The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's Order of Selection (OOS)
Guide on the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's current waitlist for services, called the Order of Selection.
This resource is a general guide for people with disabilities, not legal advice. For legal advice specific to your situation, please talk with an attorney.
As of December 2, 2025, Wisconsin’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is using an Order of Selection (OoS) to decide when people will get services. This factsheet explains the OoS, what to expect when applying for DVR services, and how you can appeal an OoS decision.
What is an Order of Selection?
An Order of Selection (OoS) is a waitlist for DVR services. DVR uses waitlists when it doesn’t have enough resources to help everybody who asks for their services right away. DVR started an OoS because of a $20 million shortage in their budget from last year.
How does the Order of Selection work?
DVR will sort people who apply for their services into 3 groups, or categories, based on significance of disability. Disability significance will be decided based on how the disability affects different areas of life. Visit DVR's website for more information about the waitlist categories.
How does the Order of Selection apply to students with disabilities?
DVR gives Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities up to 21 years old. Students who have already gotten Pre-ETS, including applicants and students found “potentially eligible,” can keep getting Pre-ETS under the OoS.
If I apply to DVR, how long will I be on the waitlist?
We don’t know. The amount of time you wait depends on what disability category DVR puts you in. DVR will serve everyone in Category 1 before Category 2, no matter when they apply. The waiting times may be many months.
What if I don’t agree with where DVR puts me in the Order of Selection?
You can challenge, or appeal, which OoS category DVR puts you in the same way you can challenge other DVR decisions – by using your due process options (Informal Review, Mediation, and/or an Impartial Hearing). Visit DVR's website for more information about due process with DVR.
You can find more information about the OoS on DVR’s website.
