8.4 Adjustment Training

Work adjustment training (WAT) is provided to help individuals with disabilities adjust behavior and/or develop compensatory skills in vocational areas, such as peer work relationships, supervisory work relationships, general work behaviors and expectations, and work habits.

Includes training to improve an individual's interpersonal skills to the degree necessary to engage in employment. WAT is provided to individuals in integrated community settings to the maximum extent possible.

(Procedure codes 21050-01, 21050-02)

Monthly Payment Rate

• 30+ hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $630.00 per month

• Covers all costs for WAT, including preparation of periodic written reports

Payment Rate for Partial Months

• 1-29 hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $21.00 per hour

• Covers all costs for WAT, including preparation of periodic written reports

(Procedure codes 21000-01, 21000-02, 21000-03, 21000-04)

This  WAT is delivered directly to the individual at real workplace settings, including on-site training at transitional employment sites within the community.

Monthly Payment Rate

• 30+ hours per month

• Individual instruction (1-3 individuals): Up to $1,950.00

• Group instruction (4-6 individuals): Up to $960.00 per individual

• Covers all costs for WAT, including preparation of periodic written reports

Payment Rate for Partial Months

• 1-29 hours per month

• Individual instruction (1-3 individuals): Up to $65.00 per hour

• Group Instruction (4-6 individuals): Up to $32.00 per hour, per individual

• Covers all costs for WAT, including preparation of periodic written reports 

(Procedure code 21110-00)

The purchase of a software or application license needed to provide WAT directly to the individual using a digital platform.

Payment Rate: Lowest available usual and customary rate charged to other individuals and entities

This code is used for the license only. If additional customization is required, this is authorized at the hourly WAT rate to a qualified provider. This customization may include such as:

• Recording and uploading WAT videos

• Creation and uploading of checklists

• Training and orientation for the individual to use the software or application independently

(Procedure codes 21000-05, 21000-06)

Project SEARCH is a work adjustment training program available to students in the final two semesters of their 18–21-year-old transition program. Project SEARCH participants learn to adjust behaviors and/or develop compensatory skills in vocational areas such as peer work relationships, supervisory work relationships, general work behaviors and expectations, and work habits necessary to work in competitive integrated employment. Students also receive training to improve their interpersonal skills to the degree necessary to engage in competitive integrated employment.

Requirements

• Service providers must be licensed by Project SEARCH; and

• All services must be provided in an integrated community setting.

Service providers are expected to:

• Assist with student recruitment activities;

• Link the host business’ human resources staff and Project SEARCH instructor to identify internship opportunities for participants, examine existing open positions to determine if appropriate for participants, and perform job analyses;

• Participate in team meetings to report progress to team partners, including parents;

• Assist with classroom setup, curriculum development, and worksite rotation planning;

• Train participants at the worksite in vocational skills, provide worksite orientation, monitor the individual and assess the participant’s progress towards developing compensatory skills in vocational areas;

• Coordinate or provide services, during or outside of the academic calendar, at or away from the worksite, to promote success at the worksite;

• Direct individual and group services in alignment with the participant’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) to assist the student to develop a career pathway and achieve competitive integrated employment;

• Educate and train the host business employees regarding the creation of natural supports in the workplace, how to work with individuals with disabilities, and assist with implementing necessary accommodations; 

• Develop competitive integrated employment opportunities in the community;

NOTE: Please reference Chapter 15, “Supported Employment Services,” for information about job search and development services; and

• Link students to appropriate long-term service provider(s).

In addition,

• Individuals participating in Project SEARCH are limited to no more than two semesters in the program without DVR Supervisory approval.

• Following each semester, the Project SEARCH WAT is evaluated to determine whether the student is ready and chooses to move towards competitive integrated employment.

• Project SEARCH WATs are not to be used with other DVR incentives such as Paid Work Experience, On-the-Job Training, or Employment Stipend.

Payment Rate

• Up to $1,950.00 monthly

• $487.50 per week when school is not in session; prorated for partial months

• Covers all costs for all components of the program, including preparation of periodic written reports

This is training provided to help individuals with disabilities develop compensatory skills and/or to adjust behavior in the areas of independent living, communications, homemaking, personal mobility, and ability to travel in the community, and personal functioning.

(Procedure codes 21250-01, 21250-02)

Monthly Payment Rate

• 30+ hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $480.00 per month

• Includes use of assistive technology devices necessary for the individual to participate in the training program

• Covers all costs for the training, including preparation of periodic written reports

Payment Rate for Partial Months

• 1-29 hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $16.00 per hour

• Includes use of assistive technology devices necessary for the individual to participate in the training program

• Covers all costs for the training, including preparation of periodic written reports

(Procedure codes 21200-01, 21200-02)

Monthly Payment Rate

• 30+ hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $1950.00

• Covers all costs for instruction, including preparation of monthly written reports

Payment Rate for Partial Months

• 1-29 hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $65.00 per hour

• Covers all costs for instruction, including preparation of monthly written reports

(Procedure codes 21370-02)

Transportation training is instruction to help an individual develop or relearn skills and concepts to travel safely and independently within the home and the community.

