Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

Eligibility Criteria for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program*

Once you have applied for services, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will collect information about you, your goals, and your disability to determine if you are eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services under the Department of Services for the Blind (DSB). Eligibility is determined using two criteria:

The applicant has a disability – a visual impairment which alone or combined with other impairments results in a substantial impediment to employment; and

The applicant requires services – VR services are required for the individual to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.

An applicant for services who is a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient is presumed to meet both eligibility criteria, provided that the individual is visually impaired or blind and intends to achieve an employment outcome. As usual, the eligibility is based on whether the applicant definitely wishes to achieve an employment outcome and if DSB has the appropriate services. In cases of ineligibility, DSB may refer SSD or SSI recipients to other appropriate organizations.

It is presumed that an individual with a disability can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from VR services. If there is a question about the individual’s ability to benefit from services due to severity of disability, the VR Team will develop an extended evaluation plan with the approval of the applicant. In the case of an individual on SSDI or SSI, the extended evaluation must include trial work experiences.

If the exploration of the SSDI or SSI recipient’s abilities, capabilities, and capacity to perform in trial work experiences demonstrates, in clear and convincing evidence, that the individual is incapable of benefiting from VR services, the individual’s case can be closed.