Supported employment services may be available for individuals with the most significant disabilities requiring intensive on-the-job supports and extended services. Supported employment is defined as employment in a competitive integrated work setting. Supported employment should be consistent with an individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, interests and informed choice. Ongoing support services are provided for workers with the most significant disabilities for whom competitive integrated employment has not traditionally occurred because of the nature and severity of their disability(s). Supported employment services can include customized employment, which is designed to meet the specific abilities of an individual with a significant disability and the business needs of the employer through flexible strategies. Individual placement with supports (IPS) services are a supported employment model for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder who receive services from a Department of Mental Health Behavioral Health Division--Community Mental Health Center administrative agent, affiliate, or addiction treatment program. IPS services are for individuals with most significant disabilities.

How to get started with VR services.

Contact information for Vocational Rehabilitation offices.

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Supported Employment (SE) programs are funded, in part, with federal grant funds awarded by the Department of Education. In FFY 2022, the agency received $66,571,077 in federal grant funding and $18,017,331 of state funds for VR services. Total VR funding of $84,588,408 is comprised of 78.7% federal monies and 21.3% of state matching funds. In FFY 2022, the agency received $270,588 in federal grant funding and $14,241 of state funds for SE services. Total SE funding from this award is $284,829 comprised of 95% federal monies and 5% state matching funds.