Payment Rate

• $65.00 per hour and can ONLY be provided one-on-one

• Covers instructional costs for all components of transportation training, including preparation of periodic written reports

(Procedure code 21350-01)

Monthly Payment Rate

• Up to $4400.00

• Includes all costs required for vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility, communications training, braille instruction, daily living skills training, basic computer orientation, home maintenance instruction, instruction in personal management, social development, self-esteem building, and adjustment to blindness

• Includes the use of assistive technology devices necessary for the individual to participate in the training program

• Covers costs associated with the preparation of periodic written reports

(Procedure codes 21300-01, 21300-02)

Monthly Payment Rate

• 30+ hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $4,500

• Covers instructional costs for all components of a vision rehabilitation therapy program and/or mobility training, including the preparation of periodic written reports

Payment Rate for Partial Months

• 1-29 hours of direct on-site instruction to an individual

• Up to $150.00 per hour

• Covers instructional costs for all components of a vision rehabilitation therapy program and/or mobility training, including preparation of periodic written reports

(Procedure code 21600-00)

The purchase of a software or application license needed to provide PAT directly to the individual using a digital platform.

• Payment Rate

• Lowest available usual and customary rate charged to other individuals and entities

• This code is used for the license only. If additional customization is required, this is authorized at the hourly PAT rate to a qualified provider. This customization may include such as:

  • Recording and uploading WAT videos

  • Creation and uploading of checklists

  • Training and orientation for the individual to use the software or application independently

(Procedure codes 21600-01, 21600-02)

Cognitive Training is training in the development of cognitive skills to improve attention, memory, and problem solving.

• Cognitive Skills Training ( CPT 97127) $50.00 per 15 minutes

• Sensory Integration (CPT 97533) $78.30 per 15 minutes

(Procedure code 21090-01)

Students enrolled in Inclusive or Supported Higher Education programs receive additional academic, social, and vocational support on campus and in the community beyond what is typically available to students enrolled at the institution of higher education. The additional services are intended to prepare the student for success within competitive integrated employment and greater independence after completing the program. This fee does not include tuition or other standard institution-based fees.

Services are individualized to meet the needs of each student and may include training in the following areas:

• Career Guidance

• Communication and interpersonal relationships

• Independent living

• Critical thinking and decision making

• Time and task management

• Use of public transportation or other independent travel

• Self-advocacy

• Employer expectations and general work behaviors

• Other similar skills necessary for employment success

Requirements

• Students must be enrolled in a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), Transition and Post-Secondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) approved program, or a program that was developed through TPSID funding. All programs must continue to maintain Model Accreditation Standards for Higher Education Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability as outlined in the Think College National Coordinating Center Accreditation Workgroup May 2021 Report.

• The program must be identified on the student’s IPE as a necessary service to achieve the employment outcome;

• Services must be provided directly by the CTP or TPSID;

• Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in academic courses, as well as skills training, for DVR support to continue

• Individual must be enrolled in a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), or Transition and Post-Secondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) approved program identified on his or her IPE as a necessary service to achieve the employment outcome;

• Services must be provided directly by the CTP or TPSID;

• All services must be provided in an integrated community setting; and

• Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in academic courses, as well as skills training, for DVR support to continue.

Service providers are expected to:

• Support the student through academic advising to ensure courses and work experiences are aligned with identified employment outcome on the student’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE);

• Assist the student to advocate for themselves through person-centered planning and principles of self-determination, providing support as needed;

• Partner with DVR to identify on- and off-campus work-based learning experiences;

• Train students during paid and unpaid work experiences in vocational skills, monitor the individual and assess their progress towards developing compensatory skills in vocational areas;

• Coordinate or provide necessary support services at or away from the work experience site to promote student success (e.g., travel training, as necessary);

• Educate and train work experience sites regarding natural supports in the workplace, how to work with individuals with disabilities, and implementing necessary accommodations;

• Link students to appropriate long-term service provider(s) in coordination with DVR; and

• Provide monthly progress reports demonstrating student progress in developing skills necessary for success in competitive integrated employment.

Restrictions

• Individuals participating in inclusive or supported higher education are limited to

• no more than eight semesters without DVR Supervisory approval.

• Inclusive/Supported Higher Education, Skills Training, is not to be combined with other similar training services: Work Adjustment Training, Personal Adjustment Training, and Site Setup Fee.

• Inclusive and Supported Higher Education programs may charge an additional programmatic fee to provide further social and academic support. This fee is not payable by DVR.

Payment Rate

• Usual and customary rate, not to exceed $3000.00 per semester

• Covers all costs for all components of the program, including preparation of periodic written reports