Division Policy 2.02

SUBJECT

Informed Choice

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 18, 2003

REVISION DATE

April 29, 2025

EXPIRATION DATE

N/A

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

The Division of Blind Services (DBS) may sponsor services under the vocational rehabilitation program to meet the vocational needs of an individual with a disability and assist the individual in preparing for, securing, maintaining, advancing in or regaining an employment outcome consistent with the individual’s unique Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) when such goals meet the requirements of 34 CFR 361.5(c)(15). In compliance with requirements in 34 CFR § 361.52, and consistent with the provisions of section 102(d) of the Rehabilitation Act and the requirements of this section, DBS will provide applicants and eligible individuals or, as appropriate, their representatives, information, and support services to assist applicants and eligible individuals in exercising informed choice throughout the rehabilitation process.

AUTHORITY

34 CFR § 361.52

POLICY

Informed Choice means the individual has ample information and resources regarding services and service providers to make decisions throughout the vocational rehabilitation process. Informed choice is a decision-making process that occurs throughout the individual’s experience in the VR program. Section 102(d) of the Act requires each VR agency to develop and implement written policies and procedures that enable each applicant or eligible individual to exercise informed choice throughout the entire rehabilitation process. DBS will follow its written policies to:  

  1. Inform each applicant and recipient of services (participant) (including blind and visually students and youth), through appropriate modes of communication, about the availability of and opportunities to exercise informed choice, including the availability of support services for individuals with cognitive or other disabilities who require assistance in exercising informed choice throughout the vocational rehabilitation process;
  2. Assist applicants and recipients of services in exercising informed choice in decisions related to the provision of assessment services;
  3. Develop and implement flexible procurement policies and methods that facilitate the provision of DBS vocational rehabilitation services and that afford recipients of services meaningful choices among the methods used to procure vocational rehabilitation services;
  4. Assisting eligible individuals or, as appropriate, the individuals' representatives, in acquiring information that enables them to exercise informed choice in the development of their IPE with respect to the selection of:
    • An employment outcome;
    • The specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided under the plan;
    • The entities that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services;
    • The employment setting and the settings in which the services will be provided; and
    • The methods used to procure services.

In assisting an applicant and eligible individual in exercising informed choice during the assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs and during development of the IPE, DBS will provide or assist the individual or the individual's representative, in acquiring information necessary to make an informed choice about the specific vocational rehabilitation services, including the providers of those services, needed to achieve the individual's employment outcome. This information must include, at a minimum, information relating to the:

  1. Cost, accessibility, and duration of potential services;
  2. Client satisfaction and feedback (including complaints) regarding those services to the extent that information is available;
  3. Qualifications of potential service providers;
  4. Types of services offered by the potential providers;
  5. Degree to which the services are provided in an integrated setting;  
  6. Outcomes achieved by individuals working with service providers, to the extent that information is available; and
  7. Labor market information specific to the individual’s local, regional, or state area to assist with a viable vocational choice.

The following methods or sources may be utilized when providing or assisting an individual or the individual's representative in obtaining information necessary to make an informed choice regarding services or service providers:

Original signed by Robert L. Doyle, III, Director on 12/16/2025

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DISCLAIMER: Links on the Florida Division of Blind Services (DBS) website that are directed toward websites outside the DBS, provide additional information that may be useful or interesting and are being provided consistent with the intended purpose of the DBS website. DBS cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by non-DBS websites. Further, providing links to a non-DBS website does not constitute an endorsement by DBS, the Florida Department of Education or any of its employees, of the sponsors of the non-DBS website or of the information or products presented on the non-DBS website.