JOINT DEVELOPMENT

An Individual Plan for Employment shall be promptly developed (time period not to exceed 90 days) after an individual has been determined eligible, unless the staff person and the individual mutually agree that an extension is necessary due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the individual or the agency. The individual or his/her representative and his/her counselor/teacher, taking into consideration the needs of the individual, will agree upon the Individual Plan for Employment. The Individual Plan for Employment shall be designed to achieve the employment objectives of the individual, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities and capabilities of the individual. It will include those services necessary to achieve his/her chosen vocational outcome. The case record must contain documentation supporting the development of the vocational goal, the rehabilitation objectives, and the nature and scope of services in the Individual Plan for Employment and the Individual Educational Plan. The individual or, as appropriate, his/her representative, and the counselor/teacher must sign the Individual Plan for Employment. A copy of the Individual Plan for Employment shall be provided to the individual or his/her representative in the individual's chosen mode of communication and, to the extent possible, in his/her native language.

CONTENT

Each Individual Plan for Employment shall include a statement of:

A. A description of the specific employment outcome that is chosen by the eligible individual, based on the comprehensive assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs, including an assessment of career interests for the individual. The plan shall, to the maximum extent appropriate, include services and employment in integrated settings. If the employment is not projected to be in an integrated setting, the case record must contain a justification for the non-integrated setting. The vocational goal does not have to be exact, but should identify a particular profession or occupation;

B. The specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided to achieve the employment outcome, including, if appropriate, rehabilitation technology services and on-the-job and related personal assistance services, provided in the most integrated setting that is appropriate for the service involved and consistent with the informed choice of the eligible individual;

C. The projected dates for the initiation of each vocational rehabilitation service, the anticipated duration of each service, a timeline for the achievement of the employment outcome, and the cost of each service;

D. A description of the entity chosen by the eligible individual, or as appropriate, his/her representative, that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services and the methods used to procure those services;

E. A description of the criteria to evaluate progress toward achievement of the employment outcome;

F. How, in the words of the individual, or, as appropriate, in the words of the individual's representative, he/she was informed about and involved in choosing among alternative goals, objectives, services, providers and methods used to procure or provide services;

G. The terms and conditions for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services, including:

1. The responsibilities of the individual in implementing the Individual Plan for Employment;

2. The extent of the individual's participation in the cost of the services;

3. The extent to which goods and services will be provided in the most integrated settings possible, consistent with the informed choices of the individual;

4. The extent to which comparable services and benefits are available to the individual under any other program;

5. The entity or entities that will provide the services, and the process used to provide or procure the services;

H. The rights of the individual and the means by which the individual may express and seek remedy for any dissatisfaction, including the opportunity for a review of counselor/teacher determinations;

I. The availability of assistance from the Client Assistance Program;

J. The basis on which the individual has been determined to have achieved an employment outcome;

K. A statement concerning:

1. The expected need for post-employment services, based on an assessment during the development of the Individual Plan for Employment;

2. A reassessment of the need for post-employment services prior to the determination that the individual has achieved an employment outcome;

3. A description of the terms and conditions for the provision of any post-employment services, including the anticipated duration of those services subsequent to the achievement of an employment outcome by the individual; and

4. If appropriate, a statement of how post-employment services will be provided or arranged through cooperative agreements with other service providers.

L. If applicable, a description of how services for a student who is receiving special education services are coordinated with the Individual Education Plan for that individual in terms of the goals, objectives and services identified in the Individual Education Plan; and

M. Information identifying other related services and benefits provided pursuant to any federal, state or local program that will enhance the capacity of the individual to achieve his/her vocational objectives.

INDIVIDUAL PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

In addition to the above items, an Individual Plan for Employment for Supported Employment of the most significantly impaired individuals must contain the following:

A. A description of the Supported Employment Services to be provided by the Michigan Commission for the Blind; and

B. A description of the extended services needed and identification of the source of extended services or, in the event that identification of the source is not possible at the time the Individual Plan for Employment is developed, a statement explaining the basis for concluding that there is a reasonable expectation that services will become available.

ANNUAL REVIEWS AND AMENDMENTS

The counselor/teacher shall review an individual’s Individual Plan for Employment with the individual as often as necessary, but at least once each year, to assess the individual's progress in meeting the goals and objectives identified in the Individual Plan for Employment. At that time, the individual or his/her representative will be afforded an opportunity to review his/her Individual Plan for Employment and jointly redevelop and agree to its terms. Each Individual Plan for Employment will be amended as necessary. Any major change to a goal, objective or service resulting from such a review or at any time will require an amendment. Amendments shall not take effect until agreed to and signed by the individual or the individual's designee. Amendments shall be incorporated into and affixed to the Individual Plan for Employment.