Hello,
After about six months of unnecessary delays, we are pleased to share that the Joint Committee on Finance approved the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)'s 13.10 funding request earlier this morning. The approval provides DVR with General Purpose Revenue in the amount of $600,000 in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026, and $6,400,000 in SFY 2027.
As you know, due to insufficient funding allocated to DVR by the Joint Committee on Finance in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, on December 2, 2025, DVR was forced to implement a waitlist for all new eligible participants. As of today, there are 7,610 consumers on the waitlist.
Starting today, DWD will begin activating individuals from the waitlist with a goal to eliminate the waitlist as quickly as possible. DVR will immediately begin to move individuals off the waitlist and will continue to do so at an increased rate as staffing and other resources become available. DVR will serve Category 1, individuals with the most significant disabilities, first, based on the date they applied for services. DVR will then move to serving all individuals in Category 2, those with significant needs, and finally, all other individuals in Category 3 until all individuals on the waitlist are served and new eligible individuals are not placed on a waitlist. At this point, we estimate that fully eliminating the waitlist may take until June 30, 2027, but we are committed to moving as swiftly as possible.
Thank you for your support throughout this process and as we continue to work collaboratively to support people with disabilities across the state who want to engage in the workforce and further their careers.
Meredith
Meredith Dressel
Division Administrator
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
201 East Washington Avenue G-100
Madison, WI 53707-7852
608-405-4615 (phone)
meredith.dressel@dwd.wisconsin.gov
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