Ala. Admin. Code r. 795-6-1-.06

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 795-6-1-.06 - Individualized Plan For Employment (IPE)

(1) As soon as possible after a determination has been made that an applicant is eligible for vocational rehabilitation services, the rehabilitation counselor must complete an assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs, if appropriate, and an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) must be developed and implemented. Vocational rehabilitation services are provided in accordance with the IPE.

(2) In order to develop the Individualized Plan for Employment, the rehabilitation counselor must provide the following information to each eligible individual in writing:

(a) Information on the available options for developing the IPE including the option that an eligible individual or, as appropriate, the eligible individual's representative may develop all or part of the IPE:

1. Without assistance from ADRS or with assistance from:

(i) A qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by ADRS;

(ii) A qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor who is not employed by ADRS; or

(iii) Other resources outside of ADRS.

(b) Additional information to assist the eligible individual or, as appropriate, the eligible individual's representative, in developing the IPE, including information describing the full range of components that must be included in an IPE and as appropriate to each eligible individual:

1. An explanation of agency guidelines and criteria for determining an eligible individual's financial commitments under an IPE;

2. Information on the availability of assistance in completing ADRS forms required as part of the IPE; and

3. Additional information that the eligible individual requests or ADRS determines to be necessary to the development of the IPE:

4. A description of the rights and remedies available to the eligible individual; and

5. A description of the availability of a client assistance program and information on how to contact the client assistance program.

(3) The IPE is a written document prepared on forms developed by ADRS. The IPE must be developed and implemented in a manner that gives the eligible individual the opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting the employment outcome, including the employment setting, the specific vocational rehabilitation services needed, the entity or entities that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods available for procuring the services. The IPE must be agreed upon and signed by the vocational rehabilitation counselor and the individual with a disability, or, as appropriate, that individual's parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or other authorized representative within the framework of a vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance relationship.

(4) A copy of the IPE and any amendments to the program will be provided to the eligible individual, or, as appropriate, that individual's parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or other authorized representation.

(5) The vocational rehabilitation counselor will advise the eligible individual, or his or her representative, of Agency procedures and requirements affecting the development and review of the IPE.

(6) To the extent additional data is necessary, a comprehensive assessment of the eligible individual's unique strengths, resources, priorities, interests, and needs, consistent with the informed choice of the eligible individual, (including the need for supported employment) is conducted. The purpose of this assessment is to make a determination of the goals, objectives, nature, and scope of vocational rehabilitation services to be included in the eligible individual's IPE. This assessment:

(a) Is limited to information that is necessary to identify the rehabilitation needs and to develop the rehabilitation program of the eligible individual.

(b) Uses as a primary source of information to the maximum extent possible and appropriate (and in accordance with confidentiality requirements), existing information, information that can be provided by the eligible individual and, where appropriate, by the family of the eligible individual, including information available from other programs and providers, information provided by the eligible individual and the eligible individual's family, and information obtained under the assessment for determining the applicant's eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs.

(7) The IPE must be initiated as soon as possible after certification of eligibility to determine rehabilitation needs. Each IPE will be reviewed annually and revised as needed. The eligible individual or, as appropriate, the parent, guardian or other representative will be afforded an opportunity to review the program and jointly redevelop and agree to its terms.

(8) Regardless of the approach that an eligible individual selects for purposes of developing the IPE, each IPE must include:

(a) A description of the specific employment outcome that is chosen by the eligible individual that is consistent with the eligible individual's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, career interests, and informed choice; and to the maximum extent appropriate, results in employment in an integrated setting.

(b) A description of the specific vocational rehabilitation services that are needed to achieve the employment outcome including, as appropriate, the provision of assistive technology devices, assistive technology services, and personal assistance services, including training in the management of those services; and provided in the most integrated setting that is appropriate for the services involved and is consistent with the informed choice of the eligible individual.

(c) Timelines for the achievement of the employment outcome and for the initiation of services.

(d) A description of the entity or entities chosen by the eligible individual that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services and the methods used to procure those services.

(e) A description of the criteria that will be used to evaluate progress toward achievement of the employment outcome.

(f) The terms and conditions for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services, including the responsibilities of the eligible individual in implementing the IPE, the extent of eligible individual's participation in the cost of services, if any, and the extent to which comparable services and benefits are available to the eligible individual under any other program.

(g) An assessment of the expected need for post-employment services and, if appropriate, extended services.

(h) If appropriate, a provision for a reassessment of the need for post-employment services and, if appropriate, extended services, prior to the point of successful rehabilitation, and if appropriate, a statement detailing how such services will be provided or arranged through cooperative agreements with other service providers.

(i) If necessary, an amendment specifying the reasons that an eligible individual is no longer eligible for vocational rehabilitation services and the rights and remedies available to such an eligible individual including, if appropriate, recourse to the processes involved in the annual review of the IPE and the appeals procedures.

(j) The rights and remedies available to such an eligible individual including, if appropriate, recourse to the processes set forth in the annual review of the IPE and the appeals procedures.

(k) A description of the availability of a Client Assistance Program.

(l) To the maximum extent possible, descriptions in the native language, or mode of communication, of the eligible individual, or in an appropriate case, of that eligible individual's parents, family member, guardian, advocate, or other authorized representative.

(m) Information identifying other related services and benefits provided by any federal, state, or local program that will enhance the capacity of the eligible individual to achieve the vocational objective(s) on the IPE.

(9) In order to allow any applicant or eligible individual the opportunity to make informed choices throughout the vocational rehabilitation process, the VR counselor shall provide or assist the individual in acquiring information relating to the cost, accessibility, and duration of potential services, the qualifications of potential service providers, the types of services offered by those providers, and the degree to which services are provided in integrated settings. Each VR counselor shall document in the case record that the individual received, through appropriate means of communication, information concerning the availability and scope of informed choice, the manner in which informed choice may be exercised, and the availability of support services for individuals with cognitive or other disabilities who require assistance in exercising informed choice with regards to the selection of any specific employment outcome or vocational rehabilitation service, including assessment services, and service providers.

(10) An IPE for an individual with a most significant disability for whom an employment outcome in a supported employment setting has been determined to be appropriate must specify the supported employment services to be provided by ADRS, specify the expected extended services needed, identify the source of extended services or describe the basis for concluding that there is a reasonable expectation that those services will become available, provide for periodic monitoring of progress toward meeting the weekly work requirement established in the IPE by the time of transition to extended services, provide for coordination of services under other federal or state programs, identify job skills training that will be provided on site and include placement in an integrated setting for the maximum number of hours possible based on the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the eligible individual with the most significant disability.

Author: Alabama Board of Rehabilitation Services

Ala. Admin. Code r. 795-6-1-.06

New Rule: Filed August 26, 2002; effective October 1, 2002.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 21-9-9.