1. (a) “Supported employment” means competitive integrated employment, including customized employment, or employment in an integrated work setting in which an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a most significant disability, is working on a short-term basis toward competitive integrated employment that is individualized and customized, consistent with the unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual:

   1. (1) For whom competitive integrated employment has not historically occurred, or for whom competitive integrated employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of a significant disability; and
   2. (2) Who, because of the nature and severity of their disabilities, need intensive supported employment services and extended services after the transition from support provided by the designated state unit, in order to perform this work.

2. (b) Supported employment is a “place then train” model, which is a two-part process:

   1. (1) Place an individual with the most significant disabilities in a competitive job; and
   2. (2) Then provide training and support directly related to the job.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Unlike the traditional VR model, which provides job readiness and other training activities to prepare an individual for employment, this model is more appropriate for an individual with the most significant disabilities.
   2. (2) Problems transferring knowledge from an artificial training situation to a real job are eliminated because the focus is on finding the best job match and providing training for that particular job.
4. (d) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services typically does not consider temporary employment or seasonal work as competitive integrated employment, but may be an exception by the manager.

5. (e)

   1. (1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will provide supported employment services to any individual who is determined eligible for services who has a most significant disability and for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred or has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of their disability.

   2. (2) The individual has:

      1. (A) The ability to engage in a training program with supports leading to supported employment;
      2. (B) A need for ongoing support services in order to perform competitive work; and
      3. (C) The ability to be employed in an integrated setting in which individuals are working toward competitive employment.

6. (f) Supported employment — Short-term basis.

   1. (1) Manager approval is required.

   2. (2) For purposes of supported employment, an individual with a most significant disability, whose supported employment in an integrated setting does not satisfy the criteria of competitive integrated employment, as defined in 34 C.F.R. § 361.5(c)(9), is considered to be working on a short-term basis toward competitive integrated employment so long as the individual can reasonably anticipate achieving competitive integrated employment:

      1. (A) Within six (6) months of achieving a supported employment outcome; or
      2. (B) In limited circumstances, within a period not to exceed twelve (12) months from the achievement of the supported employment outcome, if a longer period is necessary based on the needs of the individual, and the individual has demonstrated progress toward competitive earnings based on information contained in the service record.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) The six-month short-term basis period, and the additional six (6) months that may be available in limited circumstances, begins after an individual has completed up to twenty-four (24) months of supported employment services (unless a longer period of time is necessary based upon the individual’s needs) and the individual has achieved a supported employment outcome, meaning that the individual is stable in the supported employment placement for a minimum period of ninety (90) days following the transition to extended services.
      2. (B) At this point, the individual has achieved a supported employment outcome in accordance with the criteria set forth in 34 C.F.R. § 363.54.

7. (g)

   1. (1) Supported employment involves full-time or part-time employment averaging at least fifteen (15) hours per week for each pay period.
   2. (2) If the individual’s disability limits the hours, a justification memo is required for requesting manager approval.

8. (h)

   1. (1) Ongoing support services are provided weekly.
   2. (2) This includes visits to the worksite, or face to face, by the supported employment vendor at least twice monthly.
   3. (3) Under special circumstances at the request of the individual and documented in the IPE, the vendor may provide off-site monitoring meetings until the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services case is closed.
   4. (4) Extended services are provided by a vendor after Arkansas Rehabilitation Services case closure monthly throughout first year of employment.
   5. (5) If not available through another source, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services will provide extended services for youth under the age of twenty-five (25) for up to four (4) years or until the age of twenty-five (25) after the youth has obtained competitive integrated employment.

9. (i) Individuals employed through supported employment services must meet the following criteria:

   1. (1) Be engaged in employment paid at or above minimum wage;

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Work performed must be compensated with the same benefits and wages as other workers in similar jobs receive.
      2. (B) This includes:

10. (i) Sick leave;

    1. (ii) Vacation time;

       1. (iii) Health benefits;

          1. (iv) Bonuses;
          2. (v) Training opportunities; and
          3. (vi) Other benefits;
    2. (3) Need and be provided ongoing support services in order to maintain employment, which may include natural supports provided by the employers; and
    3. (4) Be employed in an integrated setting.
11. (j) After the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services case is closed and a letter is provided to the vendor, an individual eligible for waiver-funded services must seek extended services (ongoing long-term employment support, i.e., ongoing job coaching) through the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services with the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity being the funding source.

12. (k) Manager approval required. The twenty-four-month limitation on the provision of supported employment services may be amended to permit extension of this service on a case-by-case basis as determined by the counselor with a documented justification in the case note and on the IPE.

    1. (l) Note.
    2. (1) Supported employment services shall be provided for a period of time not to exceed twenty-four (24) months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the rehabilitation counselor jointly agree to extend the time to achieve the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment.

    3. (2) The counselor will provide a justification memo in the ECF stating why the individual’s disability requires an extended period of time approved by the manager.

       1. (m)
    4. (1) When a job is lost after the case is closed, the counselor should take a new referral.
    5. (2) The counselor can reinitiate supported employment services for a former individual in instances of job destabilization or potential upgrade.

Codification Notes: “ECF” means electronic case file. "VR" means vocational rehabilitation.