12.1 Scope of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

As appropriate to the vocational rehabilitation needs of each individual and consistent with each individual’s informed choice, DVR shall ensure that vocational rehabilitation services are available to assist the individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, advancing in, or regaining an employment outcome. The employment outcome shall be consistent with the individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

Except for assessment services necessary to determine eligibility, severity of disability, and vocational rehabilitation needs, all vocational services and goods shall be identified in the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), amended IPE, Business Exploration Agreement (BEA), or Trial Work Experience Plan. Services and goods shall be provided no longer than is required to accomplish the service objective leading to the employment outcome. Qualified providers shall be used and services and goods shall be provided in the most integrated settings possible, as appropriate and consistent with informed choice. The service record shall include the rationale for the use of any non-integrated setting if used.

When determining vocational services and goods that shall be provided, DVR shall first determine if the service is necessary and then identify the most appropriate option. Once necessity and appropriateness of a service or good have been determined, DVR staff shall procure the service/good at the least possible cost.

All of the services and goods provided by DVR shall be determined by the DVR Counselor to be essential to assess an individual’s eligibility and severity of disability, to establish their vocational rehabilitation needs, to overcome or circumvent vocational impediments, and to attain the individual’s chosen employment outcome.

Each necessary vocational rehabilitation service and good shall be suitable and of sufficient quality to fully meet the individual’s particular needs and circumstances. To be considered appropriate, the access to or use of a service or good shall not require sacrifices or adjustments that would not be reasonably expected of an individual who does not have a disability.

All services and goods that have been determined to be necessary and appropriate shall be procured at the least possible cost to DVR insofar as they are adequate to meet the needs of the individual. Services and goods shall be planned and authorized according to DVR policies regarding financial participation and use of comparable benefits and resources; these will also be consistent with DVR contracts, provider standards and agreements, and compliant with the DVR fee schedule and the purchasing rules and regulations of the State of Colorado. The DVR Counselor will first check the State Price Agreements to determine if there is a vendor available that meets the needs of the individual.

https://www.bidscolorado.com/co/portal.nsf/xpPriceAgreementsByCategory.xsp

All services and goods provided to an individual shall meet the vocational rehabilitation needs of the individual and be at the least possible cost to DVR. When an individual chooses a more expensive service or good from among alternatives that all fully meet the individual’s vocational rehabilitation needs, DVR shall not be responsible for those costs in excess of the least costly alternative.

Equipment valued at $5,000 or more purchased by DVR for use by a recipient of services shall remain the property of the State of Colorado until successful closure from DVR occurs. When such items are issued to the individual, the service record shall contain the individual’s written acknowledgment of state ownership using the agency form established for this purpose. Individual items making a comprehensive unit of equipment are valued as a full unit rather than individual pieces (e.g., if the total value of a toolset including various hand and power tools, such as wrenches, pliers, hammers, drills, saws, etc., and the toolbox to store the tools exceeds $5,000, state ownership applies). Consumable goods valued at less than $5,000 are exempt from state ownership, including recovery.

While DVR is restricted from purchasing vehicles licensed to operate on public thoroughfares, DVR may at times assist with the purchase of equipment required to be titled and registered in the State of Colorado, such as trailers and UTVs. When DVR purchases equipment of this nature, the State of Colorado holds the title until successful closure, when the title will be transferred to the individual. The individual shall be responsible for all costs associated with insuring the equipment and will provide proof of insurance to DVR. The DVR Counselor shall contact DVR’s Finance and Operations Unit for technical assistance prior to authorizing the purchase.

Upon termination of an individual’s plan for employment that does not result in a successful vocational rehabilitation outcome, the individual shall be requested, in writing, to return any state-owned equipment in accordance with the established procedure. Recovery is limited to equipment with a fair market value of $5,000 or more at the time of termination of the IPE. Fair market value shall be established by DVR’s Finance Manager.

Recovered equipment shall be re-issued to other recipients of services who require the equipment to achieve their employment outcomes. Documentation of re-issued items shall be placed in the service record of the individual from whom state-owned equipment was recovered, as well in the record of the individual to whom it is being reissued.