Those persons who apply for, or who are eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), have the opportunity as well as the responsibility to make appropriate informed choices during the vocational rehabilitation process. RSB views these persons as consumers of its services and throughout its policies refers to these persons as consumers. RSB will strive to assist consumers in an even-handed, fair and objective manner to acquire the information needed to exercise informed choice. The vocational rehabilitation process includes, among other things, the selection of: assessment services; an employment outcome; the specific vocational rehabilitation services that will assist the consumer achieving this outcome; the entity or source that will provide these services; and the location where the services will be provided. It is the consumer’s responsibility to ask questions, engage in realistic self-evaluation, seek out information, take initiative, follow through on tasks, gain experience in the world of work, commit to an employment outcome and to challenge the system when necessary. RSB will assist and treat the consumer as an active and full partner in the vocational rehabilitation process, from application to the final goal of employment.

Informed choice does not mean unfettered choice, but rather refers to choices that facilitate a successful employment outcome and that are consistent with consumer’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities. Vocational Rehabilitation funding comes from the taxpayers of our state and nation, and RSB has a responsibility to the public trust to assure that these monies are spent in a responsible and effective manner. If consumers and the RSB disagree during the vocational rehabilitation process, the consumer has the right and obligation to question decisions that appear unclear or unfair, to exercise both informal and formal appeal rights, and to seek the assistance of the Client Assistance Program.

RSB philosophy is that the consumer has the ultimate responsibility for making his or her own life choices and living with the consequences of those choices. RSB’s goal is to develop the consumer’s own ability to make informed choices and to take effective charge of their life so that they can achieve a successful employment outcome. RSB’s efforts to facilitate the consumer’s exercise of informed choice includes providing encouragement, offering even-handed, fair, objective and factual information, and assisting the consumer to explore their potential and range of possibilities.

In accordance with both existing laws and the document entitled Informed Choice, it is RSB’s policy to assist applicants for, and those eligible to receive, vocational services from RSB in exercising informed choice throughout the vocational rehabilitation process.

Section #1: How RSB informs each applicant and eligible individual (including transition students), through appropriate modes of communication, about the availability of, and opportunities to exercise, informed choice, including availability of support services for individuals with cognitive or other disabilities who require assistance in exercising informed choice, throughout the vocational rehabilitation process.

RSB has developed a document entitled Informed Choice that it will provide to every consumer at the time of application and annually thereafter until the consumer ceases to utilize the services provided by RSB. In addition, Informed Choice will be made available at anytime during the vocational rehabilitation process in response to a consumer’s request to RSB. Informed Choice sets the stage for the consumer by discussing what informed choice means and how it is part of the entire rehabilitation process. RSB will provide this document in any reasonable medium the consumer chooses, including braille, tape, large print, etc. RSB will also provide support services, as needed, for individuals with cognitive or other disabilities based on the need of the particular individual. Support services may include interpreters, readers, etc. In addition, RSB will work with the consumer, and if the consumer so chooses, representatives or family members, etc., in order to facilitate the vocational rehabilitation process.

In addition, RSB will train its staff to (a) encourage consumers to exercise informed choice; (b) recognize opportunities for the consumer to exercise informed choice; and (c) develop techniques that will assist consumers to take greater advantage of their opportunities to exercise informed choice.

Section #2: How RSB will assist applicants and eligible individuals in exercising informed choice in decisions related to the provisions of assessment services under this title.

RSB will first discuss with consumers the consumer’s own assessment of their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities. As part of this process, RSB will review with the consumer various kinds of information already available to assist the consumer in determining what types of assessment services are necessary to develop and reach an employment goal. As assessment needs are identified, RSB will provided the consumer with information concerning the potential assessment choices for the consumer. RSB will also encourage the consumer to identify his or her own assessment choices. For example, if an ophthalmologist eye exam is needed by the consumer, the RSB counselor could provide names of the board registered ophthalmologists he or she is aware of. Likewise, if the consumer needed a low vision evaluation, RSB could provide information on statewide resources for that service. If the consumer was interested in a comprehensive assessment from a community rehabilitation program, RSB would provide a list of contracted providers, information about those providers, and results of consumer satisfaction surveys. In addition, RSB would, in these circumstances, assist and encourage the consumer to independently search out information about these service providers. The document Informed Choice given to consumers establishes their opportunity for exercising informed choice in the selection of assessment services.

Section #3: How RSB will develop and implement flexible procurement policies and methods that facilitate the provision of services, and that afford eligible individuals meaningful choices among the methods used to procure services under vocational rehabilitation.

