The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services has received approval from the Rehabilitation Services Administration to implement an order of selection. The Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, requires a state vocational rehabilitation services agency to implement an order of selection when it does not have sufficient resources to serve all eligible individuals. On August 1, 2017, Indiana was the 35th state to implement this process, which must be used to prioritize consumer services to individuals with the most significant disabilities first.
Since the implementation of the order of selection, VR has served eligible individuals in service priority category 1, while eligible individuals assigned to service priority categories 2 and 3 were placed on a wait list for services. BRS has been releasing individuals from the priority category 2 waitlist over the last three years, in order of application date. As of July 5, 2023, no individuals remain on the priority category 2 waitlist and this category is now open for services without a waiting period. As of July 5, 2023, eligible individuals assigned to service priority category 3 continue to be placed on a waitlist.