§ 723. Vocational rehabilitation services
(a)
Vocational rehabilitation services for individuals
Vocational rehabilitation services provided under this subchapter are any services described in an individualized plan for employment necessary to assist an individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, including—
(1)
an assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology;
(2)
counseling and guidance, including information and support services to assist an individual in exercising informed choice consistent with the provisions of section
722
(d) of this title;
(3)
referral and other services to secure needed services from other agencies through agreements developed under section
721
(a)(11) of this title, if such services are not available under this subchapter;
(4)
job-related services, including job search and placement assistance, job retention services, followup services, and follow-along services;
(5)
vocational and other training services, including the provision of personal and vocational adjustment services, books, tools, and other training materials, except that no training services provided at an institution of higher education shall be paid for with funds under this subchapter unless maximum efforts have been made by the designated State unit and the individual to secure grant assistance, in whole or in part, from other sources to pay for such training;
(6)
to the extent that financial support is not readily available from a source (such as through health insurance of the individual or through comparable services and benefits consistent with section
721
(a)(8)(A) of this title), other than the designated State unit, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments, including—
(A)
corrective surgery or therapeutic treatment necessary to correct or substantially modify a physical or mental condition that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment, but is of such a nature that such correction or modification may reasonably be expected to eliminate or reduce such impediment to employment within a reasonable length of time;
(D)
eyeglasses and visual services as prescribed by qualified personnel who meet State licensure laws and who are selected by the individual;
(7)
maintenance for additional costs incurred while participating in an assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs or while receiving services under an individualized plan for employment;
(8)
transportation, including adequate training in the use of public transportation vehicles and systems, that is provided in connection with the provision of any other service described in this section and needed by the individual to achieve an employment outcome;
(9)
on-the-job or other related personal assistance services provided while an individual is receiving other services described in this section;
(10)
interpreter services provided by qualified personnel for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and reader services for individuals who are determined to be blind, after an examination by qualified personnel who meet State licensure laws;
(11)
rehabilitation teaching services, and orientation and mobility services, for individuals who are blind;
(13)
technical assistance and other consultation services to conduct market analyses, develop business plans, and otherwise provide resources, to the extent such resources are authorized to be provided through the statewide workforce investment system, to eligible individuals who are pursuing self-employment or telecommuting or establishing a small business operation as an employment outcome;
(14)
rehabilitation technology, including telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices;
(15)
transition services for students with disabilities, that facilitate the achievement of the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment;
(b)
Vocational rehabilitation services for groups of individuals
Vocational rehabilitation services provided for the benefit of groups of individuals with disabilities may also include the following:
(1)
In the case of any type of small business operated by individuals with significant disabilities the operation of which can be improved by management services and supervision provided by the designated State agency, the provision of such services and supervision, along or together with the acquisition by the designated State agency of vending facilities or other equipment and initial stocks and supplies.
(2)
(3)
The use of telecommunications systems (including telephone, television, satellite, radio, and other similar systems) that have the potential for substantially improving delivery methods of activities described in this section and developing appropriate programming to meet the particular needs of individuals with disabilities.
(4)
(A)
Special services to provide nonvisual access to information for individuals who are blind, including the use of telecommunications, Braille, sound recordings, or other appropriate media.