setting.

Additional preferred qualifications include:

Experience using a variety of communication modes (for example, American Sign Language, Signed Exact English, Cued Speech, Speech-reading, etc.).
Knowledge of and experience in working with individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing with additional disabilities.
Ability to assess, recommend and advocate for appropriate workplace accommodations addressing the communication needs of individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Ability to understand, use and provide consultation on use of assistive technologies available to individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Knowledge of interpreting and community resources available for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Knowledge of laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in employment, including the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and relevant State of Minnesota statutes.
Ability to establish effective relationships with employers.
Experience working with individuals who are immigrants, refugees or new Americans.

On-the-Job Evaluation (OJE): primarily used prior to the determination of a specific job goal. An OJE is a short-term work experience that provides the opportunity for the individual and VRS counselor to evaluate the suitability of a particular career or occupational area of interest.

On-the-Job Training (OJT): employer provided post-hire training, supervision or extended learning time for an individual that is above and beyond what is typically given to achieve entry-level performance standards. The OJT provides cost reimbursement to the employer. (There is an On-the-Job Training brochure available.)

Service Coordination: maintaining communication and coordination with the Vocational Rehabilitation Community, other community agencies and resources concerning job openings, coordination of services to assist eligible individuals to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in, or regain competitive integrated employment, and joint efforts to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Stabilization: includes the following:

Contact with the individual and/or employer confirms that duties are being adequately performed to the employer’s satisfaction;
the job must match the vocational goal and number of hours as listed on the employment plan;
long-term supports have been identified and are in place, insofar as possible; and
for individuals with a VRS Supported Employment Plan requiring extended ongoing supports, stabilization occurs when the VRS time-limited services ended, and the extended ongoing supports provider assumes responsibility.

In summary, stabilization has occurred when there is a reasonable expectation that satisfactory job performance will be maintained with the kind and level of ongoing support services being provided and/or identified.