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Division of Vocational Rehabilitation� SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT�

Christine Fuller

Supported Employment and Deaf, Deafblind & Hard of Hearing Coordinator

Christine.Fuller@dvr.nm.gov

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SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT is:

Competitive Integrated Employment -CIE

Competitive: Earns at least minimum wage ($12.00) or the prevailing wage of the job.

Integrated: Working in an integrated worksite out in the community. One that has individuals who are non-disabled and disabled.

WIOA- Rehabilitation Act changed and starting in 2016 this no longer includes transition to a sheltered workshop.
Anyone under the age of 25 cannot enter into a sheltered workshop without going through DVR first.

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SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT is for?

Someone whom Competitive Integrated Employment has not historically occurred or

Someone who Competitive Integrated Employment has been interrupted or is intermittent as a result of a severe disability and

Someone who, because of the nature and severity of their disability, need intensive Supported Employment Services and extended services after the transition from DVR services, in order to perform the work involved.
This includes people with a variety of disabilities. ID, Deafblind, quadriplegia, mental health diagnosis, physical and/or multiple disabilities, etc.

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DVR PROCESS

Referral
Application
Eligibility
IPE Development
Service
Employment
+ 90 days (supported employment only)
Closure

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REFERRAL

DVR home page: www.DVR.State.NM.US
Upper right corner- Online Referral

Info requested:

STARS ID
Name, DOB, address, phone, email
High school, ** Able to upload Release of Info, IEP, Diagnostics**
SE info, Language, Disability
Who is referring and contact info

2020 (March) 50% of Supported Employment referrals never made an appointment.
2021 (July20-June 30, 21) 41% of SE referrals never made an appointment.

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Important Notes

Refer as young at 14 years old.

The more severe the disability, the earlier the referral should be.

If they should be served by DDSD, they should have applied early. NO LATER than Freshman year.

It can still take time to be made Eligible for DDSD.
Correct Diagnosis is important.

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APPLICATION / ELIGIBILITY

Application

Meet with the student and guardian/parent
Interview and collect data ( may include assessments)
Are they signed up with DDSD?? Or Medicaid?? (the earlier the better. )

Max 60 days from Application to Eligibility
Eligibility

Review of medical and psychological data
Looking for documentation of disability with signatures.

Max 90 days from Eligibility to IPE

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IPE DEVELOPMENT/ SERVICE PROVISION

Determine

Career Goal
Pre-ETS
Information and Referral
Coordination with other service providers (school, MH counselors, disability agencies ie: DDSD)
Specific Disability related services
Training/job try-outs/summer opportunities/informational interviews.
Job development and placement
Job coaching
Follow-along

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EMPLOYMENT / +90

Competitive Integrated Employment–They are satisfied with the job and employer is satisfied with the worker and the job is stable.

Once the transition from DVR funding to Long Term support funding occurs DVR monitors for 90+ days to ensure the transition to LTS is successful(Extended Services)

When the Supported Employment (job coaching, personal services) transitions to the long-term service provider--- DD Waiver/ Mi Via Waiver/ Medicaid- Community Benefit Program, etc .
DVR monitors for 90 days.

DVR closes the case when they are satisfied with the job and employer is satisfied with the worker and the job is stable.

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Difficulty with Referrals

Without a Release of Information

DVR cannot talk to the school personnel
if the individuals have filled out a referral
If they have completed the application or not
Have shown up – or not
If the phone number or email has/has not resulted in a contact from the student/parent/ guardian

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NM is an Employment First State

Federal Regulation added to the DD Waiver Standards for Employment First 3/2018
Job development services through the DD Waiver can only be accessed when the services are not otherwise available to the beneficiary under either special education and related services as defined in section 602(16) and (17) of the Education of the Handicapped Act (20 U.S.C.1401 (16) and (17) or vocational rehabilitation services available to the individual through a program funded under section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 730).

DDSD is the payer of last resort for Job Development Services.

Schools pay first, then DVR, then DDSD

DVR requires the individual to have Long term Support available.