About the Public Hearing
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Division of Vocation Rehabilitation (DVR) is holding a public hearing on Thursday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. The hearing is to get public opinion on the Division’s plan for dealing with a large funding shortage. The plan includes putting people asking for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services on a wait list, so services wouldn’t start right away.
We urge you to go to the hearing and share how vocational rehabilitation services you have gotten through DVR have made a difference in your life and your ability to work. You can also talk about what will happen if you or others need to wait longer to get the VR services you need. Finally, you can share how you think waitlists should work to cause the least harm possible to people needing vocational rehabilitation services.
About the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is the state agency that gives different kinds of supports and services to help people with disabilities find work, keep working, or get a better job.
The State Legislature passed its two-year state budget earlier this year without enough funding for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. They would be receiving $4.6 million less than the amount Governor Evers asked for. Unfortunately, that also meant Wisconsin did not qualify for its full share of federal funding, since states must match a certain amount of the federal dollars. As a result, the full effect of the shortfall is over $20 million.
Meanwhile, demand for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s services is growing. The number of people the Division serves has gone up 20% over the last four years. So, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation does not have enough resources to serve everyone who can benefit from their programs.
Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) helps people with disabilities who have questions or concerns about DVR services. We often hear from clients who see delays moving through their process and getting vocational rehabilitation services, even without a waiting list. DRW is working with DVR to keep the number of people affected, and the amount of time people must wait, as small as possible.
About DVR’s Plan
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation plans to start using a waiting list for new cases and people without an approved Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) already in place. DVR has not had a waiting list in more than ten years. They are guessing that new applicants will have to wait at least six months to get services. DVR now has about 1,200 new applicants per month, 1,000 of them with significant disabilities that put them in the two highest groups of need. Those people will now have to wait for half a year before getting DVR services to prepare them for success in the workforce.
Act Now!
It’s important for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to understand how important their services are for people trying to get or keep work.
Go to the Virtual Hearing
If these services have helped you, please think about going to the virtual hearing. You can tell your story and let the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation know that using waiting lists will be terrible for people with disabilities trying to support themselves with a job.
Find hearing information here.
Send Your Comments
Can’t go to the virtual hearing? Send your comments by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation by:
- emailing dvrpolicyanalysts@dwd.wisconsin.gov.
- faxing 608-266-1133.
- calling 800-442-3477.