Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 13A - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Subtitle 11 - PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
Chapter 13A.11.01 - Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Section 13A.11.01.03 - Definitions

(a) Has requested vocational rehabilitation services provided by the Division;

(b) Has completed and signed the Division's application form or provided equivalent information;

(c) Has provided information necessary to initiate an assessment to determine eligibility and priority for services; and

(d) Is available to complete the assessment process.

(a) Advising and informing applicants and eligible individuals of all services and benefits available to them through programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;

(b) Informing individuals with disabilities in the State, especially individuals with disabilities who have traditionally been unserved or underserved by vocational rehabilitation programs, of the services and benefits available to them under the Act and under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and their rights and responsibilities in connection with those benefits;

(c) Assisting and advocating for applicants and eligible individuals in their relationships with projects, programs, and community rehabilitation programs providing rehabilitation services under the Act; and

(d) Helping applicants and eligible individuals by pursuing, or assisting them in pursuing legal, administrative, and other available remedies when necessary to ensure the protection of their rights under the Act.

(a) Provides directly or facilitates the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities; and

(b) Is approved or certified by the Division.

(a) That is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting; and

(b) For which an individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled.

(a) Who meets the definition of individual with a significant disability; and

(b) Whose disability seriously limits three or more functional capabilities (such as mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, or work skills) in terms of an employment outcome.

(a) Who has a severe physical or mental impairment that seriously limits one or more functional capacities (mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, or work skills) in terms of an employment outcome;

(b) Whose vocational rehabilitation can be expected to require multiple vocational rehabilitation services over an extended period of time; and

(c) Who has one or more physical or mental disabilities resulting from amputation, arthritis, autism, blindness, burn injury, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, deafness, head injury, heart disease, hemiplegia, hemophilia, respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction, mental retardation, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders (including stroke and epilepsy), paraplegia, quadriplegia, other spinal cord conditions, sickle cell anemia, specific learning disability, end-stage renal disease, or another disability or combination of disabilities determined on the basis of an assessment of rehabilitation needs to cause comparable substantial functional limitation.

(a) The provision of services, a setting typically found in the community where applicants or eligible individuals interact with nondisabled individuals other than nondisabled individuals who are providing services to them; and

(b) An employment outcome, a setting typically found in the community where applicants or eligible individuals interact with nondisabled individuals, other than nondisabled individuals who are providing services to them, to the same extent that nondisabled individuals in comparable positions interact with other persons.

(a) "Ongoing support services" means services that are needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability in supported employment as specified in the individualized plan for employment.

(b) "Ongoing support services" includes, at a minimum:

(c) "Ongoing support services" occur throughout the term of employment during both the time limited phase and the extended services phase.

(a) "Personal assistance services" means a range of services:

(b) "Personal assistance services" may include training in managing, supervising, and directing personal assistance services.

(a) "Rehabilitation technology" means the systematic application of technologies, engineering methodologies, or scientific principles to meet the needs of and address barriers confronted by individuals with disabilities in areas that include education, rehabilitation, employment, transportation, independent living, and recreation.

(b) "Rehabilitation technology" includes:

(a) Competitive work in integrated work settings, or employment in integrated work settings where individuals are working toward competitive work, consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, for individuals with the most significant disabilities:

(b) Transitional employment for individuals with the most significant disabilities due to mental illness.

(a) Based on an assessment by the Division of the individual's needs as specified in an individualized plan for employment;

(b) Provided singly or in combination and are organized and made available in such a way as to assist an individual to achieve employment; and

(c) Provided by the Division for a period not to exceed 18 months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the rehabilitation counselor jointly agree to extend the time in order to achieve the rehabilitation objectives identified in the individualized plan for employment, before transition is made to extended services provided under a cooperative agreement with other appropriate State agencies and private, nonprofit organizations.

(a) Is designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation;

(b) Is based upon the individual student's needs, taking into account the student's preferences and interests; and

(c) Includes instruction, community experiences, the development of employment, and other post-school adult living objectives, and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.