Section 3 / Part 1
Effective Date: April 26, 2005
Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
Synopsis of federal regulation
Rehabilitation Services (RS) must assure that an IPE is developed and
implemented in a timely manner for each individual determined eligible
for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services or, if RS is operating under
an Order of Selection, for each eligible individual who can be served.
(RS policy: The IPE shall be developed as soon as is reasonably possible,
but no later than 120 days after determination of eligibility. This timeline
may be extended with the agreement of the client.)
Services will be provided in accordance with the provisions of the IPE.
RS must conduct an assessment for determining VR needs for each eligible
individual or, if operating under an Order of Selection, for each eligible
individual for whom RS is able to provide services. The purpose of this
assessment is to determine the employment outcome, and the nature and
scope of VR services to be included in the IPE.
The IPE must be designed to achieve a specific employment outcome that
is selected by the individual consistent with the individual's unique
strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests,
and informed choice.
Employment outcome means entering or retaining full-time, or
if appropriate, part-time competitive employment in the integrated labor
market, supported employment, or any other type of employment in an integrated
setting, including self-employment, telecommuting or business ownership.
Competitive employment means work in the competitive labor market
that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting,
and for which an individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage,
but not less that the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the
employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are
not disabled.
The eligible individual, or as appropriate, the individual's representative,
may develop all or part of the IPE without assistance from RS or any other
entity, or with assistance from a qualified VR counselor employed by RS,
a qualified VR counselor not employed by RS, or other resources.
RS must provide the following information to each eligible individual
(or representative) in the appropriate mode of communication:
Information to assist the individual or representative in developing
the IPE.
Information describing the full range of components that must
be included in the IPE.
An explanation for determining the individual's financial commitments
under the IPE.
Information on assistance to complete the required forms.
Additional information that the individual or representative
requests.
A description of the individual's rights and the appeal process.
Information about the availability of the Client Assistance Program
(CAP).
RS must assure that:
The IPE is a written document.
The IPE is developed and implemented in a manner that gives the
eligible individual opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting
the employment outcome, the settings in which services will be provided,
the entity or entities that will provide VR services and the methods for
procuring services.
The IPE is agreed to and signed by the eligible individual, or
as appropriate, by the individual’s representative.
The IPE is approved and signed by a qualified VR counselor employed
by RS.
A copy of the IPE and a copy of any amendments to the IPE are
provided to the eligible individual, or the individual’s representative
if appropriate. Copies are provided in the native language or mode of
communication of the individual or representative.
The IPE is reviewed at least annually by a qualified VR counselor
and the eligible individual (or representative) to assess the individual’s
progress in achieving the identified employment outcome.
The IPE is amended as necessary by the individual (or representative)
in collaboration with a qualified VR counselor employed by RS if there
are substantive changes in the employment outcome, the VR services to
be provided, or the providers of the VR services.
Amendments to the IPE do not take effect until agreed to and
signed by the individual (or representative) and by the qualified VR counselor
employed by RS.
An IPE for a student with a disability receiving special education
services is developed in consideration of the student’s Individual
Education Plan.
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Data for preparing the IPE
1. Preparation without comprehensive assessment:
To the extent possible, the employment outcome and the nature
and scope of rehabilitation services to be included in the individual’s
IPE must be determined based on the data used for assessment of eligibility
and priority for services.
2. Preparation based on comprehensive assessment:
If additional data are necessary to determine the employment
outcome and the nature and scope of services to be included in the IPE
of an eligible individual, RS must conduct a comprehensive assessment
of the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities,
interests, and informed choice, including the need for supported employment
services, of an eligible individual, in the most integrated setting possible,
consistent with the informed choice of the individual.
In preparing the comprehensive assessment, RS must use, to the
maximum extent possible and appropriate, existing information that is
current as of the date of the development of the IPE, including: information
available from other programs and providers, particularly information
used by education officials and the Social Security Administration; information
provided by the individual and individual’s family; and information
obtained under the assessment for determining the individual’s eligibility
and VR needs.
The IPE must include:
1. A description of the specific employment outcome that is chosen by
the eligible individual that is consistent with the individual’s
unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities,
career interests, and informed choice.
