Okla. Admin. Code § 612:10-7-142

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 612:10-7-142 - General guidelines for training services

(a)Types of training. Training provided by DVR and DSBVI may include:

(1)Vocational. Vocational training provides the knowledge and skills necessary for performing the tasks involved in an occupation. Such knowledge and skills may be acquired through training from an institution, on-the-job, by tutors or through a combination of these methods. Vocational training may be provided for any occupation.

(2)Prevocational. Prevocational training includes any form of academic or basic training provided for the preparatory skills needed for entrance into a vocational training program or employment. Prevocational training is initiated to enhance occupational knowledge or skills or to remove an educational deficiency interfering with employment.

(3)Personal or work adjustment. Personal or work adjustment training includes any training given for one or a combination of the reasons given in (A) - (D) of this paragraph.

(A) To assist the individual in developing personal habits, attitudes, and skills enabling the individual to function effectively in spite of disability.

(B) To develop or increase work tolerance prior to engaging in prevocational or vocational training or in employment.

(C) To develop work habits and to orient the individual to the world of work.

(D) To provide skills or techniques enabling the individual to compensate for a disability such as the loss of a body part or the loss of a sensory function.

(b) Training may be provided for clients who:

(1) are mentally, physically and/or emotionally capable of pursuing a course of training to completion;

(2) require training to achieve an employment outcome or other goals established in the Individual Plan for Employment (IPE); and

(3) are determined to have a reasonable opportunity for obtaining employment in the chosen vocation.

(c) Decisions related to training are based on the individual needs and informed choices of the client as identified in the IPE.

(d) DVR and DSBVI will only pay tuition and fees for courses which count toward requirements consistent with the vocational goal of the IPE. Training of DVR and DSBVI clients is provided by colleges, universities, private business and trade schools, state supported vocational schools, employers in the form of on-the-job training, sheltered workshops, and other approved training facilities with valid contracts.

(e) Federal regulations require a search for comparable services and benefits with the results documented before payment can be made for training in the following institutions: colleges, universities, community/junior colleges, public or private vocational/technical schools, or hospital schools of nursing. PELL grants and other available Federal/State student aid (excluding merit awards) must be applied to tuition, fees and all other educational expenses as a first dollar source prior to consideration of the expenditure of DRS funds.

(f) Training costs will not be authorized by DVR and DSBVI until proof of the availability of comparable benefits is received by the counselor.

(g) Once training has begun, the client is expected to progress toward the vocational objective at a steady rate. This requires the client to attend training on a regular basis, and maintain a full-time load unless an exception is granted by the counselor due to severity of disability, scheduling problems or other valid reasons. Training progress reports or other methods of reporting (i.e., grade reports, transcripts) are utilized to document training progress. Sporadic attendance and reduced training loads causing a delay in the completion of training must be reviewed by the counselor. The client is responsible for advising the counselor of problems encountered during the training program.

(h) All types of institutional, technical, personal adjustment or employment training are purchased by an authorization issued by the counselor.

Okla. Admin. Code § 612:10-7-142

Added at 10 Ok Reg 4633, eff 9-1-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2449, eff 7-1-94; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 449, eff 11-14-94 (emergency); Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1501, eff 7-1-95; Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1817, eff 4-3-96 (emergency); Amended at 14 Ok Reg 1432, eff 7-1-97; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1614, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1774, eff 7-1-04; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1589, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1832, eff 7-1-11

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 8/27/2015

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 34, Issue 24, September 1, 2017, eff. 9/11/2017

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 24, September 1, 2020, eff. 9/11/2020

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 23, August 16, 2021, eff. 8/26/2021

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 24, September 1, 2022, eff. 9/11/2022

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 22, August 1, 2023, eff. 8/11/2023