All prospective applicants to the VR Employment Program shall be offered Orientation, Initial Meeting, and Information and Referral to other agencies. This regulation includes students referred from the VR PreETS program, as they also need full consultation to apply.

Required forms to apply to VR Employment Program:

• VR Application  

• VR Release 
• Summary of Initial Meeting or Next Action Form

Initial Meeting:

• Ensure VR Orientation has been provided
• Document Initial Meetings in QE2
• Provide referral to appropriate community resources 
• Individuals who participate in an Initial Meeting, shall be provided informed choice on the opportunity to apply to the Nebraska VR Employment Program.

Previously Terminated Cases: As applicable, consult with the Office Director to assist with identifying issues that contributed to the previous termination.

Safety. Staff and community safety are a top priority. If a question of ability to benefit from services stems from safety concerns, immediately discuss with your office director and refer to the Violent and Disruptive Behavior Chapter

VR employees with any verified disability must contact their supervisor or the Program Director of Evaluation & Community Integration to discuss possibly applying for services through Nebraska VR regarding disability-related equipment/any accommodations required to maintain employment. The Program Director must refer the staff member to their supervisor to request an Ergonomic Assessment or begin the Interactive Accommodation Process. See Ergonomic Assessments/Worksite Accommodations 

Prior to beginning the Initial Meeting:

1. Ensure the individual is present in the state of Nebraska and available to actively participate in services in the local VR Office service area.
2. Determine Nebraska VR is the correct State VR agency for services.
   1. Other State VR Agencies. If you learn a case is open with another state VR agency or if the individual tells you they are going to apply for services from another state VR agency, contact the Program Director for Counseling Services to discuss the situation and determine the appropriateness of opening a Nebraska VR case prior to completing the VR Application. Since both state VR programs offer the same services, there is a high likelihood for duplication of services. 
   2. Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI). Nebraska VR cannot serve an individual whose ONLY disability is blindness or low vision. NCBVI is a state VR agency that specializes in serving individuals with vision impairments. If an individual is eligible for NCBVI, they need to work with that State VR agency. If the individual is not eligible for NCBVI AND has an additional impairment(s), VR may work with the individual and assess the primary impairment based on other disabling conditions. Impairments of vision can only be secondary or tertiary. If an individual presents with more than one disability, one of which is vision, prior to completing the VR Application refer the individual to NCBVI to determine if the visual impairment meets their eligibility criteria. 
      • If yes, NCBVI will serve the individual.
      • If no, conduct Initial Meeting.
      • Document in a TASK note - referral to and eligibility decision from NCBVI. If eligible for NCBVI, they must work with the agency who specialized in loss of vision, NCBVI.
      • If not eligible for NCBVI, determine if individual is eligible for Nebraska VR program based on non-visual impairment.
      • Nebraska VR staff can provide consultative services to a client of Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI) when the individual would benefit from the expertise of both programs. 
      • In rare cases an individual may have an active case with both state VR agencies (Nebraska VR and NCBVI) at the same time so long as the services provided by each are not duplicated and both VR agencies would be allowed to record a successful employment outcome. This would only occur if an existing or current Nebraska VR client’s vision becomes so severe it warrants consultation with NCBVI. NCBVI will then determine if the client is eligible and open a case or only provide consultation. 

Orientation: To provide quality services, requires an understanding of the individual’s situation. This is accomplished by using open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summary statements to gain specific vocational information and the individual's confirmation that you understand their situation and desire to work.  

1. Ensure the VR Orientation (via Orientation video and/or conversation) has been provided and the following topics addressed:
   1. Nebraska VR is a voluntary and eligibility employment program that requires a working partnership (individual and VR) and active participation in services.
   2. Eligibility requires an intent to work and a verified impairment, impediment, and requirement for VR services.
   3. Services are individualized based on the individual’s situation and employment needs.
   4. Individuals must apply for and use services and benefits from other programs for which they may be eligible. 
   5. Nebraska VR works as a team and other team members will assist with services.
   6. Both citizen and noncitizens are required to have original work documents verified before participating in IPE services. 
   7. Address any questions the individual may have.

Initial Meeting: Consider utilizing the Initial Meeting Questions, Impediment Questions, and Job Readiness Factors forms for guidance linked in the forms section below.

