Summary of DVR/DVS proposed policy revisions Submitted September 29, 2017 612:1-5-2. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The policy is updated to remove the reference to an Independent Living Program no longer operated by the Division, and to remove references to specific units and program areas that are changeable and provide only a partial coverage of Division activities. As amended, the policy will provide a broad description of Division purpose, scope and structure. 612:1-5-3. Division of Visual Services. Wording is added to clarify that DVS may serve individuals with sight threatening progressive conditions or functional limitations due to sight loss, in addition to individuals who are blind or have severe visual impairments. 612:1-7-3. Relationships with state boards: ex officio representation from the Department. The proposed changes update statutory references, remove descriptive material that no longer matches current law, and revise the description of the relationship between DRS and the SILC to reflect changes in federal law (WIOA). 612:1-7-4. Relationships with federal officials. The policy describes DRS relationships with major federal agencies and programs. The proposed changes update agency and program names, remove obsolete references, and remove extraneous descriptive language. 612:10-1-2. Definitions. Two definitions are updated to reflect WIOA changes. 612:10-3-5. Basic living requirements. The proposed change lowers the family income level above which a VR client will be required to participate in the cost of services. 612:10-7-24.3. Trial work. This policy is updated to reflect WIOA?s elimination of ?extended evaluation? for use in determining if a person is able to benefit from VR services in terms of an employment outcome, when the severity of the disability places the ability to benefit from VR in question. The revised policy, as in WIOA, specifies that trial work experiences in competitive integrated employment situations will be used to make this type of determination. 612:10-7-24.5. Closed ? Not Accepted for Services. The proposed revision removes lack of transportation (?transportation not feasible or available?) as a reason to close a case or not accept an applicant for services. References to ?extended evaluation? are removed to conform to federal law, which in 2014 eliminated use of extended evaluation as a means to determine if a disability is too severe to permit benefit from VR services. (Note: Trial work experiences are now used for this purpose.) 612:10-7-45. Case statuses and case flow. Removal of term ?extended evaluation? consistent with elimination of this element in the Rehabilitation Act. 612:10-7-58. Closed rehabilitated. The proposed change deletes reference to VR cases closed as Homemakers or as Unpaid Family Workers, to conform to Rehabilitation Act (WIOA) 2014 amendments which eliminated VR ability to serve individuals choosing to become homemakers or choosing to work in a family business without monetary compensation. 612:10-7-201. Rehabilitation teaching services. The proposed change clarifies that teachers may serve individuals with severe visual impairments in addition to individuals who are legally blind. 612:10-9-1. Philosophy and scope of program (rehabilitation teaching). Clarifies that Rehabilitation Teaching services may be provided to persons with severe visual impairments in addition to persons who are legally blind. 612:10-9-2. Consumer rights. The proposed change updates policy wording as necessary to indicate Rehabilitation Teachers no longer manage Homemaker employment cases, but clients retain the right to participate in development of their plans of services to be provided through the Rehabilitation Teaching Program. 612:10-9-3. Rehabilitation Teacher?s role. The option to manage Homemaker cases is deleted to reflect the Rehab Act?s elimination of Homemaker as an employment outcome. Another change clarifies that Rehabilitation Teacher services may be provided to individuals who are legally blind or have severe visual impairments. 612:10-9-13. Case recording. The proposed change removes duplicate wording. 612:10-9-15. Case status. This policy is revoked, along with following case status policies, since management of Homemaker cases is no longer a function of the Rehab Teacher due to the Rehab Act?s elimination of Homemaker as an acceptable employment outcome for the VR program. 612:10-9-17 612:10-9-18 612:10-9-19 612:10-9-20 612:10-9-21 612:10-9-22 612:10-9-24 612:10-9-25 612:10-9-26 All status policies are revoked since Teachers no longer manage Homemaker cases due to Rehab Act elimination of Homemaker as an acceptable employment outcome for the VR program. (Note: Rehabilitation Teachers continue to work joint cases with DVS counselors and also manage and serve Older Blind Independent Living cases.) 612:10-9-33, Communication. The policy title is changed to ?Communication skills? to more accurately reflect the type of services provided in this category. 612:10-9-34. Personal management. The title of this policy is changed to ?Personal management skills? to better describe policy content. 612:10-9-34.2. Indoor mobility. The title is modified to more accurately depict the scope of this service type. The title is changed to ?Mobility within home environment.? 612:10-9-34.3. Other adaptive skills. It is proposed the policy be revoked as outdated, vague and unnecessary. 612:10-9-35. Home management. Proposed changes identify the general types of adaptive skills that are taught to enable a client to function safely and effectively in kitchen duties. Terms are updated. 612:10-9-37. Referral for support services. The proposed revisions update terminology and program names. 612:10-9-38. Vocational rehabilitation. This policy describes the role of Instructional services staff in VR employment cases. The proposed changes update terminology, clarify current practice, and clarify that instructional services are available not only to blind clients but also to those with significant visual impairments. Proposed revisions also clarify that Rehabilitation Teachers, Orientation & Mobility Specialists and other specialists may be involved in providing instructional services. 612:10-13-16. Evaluation. This policy deals with evaluation of interpreter skills for the purpose of certification. It is amended to clarify elements in the interpreter evaluation process. Note that proposed ITS revision is also presented here, but will be separately approved and posted using the agency?s procedure for ITS approval. 612:10-13-17. Evaluation team. The policy revises the composition of the interpreter evaluation team and qualifications for team members. 612:10-13-18. Fees. The proposed change raises the fee for interpreter performance evaluation from $100 to $125 to cover costs of the evaluation. The yearly certification maintenance fee is raised from $40 to $50, also for the purpose of covering certification program costs. A certification reinstatement fee of $100 is established. 612:10-13-20. Certification maintenance. Proposed amendments to this policy modify certain interpreter certification maintenance provisions and clarify the process for maintaining and renewing certification.