REFERRAL PROCESS

Who should refer youth/students? Special educators, guidance counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, administrators, regular educators, juvenile justice staff, community counselors, agency personnel, and parents/guardians may refer youth/students to Nebraska VR.

Who should be referred? Students verified for special education, students under a 504 Accommodation Plan, students with a disability for the purposes of section 504 (even if they do not have a 504 accommodation plan in place).

When should a referral be made? Students may be referred at age 14 to begin the process of engaging the services of Nebraska VR. Typically, students are referred in the second semester of their sophomore year or at the beginning of their junior year. In certain circumstances, it may be in the student's best interest to be referred at an earlier age. Youth with disabilities are considered to fall in the range of 14-24 years.

What is the referral process? Complete a referral form (I & R) and submit to the VR Specialist.The VR Specialist will contact the youth/student and parent or guardian (parent/guardian consent is required for youth/students under the age of 19) within 10 days of the referral. An appointment will be scheduled at the earliest possible time to provide an orientation to Nebraska VR services and to complete a Pre-Employment Transition Services Consent and Release Form or an application for VR services. The standard that we will maintain 30 day contact with all clients also applies to students who are served under a Pre-Employment Transition Consent and Release.

A parent/guardian signature on the Pre-Employment Transition Consent and Release Form is sufficient to verify the student's disability for the purposes of pre-employment transition services. Further information can be gathered to assist with planning, including the MDT report, IEP, medical information, etc. from the school. Please note that records cannot be paid for with an authorization in QE2 for the purposes of pre-employment transition services.
Students who have signed a pre-employment transition services consent and release form have access to the Client Assistance Program (CAP).

A Few Examples of Impairments:
 Physical/Medical: cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, orthopedic impairment, heart condition, dyslexia, ADHD, TBI, autism
 Mental Health: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, oppositional defiant disorder, drug/alcohol abuse, adjustment disorder
 Learning: specific learning disability, intellectual disability, autism, speech/language impairment