BRS Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A low-vision client who reads large print is offered a data entry position. Which workplace accommodation would BEST address their functional need?
- Large high-resolution monitor with adjustable font size and screen magnification software (Correct answer)
- Audio screen reader replacing all visual access
- Braille keyboard and refreshable Braille display
- Reduced workload with extended deadlines only
Correct answer: Large high-resolution monitor with adjustable font size and screen magnification software
Screen magnification software combined with a large monitor leverages the client's remaining functional vision for sustained data entry tasks.
Question 2: Which vocational outcome measure BEST demonstrates the success of a state VR program under WIOA Title I accountability requirements?
- Employment in competitive integrated employment at or above minimum wage (Correct answer)
- Placement in any paid work including sheltered workshops
- Completion of a skills training program regardless of employment outcome
- Attainment of an IPE goal regardless of employment status
Correct answer: Employment in competitive integrated employment at or above minimum wage
WIOA measures VR success by placement in competitive integrated employment at or above minimum wage, reflecting the law's emphasis on real community-based employment.
Question 3: A BRS is working with a client who is deafblind. Which specialist should MOST likely be included in the vocational rehabilitation team?
- Intervener or support service provider (SSP) specialist (Correct answer)
- Low vision optometrist only
- Assistive technology specialist for vision only
- Job coach without deafblind-specific training
Correct answer: Intervener or support service provider (SSP) specialist
Individuals who are deafblind require interveners or SSPs who bridge communication and environmental access — a specialized role central to VR planning.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of an on-the-job training (OJT) agreement in VR services for a blind client?
- A formal agreement where an employer trains a client for a specific job in exchange for a wage subsidy (Correct answer)
- A contract requiring the employer to hire the client permanently after training
- An arrangement where the client trains without pay to gain experience
- A sheltered employment contract between the VR agency and a workshop
Correct answer: A formal agreement where an employer trains a client for a specific job in exchange for a wage subsidy
OJT agreements formalize employer-provided training with a VR wage reimbursement subsidy, incentivizing employers to hire and train individuals with disabilities.
Question 5: Self-employment as a vocational outcome for a blind client requires the BRS to PRIMARILY assess:
- Business viability, client entrepreneurial skills, and available support networks (Correct answer)
- Whether the client can pass a sighted driving test for deliveries
- The client's ability to read standard print business forms independently
- Whether SSA will automatically reduce benefits upon business launch
Correct answer: Business viability, client entrepreneurial skills, and available support networks
BRS assessment for self-employment focuses on the business plan's feasibility, the client's skills, and the supports needed to sustain an accessible enterprise.
Question 6: A client's Individualized Plan for Employment includes orientation and mobility training as a vocational service. This is justified because:
- Independent travel to and from the workplace is essential for maintaining employment (Correct answer)
- O&M training is required for all VR clients regardless of employment goal
- The VR counselor prefers O&M over other training options
- SSA requires O&M certification before approving work incentives
Correct answer: Independent travel to and from the workplace is essential for maintaining employment
O&M training is a vocational service when it directly supports the client's ability to travel independently to, from, and within the work environment.
Question 7: Which of the following employer engagement strategies has been shown to be MOST effective in increasing hiring of individuals who are blind?
- Educating employers through direct contact, job fairs, and successful employment demonstrations (Correct answer)
- Posting client resumes on general job boards without employer outreach
- Mandating employer hiring quotas through VR agency contracts
- Relying solely on the ADA's legal requirements to prompt employer hiring
Correct answer: Educating employers through direct contact, job fairs, and successful employment demonstrations
Direct employer education and demonstrating successful employment outcomes are the most evidence-based strategies for overcoming employer bias and increasing hiring.
BRS Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment 5
A low-vision client who reads large print is offered a data entry position.
Which workplace accommodation would BEST address their functional need?