2. A description of the specific rehabilitation services that are needed
to achieve the employment outcome, including, as appropriate, the provision
of assistive technology devices or services and personal assistance services,
including training in the management of these services. Services must be
provided in the most integrated setting that is appropriate for the services
involved and is consistent with the informed choice of the individual.
3. Timelines for the achievement of the employment outcome and for initiation
of services.
4. A description of the entity or entities chosen by the individual (or
representative) that will provide the VR services, and the methods used
to procure these services.
5. A description of the criteria that will be used to evaluate progress
toward achievement of the employment outcome.
6. The terms and conditions of the IPE, including the rights and responsibilities
of RS and the individual, the extent of the individual’s financial
participation in paying for the cost of services, the responsibility of
the individual regarding applying for and securing comparable benefits,
and the responsibility of other entities.
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Supported employment requirements
The IPE for individuals with the most significant disabilities for whom
an employment outcome in a supported employment setting has been determined
to be appropriate will also contain:
1. A description of the specific supported employment services to be provided
by RS.
2. A description of the specific extended services needed, which may include
natural supports.
3. Identification of the source of extended services, or, to the extent
that it is not possible to identify the source of extended services at the
time the IPE is developed, inclusion of a description of the basis for
concluding that there is a reasonable expectation that those sources will
become available.
4. A provision for periodic monitoring to assure that the individual is
making satisfactory progress toward meeting the weekly work requirement
established in the IPE by the time of transition to extended services.
5. A provision for the coordination of services provided under an IPE
with services provided under other individualized plans established under
other federal or state programs.
6. To the extent that job skills training is provided, a verification
that the training will be provided on site.
7. A provision indicating that placement will be in an integrated setting
for the maximum number of hours possible based on the unique strengths,
resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and
informed choice of an individual with a most significant disability.
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Post-employment services
The IPE for each individual must contain, as determined to be necessary,
statements concerning:
1. The expected need for post employment services prior to closing the
record of services for an individual who has achieved an employment outcome.
2. A description of the terms and conditions for the provision of any
post employment services.
3. If appropriate, a statement of how post-employment services will be
provided through other entities through comparable benefits and services
arrangements.
Coordination of services for students with disabilities who are receiving
special education services
The IPE for a student with a disability who is receiving special education
services must be coordinated with the Individual Education Plan (IEP)
for that individual in terms of the goals, objectives, and services identified
in the IEP.
References: § 361.5, 361.45 , 361.46
Development of the IPE: Counselors will promote the individual's full
involvement and participation in the development of the IPE. The counselor's
role in providing information about and guiding the individual in exploration
of options is critical to supporting informed choice of the individual.
The employment outcome will be emphasized throughout the IPE development
and the rehabilitation process.
Timelines for prompt development of an IPE: Client follow through is a determining
factor in the time needed to develop an IPE. The IPE shall be developed
as soon as is reasonably possible, but no later than 120 days after determination
of eligibility. This timeline may be extended with the agreement of the
client.
Revisions to the IPE: In keeping with federal regulatory guidance stated
above, minor changes to an individual’s program of services do not
have to be recorded in a revision to the IPE. If the client and counselor
agree to a substantive revision of the IPE by phone, the counselor may
note this in the case record and proceed with providing services under
the revised IPE. The client may sign the revised IPE during the next visit
to the office or the revised IPE may be mailed to the client for signature.
Vocational objectives: The vocational objective should be stated with
sufficient specificity to be meaningful to the client considering his
or her level of vocational development and the employment opportunities
available to the person in the local labor market or labor market to which
the person is willing to relocate. Initial goals, particularly for transition
students, may be stated in terms of a particular type of career or industry,
such as clerical work, and subsequently revised as the person focuses
on specific employment goals. If more than one choice is appropriate,
list a vocational objective that is as close as possible. In the narrative
list the other vocational objectives being considered. As the case develops,
if a different vocational objective is more appropriate, the IPE may be
amended. General vocational objectives such as “to be determined”
or “competitive employment” may not be used. If an individual is interested in a vocational objective which requires a license, background check or drug screening test, the ability of the client to meet those requirements must be addressed periodically at appropriate stages of the rehabilitation process, including when the vocational objective is being selected, before development of the IPE is completed (Status 12) and when the client is ready for job placement.
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