Rule 3304-2-60 | Supported employment services.
(A) Definitions
(1) "Supported employment" means competitive integrated employment, including customized employment, or 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 on a short-term basis toward competitive integrated employment that is individualized, customized, and consistent with the unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, including ongoing support services for individuals with the most significant disabilities for whom:
(a) Competitive integrated employment has not historically occurred or competitive integrated employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of a significant disability;
(b) Due to the nature and severity of their disabilities, the individual needs intensive supported employment services and extended services after the transition from support provided by the designated state unit, in order to perform this work.
(2) "Supported employment services" are ongoing support services that are organized and made available, singly or in combination, in such a way to assist an eligible individual with a disability to achieve competitive integrated employment based on a determination of the needs of an eligible individual, as specified in the individualized plan for employment (IPE).
(3) "Ongoing support services" means services that:
(a) Are needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a most significant disability, in supported employment; and
(b) Are identified based on a determination by OOD of the individual's need as specified in an IPE.
(4) "Extended services" mean ongoing support services and other appropriate services that are: needed to support and maintain an individual in supported employment; based on the needs of an individual, as specified in an IPE; and provided by a state agency, a private nonprofit organization, employer, or any other appropriate resource, after an individual has made a transition from support from OOD.
(B) Ongoing support services are furnished by OOD from the time of job placement until transition to extended services, unless post-employment services are provided following transition, and thereafter by one or more extended service providers throughout the individual's term of employment in a particular job placement.
(1) Ongoing support services include an assessment of employment stability and provision of specific services or the coordination of services at or away from the worksite that are needed to maintain stability based on:
(a) At a minimum, twice-monthly monitoring at the worksite of each individual in supported employment; or
(b) If under specific circumstances the IPE provides for off-site monitoring, twice monthly meetings with the individual.
(2) Ongoing support services may consist of:
(a) Any particularized assessment supplementary to the comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation needs;
(b) The provision of skilled job trainers who accompany the individual for intensive job skill training at the work site;
(c) Job development and training;
(d) Social skills training;
(e) Regular observation or supervision of the individual;
(f) Follow-up services including regular contact with the employers, the individuals, parents, family members, guardians, advocates or authorized representatives of the individuals, and other suitable professional and informed advisors, in order to reinforce and stabilize the job placement;
(g) Facilitation of natural supports at the worksite;
(h) Any other service identified in the scope of vocational rehabilitation services for individuals; or
(i) Any service similar to the foregoing services.
(C) An individual with a most significant disability, whose supported employment in an integrated setting does not satisfy the criteria of competitive integrated employment, is considered to be working on a short-term basis toward competitive integrated employment so long as the individual can reasonably anticipate achieving competitive integrated employment under the following circumstances:
(1) Within six months of achieving a supported employment outcome; or
(2) In limited circumstances, within a period not to exceed twelve months from the achievement of the supported employment outcome if necessary based on the needs of the individual, and the individual has demonstrated progress toward competitive earnings based on information contained in the service record.
(D) Supported employment services provided by OOD shall not exceed twenty-four months. The individual and the rehabilitation counselor may jointly agree to extend the time to achieve the employment outcome identified in the IPE when the individual has made substantial progress toward meeting the hours-per-week work goal, and there is no break between short-term services and extended services.
(E) OOD may provide extended services only to a youth with a most significant disability. Extended services shall terminate after four years or until the individual reaches the age of twenty-five, whichever occurs first.
(F) Transition to extended services may not occur until the youth with a disability has reached job stability and has substantially met their work goal.
(G) OOD may provide supported employment services after successful closure and transition to extended services, if post-employment services are needed to maintain or regain the job placement or advance in employment but are unavailable from the extended services provider.
(H) This rule is designed to implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 32, and resulting regulations.
Supplemental Information