RSB will strive to implement the most flexible and effective procurement policies possible, consistent with the State of Missouri’s Purchasing Laws (Chapter 34 RSMo) and the Rehabilitation Act, as amended 1998. For example, once the scope of the consumer’s need for computer equipment and adaptive technology is determined, the consumer will be permitted to choose the specific kind of equipment desired, as well as the provider. Informed choice does not dictate that RSB must obtain for the consumer the most expensive type of technology, or all of the various options that may be available. But, RSB will strive to provide the consumer the technology necessary to achieve the employment goal and to provide as much choice as possible in this process.

RSB will provide training for its staff to (a) identify services that may benefit consumers; (b) encourage consumers to identify relevant information about services; and (c) provide relevant, factual information in an even-handed, fair, and objective fashion.

State of Missouri Purchasing Laws (Chapter 34 RSMo) do require state contracts and a state bid process for providers of services over specified amounts. RSB staff will work closely with the Office of Administration and the Contract Manager for Division of Family Services to make that process work as smoothly and efficiently as possible. RSB has been able to obtain a waiver to the state bid process from the Office of Administration for some consumer services, such as computer equipment/ adaptive technology, medical services and rehabilitation engineering services. (Rehabilitation engineers do, however, sign state contracts with RSB.) RSB will continue to seek such waivers in the future when appropriate.

During the vocational rehabilitation process, RSB will train its staff to regularly inform consumers that they have the opportunity to exercise informed choice in the selection of any service provider contracted with RSB, as well as for any of the many services provided by RSB that are outside the state bid processes.

Section #4: How RSB will provide or assist eligible individuals in acquiring information that enables those individuals to exercise informed choice under this title in the selection of: a) the employment outcome; b) the specific vocational rehabilitation services needed to achieve the employment outcome; c) the entity that will provide the services; d) the employment setting and the settings in which the services will be provided; and e) the methods available for procuring the services.

RSB will provide all consumers with the document Informed Choice. In addition, RSB will encourage consumers to seek out the information that may be of assistance in the selection of: a) an employment outcome; b) the specific vocational rehabilitation services needed to achieve the employment outcome; c) the entity that will provide the services; d) the employment setting and the setting in which the services will be provided; and e) the methods available for procuring the services. In addition, RSB will strive to provide ongoing training for its staff and educate them about employment opportunities, vocational rehabilitation services available to persons seeking employment, and the methods by which such services can be procured. RSB staff will then be expected to provide consumers, in appropriate cases, with even-handed, objective, factual information about available services. RSB also intends, through its staff, to develop tools and establish relationships between consumers and other organizations, both public and private, that will be of assistance to its consumers. RSB will strive to educate its staff about the existence of these newly developed tools and relationships with other organizations and encourage staff to share this information with consumers in appropriate cases and encourage and assist consumers in acquiring information about resources these organization may offer. RSB will endeavor to sponsor or deliver, either alone or in conjunction with other public or private organizations, programs which will assist consumers in exercising informed choice during the rehabilitation process.

Throughout this process, RSB will facilitate achievement of the rehabilitation goal by providing encouragement and support, factual information about resources and by assisting the consumer in exploring the range of possibilities available to that consumer. In appropriate circumstances, RSB will provide career counseling, vocational testing, assessment services, job shadowing, and work experiences needed to determine that the consumer’s employment goals are consistent with that consumer’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities.

RSB will train its staff to encourage consumers to be an active partner in the vocational rehabilitation process and to respect the fact that the consumer has the ultimate responsibility for making their own life choices and living with the consequences of those choices.

RSB will give its consumers a brochure which gives an overview of RSB services.

RSB will provide consumers with satisfaction surveys, when available, as well as other factual information, that would assist the consumer in exercising informed choice.

In addition, through both formal and informal mentoring programs, RSB will put consumers in touch with other consumers who can share their experiences and information.

RSB will encourage consumers to seek employment in integrated settings.

Section #5: How RSB ensures that the availability and scope of informed choice provided under this section is consistent with the obligations of the designated State agency under this title:

The RSB Rehabilitation Council has reviewed and approved these policies and procedures and will review any changes to these policies and procedures in the future. RSB will work with the consumer as an active and full partner to achieve their employment outcome. RSB will inform consumers of the appeals process in the Informed Choices document at the onset of services, during the development of their Individual Plan for Employment, when a case is closed or when there is a complaint.