1. Conduct the Initial Meeting: The Initial Meeting may occur in one or more counseling sessions and should accomplish the following by the end of the discussion: 
   1. Why the individual came to VR: 

      1. Determine the referral source, as this can identify other agencies or individuals providing supports and/or services. Note: The individual is VR’s focus, not an agency or other individual or entity. They may provide support to the individual, but it must be the individual's personal choice to pursue competitive integrated employment and actively participate in the VR Employment Program.

      2. Discuss the individual's employment goals and service expectations to assist in determining if they are in the right place or if a referral to another agency, organization, or medical provider may be needed? If appropriate VR services are not available, address this and any other concern to assist in identifying a clear understanding of services, resources, and supports availability. Identifying potential work readiness issues, may assist the individual in considering all aspects of their current situation to make an informed decision to apply for services and their readiness to actively participate. 
      3. If referral is a prior VR client.
         1. Best practice is to review the previous case file with the VR Office Director before meeting with the referral to the VR Employment Program.
         2. During the initial meeting, gather the individual's perspective on the prior VR case. Is there anything they wished would have been different, has anything changed, or been discovered since the case closure?
   2. Presenting impairment:
      1. Assess vocationally relevant impairment(s) based on how the individual’s impairment(s) results in a substantial impediment to employment.
      2. Ask follow-up questions to determine if the condition is permanent, by addressing the history of the condition and how it has impacted the individual. Are they still recovering or in treatment? Have permanent restrictions been identified? 
      3. Address additional impairments not specifically reported, but implied: 
         1. Difficulty with school - Did they receive accommodations or extra assistance?
         2. Difficulty getting along with others - Have they seen a medical professional or received treatment?
         3. History of DUI - have they seen a medical professional or received treatment?
   3. Impediment to employment: Assess how the individual’s impairment(s) results in a substantial impediment to employment. Investigate how the impairment hinders the individual from securing, retaining, advancing in, or regaining employment consistent with their abilities and capabilities. Assess Job Readiness Factors. Utilize Job Readiness Factors & Initial Meeting - A Guide for staff, attached below. 
      1. Ascertain what the individual has recently done to look for work as a means of assessing the individual’s commitment to and skills in seeking employment. If offered a job today, could they start work tomorrow? If no, why not?
      2. Share with the individual any factors identified that may positively or negatively impact their ability to successfully participate in planning, services, and/or employment. 
      3. Engage the client in identifying suggestions for solutions and potential VR services to address barriers to employment. 
   4. Work history: Gather information with the goal of identifying how the impairment has been a substantial impediment to employment to assist with identifying functional capacities, priority group assignment, potential job readiness factors and strengths.
      1. Discuss gaps in work history to determine possible impediments to employment.
      2. Discuss requirements of the jobs. What tasks were difficult and why? Were the work tasks consistent with the individual's disability?
      3. Look for patterns in securing, retaining, advancing in, or regaining employment. What happened & why? Identify if the reasons are disability related or based on other factors, as this will help to determine disability related functional limitations or work readiness issues that will need to be addressed during career planning.
   5. Education: Assess reasons for not completing, having difficulty, and successes to identify potential employment barriers, functional capacities, and strengths.
   6. Family situation: Assess emotional and financial support.
   7. Legal history: Are there convictions that may affect employment options?
   8. Economic situation:
      1. Does the individual have their basic needs (food, housing, utilities, etc.) met?
      2. Other agencies: Discuss what resources the client has available to address job readiness factors and consider needed referrals. 
      3. For SSI/SSDI recipients, ask the individual about their Ticket to Work status. See Program Manual Chapter: Ticket to Work for further information.  
2. Summarize the Initial Meeting with the referral:
   1. Achieve agreement with the individual on what was discussed, decisions made, and next steps.
   2. Complete either the Initial Meeting Summary or a Next Steps Form. 
   3. Provide the client with a copy of all documents used during the Initial Meeting.
   4. Utilize the Initial Meeting to Next Steps Guide for possible next steps (linked below).
   5. Complete the Information and Referral to Other Programs form/information with the referral whether an application is completed or not. ​​​​
      1. Identify and refer individual to appropriate community resources with the local contact information (name, phone number and address).  
      2. Keep a copy of the completed Information and Referral to Other Programs form in the VR file or complete a task note with each identified referral and their specific contact information. 
      3. ​​​If the individual requires assistance in making connections with the community resources, VR is encouraged to assist with this process to ensure a successful contact.

