Section 572.10  General Applicability

 

Rules contained within this Part are applicable to all Department of Human Services- Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS-DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) customers.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.20  Commencement of the IPE

 

The Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) shall be initiated after the Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs Summary (89 Ill. Adm. Code 553.100) or the successful completion of trial work (89 Ill. Adm. Code 553.75).

 

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 12631, effective September 29, 1999)

 

Section 572.30  Purpose of the IPE

 

a)         The IPE is a non-binding agreement between the customer and DHS-DRS that outlines the nature and scope of vocational rehabilitation services to be provided to the customer to meet the established objectives that are related to the customer's employment outcome.

 

b)         The IPE identifies the program of services that will assist the individual to achieve an employment outcome consistent with the customer's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, career interests, and informed choices.

 

c)         The IPE will provide the customer with substantial services as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 521.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.40  Coordination of the IPE with an Individualized Educational Program (IEP)

 

In cases of secondary school students/customers (public, private, state-operated schools) for whom an IEP (as described in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226.5 "Terms Defined") is involved, the IPE shall be prepared in coordination with the educational facility and shall include a summary of vocationally relevant elements of the IEP which relate to the vocational goals and objectives contained in the IPE.  If the customer/student is receiving secondary educational services under an IEP, a copy of the IEP must be included in the customer's/student's case file.

 

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 12631, effective September 29, 1999)

 

Section 572.50  IPE Development and Content

 

a)         The IPE must be developed, agreed to and signed by the customer, or, as appropriate, the customer's parent, family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative, and approved and signed by the counselor.  The IPE shall be developed and implemented in a manner that affords the customer the opportunity to exercise informed choice (89 Ill. Adm. Code 557.20) in selecting an employment outcome, the specific vocational services to be provided, the provider of the services and the methods used to provide services.

 

b)         The IPE must contain the following:

 

1)         a statement of the specific employment outcome that is chosen by the customer based on the assessment (89 Ill. Adm. Code 553.100), including an assessment of the customer's career interests. The goal shall be competitive integrated employment;

 

2)         timelines for the initiation of the services and for the achievement of the employment outcome;

 

3)         the customer's rights and remedies, including filing of an appeal under 89 Ill. Adm. Code 510;

 

4)         a description of the Client Assistance Program (CAP), its services, and how to contact CAP;

 

5)         a statement of the specific VR services to be provided, including substantial services as defined in Section 89 Ill. Adm. Code 521.20;

 

6)         identification of the entity or entities that will provide VR services to the customer and how the customer will receive the specific services, including comparable benefits (e.g., by attending an on-site training program, by office visits to a medical services provider, etc.).  This shall include a statement describing how service shall be provided or arranged with other service providers;

 

7)         how progress toward achieving the employment outcome will be evaluated;

 

8)         a statement of expected need for post-employment services; and

 

9)         a description of the terms and conditions under which services will be provided to the customer.

 

c)         When the IPE includes supported employment services as defined in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 521.20, the IPE must include the elements in subsection (b), as well as the following components:

 

1)         the specific supported employment services to be provided;

 

2)         the number of hours the individual is expected to work by the time of transition to extended services;

 

3)         the expected extended services needed, which may include natural supports, as well as a description of the source of the extended services;

 

4)         periodic monitoring of the individual in order to ensure satisfactory progress toward achievement of the hourly work target described in subsection (c)(2); and

 

5)         a description of any job skills training that will be provided at the job.

 

d)         The IPE must be developed as soon as possible, but no later than 90 days after the customer is determined eligible for the VR program.

 

e)         In unusual circumstances, the Chief of the Bureau of Field Services or the Bureau of Blind Services may grant an exception to the timeline in subsection (d) upon request and when an appropriate justification is provided by the counselor with acknowledgement from the customer.

 

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 18451, effective October 1, 2018)

 

Section 572.60  Format of the IPE

 

a)         A copy of the original IPE and any amendments must be provided to the customer and must, to the maximum extent possible, be provided in the customer's native language and mode of communication, or, as appropriate, in the native language and mode of communication of the parent, family member, guardian, advocate or authorized representative.

 

b)         When a non-English print version of any form or document, including the IPE, is used to meet the customer's needs and is placed in the case record, an English print copy must also be completed by the rehabilitation counselor/instructor and placed with the non-English print version in the case record.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.70  Services to Families

 

DHS-DRS shall provide VR services as contained in 89 Ill. Adm. Code:  Chapter IV, Subchapter b, "Vocational Rehabilitation" to a customer's family members only when those services are necessary to assist the customer in attaining or retaining a suitable employment outcome.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.80   IPE amendments

 

a)         Any change to an individual's planned program of services, vocational goals, or service providers requires an amendment to the IPE.  The case record must have documentation reflecting the reason for the amendment.  Closures require an IPE amendment.

 

b)         Any amendments or revisions resulting from an annual review (89 Ill. Adm. Code 572.110) shall not take effect until the changes are agreed to and signed by the customer or, as appropriate, the parent, family member, guardian, advocate or authorized representative.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.90  Notice of Changes to the IPE

 

Notification of any DHS-DRS-initiated change to the IPE must be provided to the customer.  Such notification must be made in writing at least 15 work days prior to the effective date of change unless the customer has signed the IPE indicating agreement with the change.  The notification must conform to 89 Ill. Adm. Code 510.60(d) and include a description of CAP services and how to contact CAP.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.100  Case Record Documentation

 

The customer's case record must contain documentation and justification for any decision to provide, deny, or alter any services.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 19533, effective November 18, 2011)

 

Section 572.110  Review of IPE

 

An IPE shall be reviewed whenever necessary, but at least annually.

 

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 12631, effective September 29, 1999)

 

Section 572.200  Reporting of Customer Participation (Repealed)

                                   

(Source:  Repealed at 32 Ill. Reg. 10080, effective June 26, 2008)