1. A. VR shall use the information from the Assessment to the greatest extent possible when determining a VR Client’s OOS Priority Category.
2. B. VR shall obtain additional evaluations from Qualified Personnel if existing records are not available or are insufficient to determine an OOS Priority Category.
3. C. VR shall determine a VR Client’s OOS Priority Category by evaluating how the individual’s disability restricts Functional Capacities in terms of employment and VR services needed to address any restrictions of those Functional Capacities.

4. D. VR shall assign a VR Client to an appropriate OOS Priority Category after determining eligibility and prior to planning and implementing an IPE. The OOS Priority Categories are:

   1. 1. Priority 1: Most Significant Disability – a VR Client who:

      1. a. Has a severe Physical or Mental Impairment that seriously restricts three or more Functional Capacities in terms of an Employment Outcome; and
      2. b. Is expected to require two or more VR services provided over an extended period of time to achieve an Employment Outcome.

   2. 2. Priority 2: Significant Disability – a VR Client who:

      1. a. Has a severe Physical or Mental Impairment that seriously restricts one or two Functional Capacities in terms of an Employment Outcome;
      2. b. Is expected to require two or more VR services provided over an extended period of time to achieve an Employment Outcome; and
      3. c. Is a person with one or more of the disabilities listed in 34 CFR 361.5(c)(30)(iii).
   3. 3. Priority 3: All other VR Clients with a disability who do not meet the criteria for Priority 1 or Priority 2.

5. E. When sufficient funds are not available for VR to provide the full range of VR services to all VR Clients, VR shall develop and implement the VR Client’s IPE in priority order based on the application date identified in R6-4-202(D).

   1. 1. Priority 1 is served first, Priority 2 is served after all VR Clients in Priority 1 are served, and Priority 3 is served after all VR Clients in Priority 1 and Priority 2 are served.
   2. 2. A VR Client assigned to an OOS Priority Category who is not being served shall be notified that the individual is on a waitlist for VR services. VR shall provide the eligible Applicant information on, and a referral to, federal, state, and local resources.
6. F. VR shall not place a VR Client on the waitlist if the VR Client’s IPE is implemented prior to the date the Department determines funding is not available to serve a VR Client in that VR Client’s OOS Priority Category.
7. G. If a VR Client does not have an implemented IPE on the date the Department determines funding is not available to serve a VR Client in the identified OOS Priority Category, the VR Client shall be placed on a waitlist.
8. H. VR shall continue to provide Pre-employment Transition Services, regardless of OOS Priority Category, to students with disabilities who were receiving Pre-employment Transition Services prior to being determined eligible for VR services. Pre-employment Transition Services are subject to the availability of funding.

Historical Note

Adopted effective June 14, 1977 (Supp. 77-3). Section R6-4-204 repealed; new Section R6-4-204 renumbered from R6-4-401 and amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 3921 (October 3, 2025), effective November 2, 2025 (Supp. 25-3).