Application: To make an informed decision to apply, all prospective applicants must be provided enough information to have a clear understanding of VR services. Everyone has the right to apply, but if appropriate VR services are not available, address this and any other concerns with the referral, and as appropriate the authorized representative. Any concerns or work readiness factors identified are not intended to prohibit completing an application for VR services, but rather to provide enough information to assist the individual in determining if they are able to actively participate in services at this time. After being provided a full consultation of the VR program and the individual chooses to apply, an application must be given and assumption of eligibility occurs. The work readiness issues must then be addressed during the career planning process. See Program Manual Career Planning for further information.

1. Ensure the required forms (VR Application, VR Release, and Summary of Initial Meeting or Next Action) to apply for Nebraska VR Services are fully completed with all the boxes/questions answered and needed signatures obtained, prior to VR signing the document. Individuals who receive Social Security based upon their disability require additional forms. See Program Manual Application to Employment Program,  Signature Requirements on VR Documents
2. Review with all applicants the front and back of the VR Application form to ensure the understanding Nebraska VR is an employment program and individuals who receive services must intend to work. Nebraska VR is responsible to inform the applicant their signature on the VR Application requires they attest to their intention to work and lawful presence in the United States. 
3.  Work documents can be verified any time prior to the IPE Approval to ensure lawful authorization to work. 
4. Document team services provided (Orientation, Information and Referral).
5. Complete Initial Meeting task note in QE2 to address the topics above. If topic is not applicable, best practice is to state "NA" rather than not addressing the topic. 

Next steps: Determine how to keep the individual actively involved in the VR Process and consider introducing career planning.

1.  Assess the appropriate next steps for vocational planning based on the individual's situation and needs, unless the organization is under an Order of Selection and unable to provide planning services until the individual comes off the waiting list. See Program Manual Chapter: Career Planning for further information.
   1. Utilize the Initial Meeting to Next Steps Guide for assistance.
   2. Consider services and resources that have been identified to address each of the Job Readiness Factors. 
   3. For individuals with challenges resulting from possible ABI, discuss the noted challenges and determine if referral for vocational evaluation and/or assistive technology evaluation are appropriate. Include a copy of the completed interview form with referral. If available, the Perceptual Memory Task and VCWS 6 Independent Problem Solving are recommended vocational assessments for individuals with ABI.
2.  Determine Eligibility/ineligibility:
   1. Eligible: Verify impairment, impediment, and requires services. Nebraska VR must presume that an applicant who (i) has an impairment, (ii) that impairment results in an impediment to employment, and that applicant (iii) requires VR services to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in, or regain employment can benefit in terms of an employment outcome and will be determined eligible for services. See the Program Manual Chapter: Eligibility for further information.
   2. Ineligible: For further information see the Program Manual Chapters: Ineligibility, No Longer Eligible
      1. No impairment
      2. No impediment
      3. Does not require
      4. Ineligibility determinations based on "cannot benefit from services" will only occur after the initial eligibility determination and an exploration of the individual's abilities, capabilities, and capacity to perform in realistic work situations. For further information see Program Manual Trial Work Experience (TWE) and Ineligibility, No Longer Eligible
   3. Other case termination. For further information, see Program Manual Termination
      1.  

 

 

 

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Action Planner

Application - Spanish

Application - English

Career Planning Preferences - English

Communication Assessment - English

Job Readiness Factors & Initial Meeting - A Guide for Staff

Release of Information English

Request for Medical Information - English

VR/SSA 3288 Consent for Release of Information - General English

Emancipated Minor Form

Summary of Initial Meeting

Nebraska VR ABI Interview

INACTIVE FORM: Meet You Where You Are-Brochure

Meet You Where You Are Model

Information and Referral (I & R) to Other Programs

Information and Referral (I & R) to Other Programs - Spanish

Initial Meeting Questions

Initial Meeting to Next Step Guide

(TWE) Trial Work Experience Plan

(TWE) Trial Work Experience Plan

VR/SSA 3288 Consent for Release of Information - General Spanish

(TWE) Trial Work Experience Plan

Impediment Questions