As appropriate to the vocational rehabilitation needs of each applicant or eligible individual, RSB shall make available the vocational rehabilitation services that are listed in this section. To the extent possible, within the limitations of 34 CFR 361, 34 CFR 365, 34 CFR parts 74‑81, Chapter 34, RSMo, 13 CSR 40-91.020 and RSB’s Informed Choice Policy the applicant or eligible individual may select the vendor(s) to provide each service. RSB shall provide services in the most cost effective manner in order to assist the individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice. This rule establishes the procedures for the provision of the following services and the limitations on the provision of certain services: 361.48(a-t), Sec.103(a), 361.5(b)(58), Sec.6(38)
(A) Evaluation of vocational rehabilitation potential, including diagnostic and related services incidental to the determination of eligibility for, and the nature and scope of services RSB will provide so that the eligible person can reach a vocational goal; 361.45(b)(1-2)
(B) Vocational guidance and counseling for individuals with significant vocational impediments to employment is the basic service directly provided by Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. This service consists of counseling and guiding the individual in the achievement of satisfactory vocational adjustment and employment within a limited timeframe, to include assisting them in self-discovery of vocationally relevant information regarding their primary employment factors and labor market information. This service is limited to provision of vocational counseling and guidance to the individual regarding only those problems and the particular aspects of other problems which directly relate to their vocational adjustment. Vocational counselors are expected to refer individuals who are apparently in need of therapeutic help for all other problems to other appropriately qualified individuals and/or community agencies specifically equipped to provide the necessary therapeutic services.
(C) Physical restoration services, as discussed in Chapter 14;
(D) Mental health restoration services, as discussed in Chapter 14;
(E) Vocational and other training services, as discussed in Chapter 13;
(F) Maintenance, as discussed in subsection (15)(B);
(G) Transportation, as discussed in subsection (15)(A);
(H) Services to members of an applicant’s or eligible individual’s family, as discussed in subsection (15)(G);
(I) Reader services, interpreter and note‑taking services for deaf applicants or eligible individuals, including tactile interpreting for deaf‑blind applicants or eligible individuals;
(J) Rehabilitation teaching services including assessment of the extent of rehabilitation needs of the individual in such areas as home management, personal management, communication skills, interpersonal social skills in the home, community and workplace, as well as training in systematic compensatory and accommodative techniques of blindness and low vision that allow the individual to achieve self-sufficiency and independence in society. Rehabilitation teaching services are provided to eligible individuals as identified in the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), and may be delivered by RSB staff, contractors or through the use of contracted facilities for Personal and Vocational Adjustment to Blindness (PVA).
(K) Telecommunications, sensory and other technological aids and devices;
(L) Recruitment and training services to provide new employment opportunities in the field of rehabilitation, health, welfare, public safety, law enforcement and other appropriate public service employment;
(M) Orientation and mobility services including assessment of the eligible individual’s level of orientation and mobility skills, training in the use of mobility aids and devices, protective techniques, and compensatory orientation skills, including the use of strategies for orientation in the home, workplace and community. These services are available to all eligible individuals with an identified service need in the IPE in the area of orientation and mobility. These services may be delivered by RSB staff, contractors, or through the use of contracted facilities for Personal and Vocational Adjustment to Blindness (PVA).
(N) Personal assistance (attendant) services including a range of services provided to assist an individual with a disability to perform daily living activities, on or off the job, that the individual would typically perform without assistance if the individual did not have a disability and which cannot be performed by the individual through the use of alternative techniques of blindness or assistive technology, designed to increase the individual’s control in life and ability to perform everyday activities. Personal assistance services may only be provided if they are: a) necessary to the achievement of an employment outcome; and, b) while the individual is receiving other vocational rehabilitation services. These services are provided to an eligible individual only in conjunction with, or after the maximum utilization of comparable services and benefits.
(O) Technical assistance services will be provided to eligible individuals who are pursuing a vocational goal of self-employment, telecommuting or establishing a small business operation, including the development of business plans, marketing analyses, and resource development, in keeping with the RSB Self-Employment Resource Guide and Chapter 15(C)4. This will include assisting the eligible individual in gathering data on the feasibility and specifics of the business concept, refinement of the business concept based on the market research and analyses regarding a business idea, development of financial projections and plans, including break-even analysis, and putting the individual’s plan into a presentable form. These services may be performed by RSB staff, contracted vendors or other entities with expertise in the creation and maintenance of small businesses. Eligible individuals who express an interest in self-employment in the Business Enterprise Program will be provided services as outlined in Chapter 22 of the VR Policy and Procedure Manual, and in 13 CSR 40‑91.010.
(P) Job-related services (job search, job placement, job coaching, job retention) will be provided to eligible individuals as identified in their IPE to assist the individual in obtaining, retaining or maintaining suitable employment. Suitable employment is defined as employment that is consistent with the individual’s primary employment factors, which does not aggravate the person’s disability and which provides economic support for the person sufficient to eliminate or substantially reduce the burden upon the person’s family and/or public assistance programs. Job related services include, but are not limited to: job search and placement assistance necessary to support and assist an individual in searching for and securing suitable employment, on-the-job support services to assist the individual in stabilizing the job placement, job coaching and other services that assist the individual in securing, retaining or regaining employment. These services may be provided by RSB staff and/or contracted providers of supported employment and short term community- based employment services.
(Q) Post‑employment services necessary to maintain or regain other suitable employment;
(R) Occupational licenses, including any licenses, permits or other written authority required by a state, city or other governmental unit to be obtained in order to enter an occupation or enter a small business and tools, equipment, initial stocks and supplies;
(S) Rehabilitation Technology services are provided to eligible individuals to deliver rehabilitative technological solutions through the systematic application of technologies, engineering methodologies, or scientific principles to meet the needs of, and address the barriers confronted by blind and visually impaired individuals in areas that include education, employment, transportation, independent living, recreation, and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation technology services may include rehabilitation engineering, assistive technology devices and services, and may be provided directly by RSB staff, contractors or through the use of contracted facilities for Personal and Vocational Adjustment to Blindness (PVA).
(T) Information and referral services are provided as needed to assist the applicant or eligible individual in securing needed goods and services not available through Rehabilitation Services for the Blind from other agencies or programs, including other components of the statewide workforce investment system and the Client Assistance Program. This service shall be made available to all applicants and eligible individuals, without consideration of significance of disability (see Order of Selection, Chapter 24), comparable services and benefits or the eligible individual’s financial participation. This service will include counseling and referral for job placement if RSB is operating under an order of selection. In the event that an individual is referred to another agency, they will be provided with a notice of the referral to the agency, specific contact information for the agency to which they are referred and information and advice regarding the most suitable services to assist them in preparing for, securing, retaining or regaining employment; and
(U) Other goods and services that can be expected to benefit an eligible individual in terms of employability.
Version 1.3