[Rehab] Introducy myself + questions about IPE and order of selection

Sat Jul 18 20:30:21 UTC 2026

Hi all,
I have worked for Maryland rehab for 20 years. The entire time I have been there, we have had order of selection. The good thing is that with visual impairments, the legal definitions   are clear. I have only put two people on the waiting  list in all my 20 years. If you work with the blind and low vision population, you can make a good case most of the time for why someone should be considered for services, even though they may not be legally blind yet. If eye pressure is not under control, if night vision has already been affected, if a person's diabetes is  not stable and they are already receiving laser treatments, etc. their ability to benefit from services is not too difficult to justify. I have found that  consumers with other disabilities seem to be more affected than people  who are blind and low vision. I hope this has  been everyone's experience.
Judy Rasmussen

-----Original Message-----
From: Rehab <rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daphne Mitchell via Rehab
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2026 9:47 AM
To: blind rehabilitation professionals mailing list <rehab at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Daphne Mitchell <dauroramitchell at gmail.com>; dandrews920 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [Rehab] Introducy myself + questions about IPE and order of selection

Hi Vejas,

I do not have much firsthand experience with order of selection. However, what Dave stated in his email is true. In regards to your priorities right now between the announcement and when it actually goes into effect, you need to permit your ethical principles to guide you, if the agency has not provided formal directives. Those who are already determined eligible for Services are entitled to receive the benefits of vocational rehabilitation.
This is a time when those who are motivated to complete the career and plan development protocols ASAP, will benefit from being squeaky wheels. If the agency has created a handout or place on their website that explains the implication of order of selection, then I would personally feel convicted to make sure all of my clients have viewed the information.

I am sorry that you guys are having to deal with this possibility, but kudos to you for wanting to be proactive to help as many people as you can before the hammer drops.

Thanks,
Daphne
On Wed, Jul 15, 2026 at 6:51 PM dandrews920--- via Rehab <rehab at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I am not a Rehab expert -- but here is what I think.
>
> 1. When your agency sets up order of selection they will define the 
> different classes of people they will serve, starting with the most 
> disabled, the people who won't get a job without some help.  There 
> could be two classes, or four, or whatever. Theyn they decide on how 
> many classes will be open, based on available funds. Those people must 
> be served, and if you can't afford it, one more class will have to be closed.
>
> 2. You have to serve everybody who has an established IPE. You can't stop.
> Those costs will be used, with other info to decide how many classes 
> to close or open.
>
> Theoretically, if there isn't any money, you may have to close all 
> classes for now. This goes for new applicants, not existing customers.
>
> Hope this makes sense.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rehab <rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Vejas Vasiliauskas 
> via Rehab
> Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 1:11 PM
> To: rehab at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Vejas Vasiliauskas <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Rehab] Introducy myself + questions about IPE and order of 
> selection
>
> Hello all,
> My name is Vejas and I am a rehabilitation counselor in California. I 
> am currently in the branch for the Department of Rehabilitation that 
> is known as VRED-the clients I work with are all sighted and have 
> other disabilities-such as learning disabilities, PTSD, anxiety, depression etc.
> I attended the rehab professionals meeting at NFB convention which I 
> found very helpful. I wanted to reach out as my state has been trying 
> to get into order of selection but has not, yet. I have a few questions:
> 1. Prioritizing IPE's: With a high caseload I have many people in 
> application and eligibility status, many of whom do not have IPE's due yet.
> What has been yr/your team's strategy to know who to prioritize, and 
> did you/are you trying to get everyone on your caseload in service before OOS?
> 2. For these who are in  states that already went into OOS-how much 
> time was there for you in between the OOS announcement and completing 
> unfinished IPE's-was there a grace period?
> Thank you,
> Vejas
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Rehab mailing list
> Rehab at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Rehab:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/dauroramitchell%40g
> mail.com
>
_______________________________________________
Rehab mailing list
Rehab at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Rehab:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/judyras%40sprynet.com