WAC 67-25-436   Vocational rehabilitation services -- Supported employment services and extended services.  (1) Supported employment is competitive employment in an integrated setting, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, with ongoing support services for customers with the most significant disabilities who need intensive, ongoing support to perform in a work setting.

     (2) A customer may be employed in an extended employment setting in which he or she is working toward competitive employment as a planned step in the process of completing an employment outcome in supported employment. While the customer is working toward competitive employment, he or she may be certified to be paid subminimum wages, consistent with provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, based on his or her productivity.

     (3) An individual shall be eligible to receive supported employment services if:

     (a) The individual is eligible for vocational rehabilitation services in accordance with WAC 67-25-030;

     (b) The individual needs intensive supported employment services from the department and ongoing services from other resources to perform competitive work due to the nature and significance of his or her disabilities; and

     (c) Supported employment is an appropriate employment outcome for the individual based on a comprehensive assessment of his or her rehabilitation needs in accordance with WAC 67-25-255.

     (4) A customer with an employment outcome of supported employment may receive any vocational rehabilitation service described in WAC 67-25-350.

     (5) Supported employment must occur in an integrated work setting for the maximum number of hours possible, based on the unique strengths, resources, interests, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of the customer with significant disabilities. An integrated setting, in the context of supported employment, is one where:

     (a) Most coworkers are not disabled and the customer is not part of a work group of individuals with disabilities; or

     (b) Most coworkers are not disabled, and if a job site as described in (a) of this subsection is not possible, the customer is part of a small work group of not more than eight individuals with disabilities; or

     (c) If there are no coworkers, or the only coworkers are members of a small work group of not more than eight individuals all of whom have disabilities, the customer has regular contact with nondisabled individuals (other than personnel providing support services) in the immediate work setting.

     (6) The department shall provide intensive training and support services during the first eighteen months of supported employment to facilitate the customer's adjustment at the worksite and determine the need for extended services from other resources. Additional services beyond eighteen months may be authorized with supervisory approval based on evidence that additional ongoing support is needed to stabilize the individual in employment. If such evidence is not available, the department must close the case. Support must include:

     (a) Ongoing assessment of the customer's employment situation, or under special circumstances or request of the customer, an assessment regarding the customer's employment situation that takes place away from the worksite to: Determine what is needed to maintain job stability; and coordinate services or provide specific intensive services that are needed at or away from the customer's worksite to assist the individual in maintaining job stability.

     (b) Intensive job skill training for the customer at the job site by skilled job trainers.

     (c) Job development, job placement and job retention services.

     (d) Social skills training.

     (e) Regular observations or supervision.

     (f) Follow-up services such as regular contacts with the customer's employer, the customer, or the customer's representative, and other appropriate individuals to help strengthen and stabilize the job placement.

     (g) Facilitation of natural supports at the worksite.

     (h) Other services similar to services described in (a) through (g) of this subsection.

     (i) Any other vocational rehabilitation services.

     (7) The customer shall transition to extended services after receiving supported employment services from the vocational rehabilitation program. Extended services are ongoing support services and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain the customer in supported employment. Long-term funding for extended services may be provided through cooperative agreements with public agencies, nonprofit agencies or organizations; employers; natural supports; and any resource other than federal vocational rehabilitation funds.

     (8) An individualized plan for employment with an employment outcome of supported employment must specify the expected extended services needed and, must identify the source, including natural supports, of extended services. If the source of extended services cannot be identified when the individualized plan for employment is developed, supported employment services shall be initiated while resources to provide extended services are sought.

     (9) A customer with an employment outcome of supported employment may receive post-employment services in accordance with WAC 67-25-444 when the services to be provided are not the responsibility of the extended services provider.

     (10) The department shall provide transitional employment services as supported employment services for a customer with a significant disability due to mental illness. Transitional employment is a series of temporary competitive job placements in integrated work settings with ongoing support services. In transitional employment, ongoing support services must include continuing sequential job placements until job permanency is achieved.

     (11) Supported employment services are provided only after consideration of comparable services and benefits in accordance with WAC 67-25-360.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 05-08-097, § 67-25-436, filed 4/4/05, effective 5/5/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.15 RCW. 95-06-057, § 67-25-436, filed 2/28/95, effective 3/31/95.]