12- 150 C.M.R. ch. 101, § 7

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 150-101-7 - INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT (IPE)

1.Elements of an IPE

An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) shall be agreed upon and signed by the individual with a visual impairment and, as appropriate, the authorized representative of the individual and the DBVI VR counselor within a counseling and guidance relationship. The IPE shall be designed to achieve competitive integrated employment for the individual, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capacities, career interests and informed choice of the individual. The case record must support the selection of the vocational goal. DBVI VRcounselors shall provide a copy of the IPE and any amendments to the eligible individual. DBVI VR goods and services may only be provided in accordance with the IPE. The IPE is not a legal contract between the DBVI VR program and the eligible individual. Individuals shall receive written notification of appeal rights, including the name and address of the person with whom an appeal may be filed, and the availability of the Client Assistance Program during IPE development and whenever DBVI VR services are reduced, suspended, or terminated.

2.Standards for Development and Review of the IPE

The Individualized Plan for Employment must be developed as soon as possible, but not later than 90 days after the date of determination of eligibility, unless the DBVI and the eligible individual agree to the extension of that deadline to a specific date by which the individualized plan for employment must be completed.

3.Options for Developing an IPE

The eligible individual, and the individual's representative, will be provided information on the individual's options for developing the IPE. DBVI will not pay for an agency or a representative to develop an IPE. The options for developing all or part of the IPE include the following:

A. With assistance from a DBVI VR counselor, to the extent determined to be appropriate by the individual;

B. With technical assistance from the DBVI VR Program or other representatives selected by the individual; or C. The individual alone without assistance.

4.Required Components of an IPE

Regardless of the approach selected by an eligible individual to develop an IPE, the IPE shall include the following:

A. A specific vocational goal, which must be based on the assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs, including the individual's career interests, and must be in an integrated setting.

Students or youth with a disability may use a projected goal.

B. A description of the specific vocational rehabilitation services that are:

(1) needed to achieve the vocational goal, including, as appropriate, the provision of assistive technology services and personal assistance services, including training in the management of such services; and

(2) provided in the most integrated setting that is appropriate for the service involved and consistent with the informed choice of the eligible individual; and

(3) timeliness for the achievement of the employment outcome and for the initiation of the services.

C. A description of the entity chosen by the individual, or as appropriate, the individual's representative that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods used to procure such services.

D. A description of the criteria to be used to evaluate the progress toward achievement of the employment outcome.

E. The terms and conditions of the IPE, including, as appropriate, information describing:

(1) the responsibilities of DBVI;

(2) the responsibilities that the eligible individual will assume in relation to the vocational goal; and

(3) the responsibility of the individual with regard to applying for and securing comparable benefits.

F. For individuals for whom an employment outcome in a supported employment setting has been determined to be appropriate, information identifying:

(1) the extended services needed by the eligible individual after closure;

(2) the source of extended services or, to the extent that the source of extended services cannot be identified at the time of the development of the IPE, a description of the basis for concluding that there is a reasonable expectation that such source will become available.

G. If determined to be necessary, a statement of projected need for post-employment services.

H. An assurance that the eligible individual with disabilities has been informed of his/her rights and the means by which the individual may express and seek remedy for any dissatisfaction, including the opportunity for a review of the rehabilitation determination, as described in this chapter; and assurance that the eligible individual with disabilities has been provided a detailed explanation of the availability of the resources within the Client Assistance Program.

12- 150 C.M.R. ch. 101, § 7