ODDS information about Discovery and Services to Students:

General sources of ODDS information:

One source is regular (usually weekly) emails from Lilia Teninty to the CDDP Managers and Brokerage Directors. These messages can be found on the ODDS public facing website, although sometimes they miss part of the message in the postings. http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/DD/Pages/Messages.aspx

The DD Administrative Rule: Chapter 411, Division 345 (Employment Services) can be found on their public website at:

APS (including ODDS) Transmittals can be found at:

DISCOVERY

The DD Director Message sent out on 5/26/15 has information about job stabilization and has a link to the ODDS Discovery FAQs.

Discovery FAQ document highlights of interest to VR:

  • Page 1: “it is a process that begins prior to specific employment planning”
  • Page 2: “Discovery is not a formal quantitative assessment or evaluation process. Instead it is a qualitative process, descriptive in nature, that was developed to compliment more traditional vocational assessment and evaluation practices.”
  • Page 3: “Discovery does not result in the person’s employment plan.”
  • Page 3: “Discovery is not needed for everyone…., but it is a helpful tool for many, including those with significant disabilities.”
  • Page 4: “Discovery may be used when, upon review of all employment-related information available, it is determined there is insufficient information regarding the conditions in which the individual will be successful in an integrated employment setting in the general workforce or the interests that would provide general direction for job search activities.”
  • Page 5: “Discovery might be the right service when:
  • The person has expressed interest in pursuing an individual integrated job and is interested in using VR Job Development after the Discovery service
  • A standard assessment would be inadequate to capture information regarding the person’s employment skills and strengths.
  • The person has had integrated jobs, but they did not last.
  • The person’s integrated work experience is no longer of interest or not recent.”
  • Page 6: “All of Section 5: if the person is using Discovery service, when should the referral to VR occur?”

ODDS Services to Students/Youth

APD-PT-15-011 – ODDS employment services for transition age individuals and youth while special education and related services remain available under IDEA

  • Transition age individuals and youth may access Medicaid-funded employment service when not available from school or VR.
  • Section titled, CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH ODDS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, discusses each of the employment services separately:
  • Job Coaching – yes; available while also eligible for services under IDEA
  • Discovery – yes; available while also eligible for services under IDEA in these circumstances:
  • Individual wants to pursue integrated employment within the next year
  • Employment team makes recommendation based on review of all available employment documentation (recommends Discovery only if available information is not sufficient)
  • They should be within 2 years of leaving school. (If they have more than 2 years of school remaining, it is presumed that job exploration/Discovery-like activities and a consolidation of information will be available through the school.)
  • The ISP and IEP should be coordinated. This should also occur with the IPE.
  • Referral to VR and DD services should be made before discovery service to assure seamless transition from ODDS to VR.
  • Small Group Employment Support – yes (Since this doesn’t relate to VR, the particulars are not spelled out here. See the Policy Transmittal for more information.)
  • Employment Path Service – not allowed.

Attachments:

  • Email, dated June 10, 2015, that contains the DD Director’s message of May 26, 2015.
  • Copy of the Discovery FAQs (link appears in the DD Director’s message of 5/26/15.
  • APD-PT-15-011: ODDS Employment Services for Transition Age Individuals and Youth while Special Education and Related Services Remain Available under IDEA.

6/11/15 -- For questions about this document, contact Ann Balzell