Vocational rehabilitation services are any goods or services 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. A. An assessment for determining eligibility, priority for services, and vocational rehabilitation needs by qualified personnel, including, if appropriate, an assessment by personnel skilled in rehabilitation technology;
2. B. Vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance, including information and support services to assist an individual in exercising informed choice;
3. C. Referral and other services to secure needed services from other agencies through cooperative agreements;

4. D. To the extent that financial support is not readily available from another source, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments, including:

   1. (1) 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 a nature that the correction or modification may reasonably be expected to eliminate or reduce the impediment to employment within a reasonable length of time;
   2. (2) Necessary hospitalization in connection with surgery or treatment;
   3. (3) Prosthetic and orthotic devices;
   4. (4) Eyeglasses and visual services as prescribed by qualified personnel who meet state licensure laws and who are selected by the individual;
   5. (5) Special services (including transplantation and dialysis), artificial kidneys, and supplies necessary for the treatment of individuals with end-state renal disease; and
   6. (6) Diagnosis and treatment for mental and emotional disorders by qualified personnel who meet state licensure laws;
5. E. Vocational and other training services, including personal and vocational adjustment, education at an institution of higher education, books and supplies, tools, and other training materials or education-related services except that training services provided at an institution of higher education may not be paid for unless maximum efforts have been made by the Division and the eligible individual to secure grant assistance, in whole or in part, from other sources to pay for the training;
6. F. Maintenance for additional costs incurred while participating in rehabilitation services which covers an applicant or eligible individual's living expenses, such as food, shelter, clothes, and other subsistence expenses which are necessary to support and derive the full benefit of the other vocational rehabilitation services being provided;
7. G. Interpreter services for applicants or eligible individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including tactile interpreting for individuals who are deaf-blind;
8. H. Reader services, rehabilitation teaching services, and orientation and mobility services for applicants or eligible individuals who are blind or visually impaired;
9. I. Occupational licenses, tools, equipment, and initial stocks and supplies;
10. J. 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 and needed by the individual to achieve an employment outcome;
11. K. Rehabilitation technology, including telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices;
12. L. Technical assistance and other consultation services to conduct market analyses, develop business plans, and otherwise provide resources, to the extent the 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;
13. M. Services to members of an applicant's or eligible individual's family when necessary to assist the individual to achieve an employment outcome;
14. N. Job-related services including job search and placement assistance, job retention services, follow-up services, and follow-along services;
15. O. Specific post-employment services necessary to assist individuals with disabilities to maintain, regain, or advance in employment;
16. P. Supported employment services, as defined in Regulation .03 of this chapter;
17. Q. On-the-job or other related personal assistance services provided while an applicant or eligible individual is receiving rehabilitation services;
18. R. Transition services for students with disabilities that facilitate the achievement of the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment;
19. S. Other goods and services determined necessary for the individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome.

Authority: Education Article, §§21-301—21-306 and 21-402—21-404, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: April 3, 1989 (16:6 Md. R. 729)

Regulation .01 amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .02B amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919); February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 277); August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1388)

Regulation .03C amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .04 amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .06C amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .07 amended effective August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1388)

Regulation .07P recodified to .07Q and new Regulation .07P adopted effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .09 amended effective August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1388)

Regulation .09B amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .11 amended effective August 15, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1388)

Regulation .13B amended effective September 2, 1991 (18:17 Md. R. 1919)

Regulation .15 adopted effective February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 277)

Regulation .16 adopted effective February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 277)

Chapter revised effective August 7, 2000 (27:15 Md. R. 1402)

Regulation .01 amended effective December 6, 2007 (34:24 Md. R. 2158)

Regulation .03 amended effective October 28, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1646)

Regulation .03-1B amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728); March 13, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 522); December 6, 2007 (34:24 Md. R. 2158); November 30, 2009 (36:24 Md. R. 1859); January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 21); July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 881)

Regulation .04A amended effective March 13, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 522)

Regulation .04D amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .05 amended effective October 28, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1646); December 6, 2007 (34:24 Md. R. 2158)

Regulation .05H amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .06 amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .07I amended effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .10 amended effective October 1, 2001 (28:19 Md. R. 1687); October 28, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1646)

Regulation .12 amended effective October 1, 2001 (28:19 Md. R. 1687); December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .13B amended effective January 12, 2009 (36:1 Md. R. 23)

Regulation .14 amended effective October 28, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1646)

Regulation .15 amended effective October 1, 2001 (28:19 Md. R. 1687)

Regulation .15 repealed and new Regulation .15 adopted effective October 28, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1646)

Regulation .15 repealed and new Regulation .15 adopted effective December 9, 2004 (31:24 Md. R. 1728)

Regulation .15 repealed and new Regulation .15 adopted effective March 13, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 522)

Regulation .15 repealed and new Regulation .15 adopted effective December 6, 2007 (34:24 Md. R. 2158)

Regulation .15 amended effective January 12, 2009 (36:1 Md. R. 23)

Regulation .15 repealed and new Regulation .15 adopted effective November 30, 2009 (36:24 Md. R. 1859)

Regulation .15 amended effective January 21, 2013 (40:1 Md. R. 21); July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 881)

Regulation .16D amended effective December 6, 2007 (34:24 Md. R. 2158)

Regulation .17 amended effective October 28, 2002 (29:21 Md. R. 1646)

Regulation .17C amended effective March 13, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 522)