Rehabilitation technology must be provided only when necessary for an individual with a disability to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in or regain competitive integrated employment that is consistent with the individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.
Rehabilitation technology is provided when needed to assist an individual to achieve the employment goal established in the person’s Employment Plan and when necessary to allow an applicant or eligible individual to complete an assessment to determine eligibility or vocational rehabilitation needs.
Rehabilitation technology means the systematic application of technologies, engineering methodologies, or scientific principles to meet the needs of, and address the barriers confronted by, individuals with disabilities in areas that include education, rehabilitation, employment, transportation, independent living, and recreation. The term includes rehabilitation engineering, assistive technology devices, and assistive technology services.
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Rehabilitation engineering means the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas, such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community.
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Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
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Assistive technology service means any service that directly assists a person with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
When rehabilitation technology with an anticipated cost exceeding $5,000 is being considered, the Vocational Rehabilitation Services counselor must consult with and receive approval from their supervisor prior to arranging for related assessment services or including these services on the Employment Plan. This consultation and approval must be documented by the supervisor in Workforce One case notes.
Before including any rehabilitation technologies with an anticipated cumulative cost over the Authority for Local Purchase (ALP) level on an employment plan, the agency Assistive Technology Specialist must be consulted.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Services counselor must consult with a supervisor and a Field Operations Specialist (FOS) prior to arranging any home modification assessment services involving construction/remodeling or including these services on the Employment Plan.
If rehabilitation technology is anticipated to accomplish work tasks, these services should not be purchased until a job is obtained and the needs on a specific job are known. It is not purchased in anticipation of a placement.
The agency will provide the least costly rehabilitation technology that will meet the employment needs of the individual. For purchases over ALP, this determination will be made by the agency Assistive Technology Specialist. In instances when a person owns the equipment to be adapted/modified, the agency will provide the least costly adaptation/modification for that item.
CFP applies to rehabilitation technology except when an item of rehabilitation technology is also an auxiliary aid for effective communication or is required for assessment.
Rehabilitation technology is exempt from a comparable benefit search. However, comparable benefits must be used when they are known to be available.
Through appropriate modes of communication, each applicant and recipient of VR services must be given the information necessary to make informed choices. Individuals who need help in exercising informed choice must be made aware that support services are available.
As appropriate, services can be obtained from either an in-state or out-of-state provider. If a person chooses an out-of-state provider at a higher cost than an in-state provider, if either provider would meet the individual’s rehabilitation needs, Vocational Rehabilitation Services is not responsible for those costs in excess of the cost of the in-state service.
Exceptions to the rehabilitation technology policies may be requested from the Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services or a designee when there are unique rehabilitation needs that cannot be met.
Vehicle Modifications
Modifications to a vehicle can be provided only when needed to assist an individual to achieve the employment goal established in the person’s Employment Plan.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will not modify a vehicle if public transportation, including paratransit, is available and will allow the person to achieve their approved employment goal.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will only use vendors of structural modifications who agree to adhere to the guidelines of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA).
When modifications to a vehicle with an anticipated cost exceeding $5,000 are being considered, the Vocational Rehabilitation Services counselor must consult with and receive approval from their supervisor prior to arranging for driving related assessment services or including these services on the Employment Plan. This consultation and approval must be documented by the supervisor in Workforce One case notes.
Repairs to adaptive equipment are considered rehabilitation technology.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will only assist individuals with the modification of vehicles owned by the person. The person must show proof of ownership.
The agency must only purchase vehicle adaptations that have not been previously owned, except that the agency may purchase used vehicle adaptive equipment if the following conditions are met:
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The used equipment must be evaluated for its operational reliability by a person knowledgeable in modifying vehicles for individuals with disabilities. The person who does the evaluation cannot be the vendor selling the used equipment or a person employed by that vendor. A copy of the evaluation must be submitted to Vocational Rehabilitation Services staff.
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The Used Vehicle Modification Worksheet must be completed by the Vocational Rehabilitation Technology Specialist when considering purchasing used equipment to calculate the amount Vocational Rehabilitation will contribute.
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If the used equipment is not functioning properly it must first be repaired before any agency contribution can be made toward the purchase of that equipment.
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Vocational Rehabilitation Services will contribute toward the purchase of only the used equipment that is specified on the Vehicle Modification Specification form as being necessary for the person to operate (if the person is the driver), enter, ride safely and exit a vehicle.
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The cost of the used equipment, including the cost of removing the used equipment from the vehicle where it is currently installed and installing it in the vehicle being modified, must be less than the cost of purchasing and installing new equipment.
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The dealer of the used equipment must provide Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the individual with a written warranty. In that warranty, the vendor must agree to pay the cost of the parts and the labor necessary to repair or replace the used equipment if the used equipment malfunctions or is found to be defective, for a period of at least six months after installation in the person’s vehicle. The provision of a warranty must be included on the bid specifications (if bids are required). When purchasing from a private party, the seller must produce a current inspection of the modifications by an independent vendor in lieu of a 6 month warranty.
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The purchase of the used equipment must comply with the applicable bidding and purchasing requirements of the Department of Administration, Materials Management Division.
The agency will provide the least costly vehicle modifications that will facilitate the mechanical ability to operate the vehicle. Least costly will be determined by an evaluation by a qualified driver specialist who meets the qualifications necessary to apply for ADED certification, the certification of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists, or similar organization and by obtaining bids.
If the vehicle is being modified so that the individual can drive the vehicle, only the minimum equipment needed by the person to effectively enter, exit and drive the vehicle will be purchased by Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Vehicle modifications are changes made to the structure or control devices of a motor vehicle so that an individual with a disability can enter, exit and operate the vehicle, if the person is the driver. An evaluation of the person’s needs is required. To avoid a conflict of interest, the evaluation must be done by someone who is not a vendor of vehicle modifications. Any modifications purchased by Vocational Rehabilitation Services must be consistent with the findings of the evaluation as identified on the VRS Specifications form.
If the individual will be driving the vehicle, the following are required prior to the purchase of any modifications:
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A pre-driving evaluation, if the person has not previously driven a modified vehicle, or if the individual’s physical or cognitive conditions have changed since they last drove a modified vehicle. In addition, if for any reason either the individual or the counselor is unsure about the person’s physical or cognitive ability to drive, a pre-driving evaluation is required. The pre-driving evaluation must be conducted by an occupational or physical therapist. The therapist must have experience and training in the area of driver’s assessment or have a minimum of one year full-time experience in the evaluation and treatment of adults with cognitive and physical limitations.
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A behind the wheel driver evaluation conducted by a qualified driver specialist who meets the qualifications necessary to apply for ADED certification, the certification of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. The qualified driver specialist need not be certified by ADED but must meet the same qualifications.
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Successful completion of any training recommended by the evaluator, using a vehicle equipped with the recommended modifications. Training must be provided by a vendor licensed by the Department of Public Safety.
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Possession of a valid driver’s license, with re-testing if the license was obtained prior to the onset of disability.
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The VR participant and the agency Assistive Technology Specialist must sign the Acknowledgment and Agreement section of the VRS Vehicle Modifications Guide.
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Effective July 1, 2023, all Consumer Financial Participation (CFP) Policies are temporarily rescinded until further notice. The strikethrough in the text above is intentional due to the temporary nature of the CFP Policy lift.