Updated: 04/19
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), places extensive emphasis on the achievement of competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities. Per WIOA regulations, DORS counselors are responsible to verify, on a case-by-case basis, that an individual’s desired employment outcome qualifies as competitive integrated employment (CIE).
CIE outcomes under the Vocational Rehabilitation program must meet the following three criteria:
- Competitive wages
- Integrated location
- Opportunities for advancement
If an individual’s employment fails to satisfy any one of the three components, the employment will not meet the definition of CIE and is not allowable under the VR program. Sheltered workshops, mobile work crews, and enclaves do not qualify as CIE, because they do not meet the “integrated” criteria.
Other positions with the CRP as the employer of record and positions available through federal AbilityOne (JWOD) and Maryland Employment Works programs may or may not qualify as CIE, depending on the work environment and job characteristics.
Before a CRP can use DORS funding to assist an eligible individual to obtain or maintain a position funded by an AbilityOne or Maryland Employment Works contract or a position with a CRP as the employer of record, DORS staff and job developers must verify that DORS has reviewed and approved the position as CIE. To assist CRPs to identify positions approved for job development, DORS shall maintain a
list of positions for which employers have requested a CIE determination, and shall publish this list on the DORS website for reference.
If an AbilityOne, Maryland Employment Works, or position with a CRP as the employer of record is NOT one of the listed positions posted on the DORS’ website, the employer of record may request a review by DORS staff by completing the
CIE Review Request Form, which is available on the DORS website. When a CIE review is requested, a designated DORS staff member will contact the employer to complete the review.
When the CRP employer of record submits a
CIE Review Request, the CRP must provide the position description, including essential functions and qualification, and, if applicable, the AbilityOne or Maryland Employment Works contract end date. The employer must respond “True” or “False” to the seven statements below, and must sign a statement certifying those responses.
For the position to qualify as CIE, all items must be “True.” If a CRP believes one or more of these statements is not true regarding a specific position, the CRP may submit a review request and provide additional explanation for why the employer believes the position should still be considered CIE.
The position pays an hourly wage at or above the state or local minimum wage rate, whichever is higher, for the area in which the employment site is located.
At no time will the wages paid for this position be subject to “time studies” to which non-disabled individuals are not subject.
An individual employed in this position will be eligible for the same level of benefits as non-disabled employees.
This position is and will continue to be available to the individual hired regardless of the service provider with whom the individual is connected.
This position is not located within a setting established for the sole purpose of employing individuals with disabilities.
The job duties of this position are not performed in a segregated environment in the community. The position provides the same opportunity for interaction with non-disabled individuals as experienced by non-disabled peers in the same or similar positions.
This position provides the same opportunities for advancement for individuals with the most significant disabilities as those available for non-disabled peers in the same or similar positions.
