Applying for OVR Individual Services
The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis.
Students do not need to be IU students to qualify for this service. Any student with a disability is eligible
If you have questions please call Dave Wolfe at 814-512-6507 or dwolfe@riu6.org.
Updated 4/14/21
For Pre-ETS services teachers that have students in their Junior or Senior year should follow the steps below to help them apply for individual services. Students may apply as early as the summer before their Junior year.
For Pre-ETS services teachers that have students in their Junior or Senior year should follow the steps below to help them apply for individual services. Students may apply as early as the summer before their Junior year.
Step 1
Step 1
Send home a release form found HERE.
Send home a release form found HERE.
If you are applying for an IU student Please send a copy of the completed release to Cindy so she can add it to the students Google Drive Portfolio. ( The student does not have to be an IU student to participate. Any student with a disability is eligible. If you are not an IU student there is no need to send anything to Cindy )
If you are applying for an IU student Please send a copy of the completed release to Cindy so she can add it to the students Google Drive Portfolio. ( The student does not have to be an IU student to participate. Any student with a disability is eligible. If you are not an IU student there is no need to send anything to Cindy )
If the student attends school in Venango County, or is working with Kathy Wellman, please contact her once you have received the completed release. kwellman@pa.gov She will then coordinate a meeting with the student and family. There is no need for these individuals to move on to Step 2.
If the student attends school in Venango County, or is working with Kathy Wellman, please contact her once you have received the completed release. kwellman@pa.gov She will then coordinate a meeting with the student and family. There is no need for these individuals to move on to Step 2.
If the student attends school in Clarion County, or is working with Melody Troup, you CANNOT proceed to Step 2 until you have received the completed release.
If the student attends school in Clarion County, or is working with Melody Troup, you CANNOT proceed to Step 2 until you have received the completed release.
Step 2
Step 2
NEW- Be sure to include somewhere on the online application the teachers name, type of classroom ( LS, LSS, Autistic support etc.,) and classroom location
NEW- Be sure to include somewhere on the online application the teachers name, type of classroom ( LS, LSS, Autistic support etc.,) and classroom location
Have the student fill our an online application by following the written directions found HERE A link to the Job Gateway in within the document or can be found HERE ( A video showing how to fill out the online application can be found by clicking HERE or see the video at the bottom of this page)
Have the student fill our an online application by following the written directions found HERE A link to the Job Gateway in within the document or can be found HERE ( A video showing how to fill out the online application can be found by clicking HERE or see the video at the bottom of this page)
**NEW** When completing the online application, please include the teacher’s name, type of classroom ( LS, LSS, Autistic support etc.), and classroom location.
**NEW** When completing the online application, please include the teacher’s name, type of classroom ( LS, LSS, Autistic support etc.), and classroom location.
Following-Up
Following-Up
Please do not just send a single email to follow-up with the OVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. If you have not heard back, you should follow-up with a phone call or contact your School to Work Coordinator, Dave Wolfe, dwolfe@riu6.org.
Please do not just send a single email to follow-up with the OVR Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. If you have not heard back, you should follow-up with a phone call or contact your School to Work Coordinator, Dave Wolfe, dwolfe@riu6.org.
Counselors have their own policies for scheduling initial appointments, and need to get all necessary paperwork signed, so that they can accept a case.
Counselors have their own policies for scheduling initial appointments, and need to get all necessary paperwork signed, so that they can accept a case.
It is our job as educators to initiate this contact. As with many of our other transition activities, we can add this to our transition grids, and use it as evidence for Chapter 339.
It is our job as educators to initiate this contact. As with many of our other transition activities, we can add this to our transition grids, and use it as evidence for Chapter 339.
IEPs
IEPs
Counselors are not always able to attend IEP meetings, but will as their schedule permits. However, they should be invited to all IEP meetings for students in 11th and 12th grades.
Counselors are not always able to attend IEP meetings, but will as their schedule permits. However, they should be invited to all IEP meetings for students in 11th and 12th grades.
The Early Reach Coordinator, Bridget Rizzardi, should be invited to all IEPS for students who are 14 or older and not yet in their junior year of high school. She can be contacted at brizzardi@pa.gov.
The Early Reach Coordinator, Bridget Rizzardi, should be invited to all IEPS for students who are 14 or older and not yet in their junior year of high school. She can be contacted at brizzardi@pa.gov.
FAQ
FAQ
Who should be opening an individual case with OVR?
Who should be opening an individual case with OVR?
Students in their Junior or Senior year of high school. If the students is attending school until they are 21, they should be referred when they are two years away from graduation.
Students in their Junior or Senior year of high school. If the students is attending school until they are 21, they should be referred when they are two years away from graduation.
When sending the counselor the completed release, should I provide the IEP?
When sending the counselor the completed release, should I provide the IEP?
Yes, for students opening an individual case with OVR, the IEP will be needed for the initial appointment with the OVR counselor.
Yes, for students opening an individual case with OVR, the IEP will be needed for the initial appointment with the OVR counselor.
For OVR group services or Early Reach Services, the IEP does not need to be included with the release.
For OVR group services or Early Reach Services, the IEP does not need to be included with the release.
To refer a student for Early Reach services have the parent complete and return This Release Form.
To refer a student for Early Reach services have the parent complete and return This Release Form.