1. Vehicle Modification Assessment is one of the needs assessments required (per 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.45 (c)) to justify any vehicle driver or passenger modification. 
   
   
2. Supervisor consultation.
   Supervisor consultation is strongly recommended before considering Vehicle Modification Assessment. 
   
   
3. Referral package.
   Referral for Vehicle Modification Assessment shall include the Driver Evaluation Report and Driving Prescription Report (Vehicle Modification Report), Transportation Assessment Form (RS-32), and supervisor written pre-approval for a client age 22 or younger. Costs from the Driving Prescription Report may be used on the RS-32 Form; costs in the Driving Evaluation Report may be used if the Driving Prescription Report has not yet been completed. The counselor may wish to contact the driver evaluator if more information is needed for the RS-32 Form. The RS-32 Form is not required when: 
   
   
   1. The modification cost is within the counselor authorizing authority for a single purchase, and 
      
      
   2. Either: 
      
      
      1. The request is to repair or replace existing Class I modification the client already owns and uses, or
         
          
      2. Prescriptive evaluation is not required to use the new equipment safely and appropriately.   
         
         
4. Once a lifetime.
   If DRS already sponsored vehicle modification for the client, see Chapter 8.21, VEHICLE, Policy 5 for when subsequent modifications and Vehicle Modification Assessments are permitted. 
   
   
5. Case status.
   Vehicle Modification Assessment may be authorized in Eligible status and higher after the client and counselor have agreed upon the employment goal. In extraordinary situations, the counselor may authorize Vehicle Modification Assessment under Trial Work Experiences Plan when vehicle modification is essential and the most cost effective way for the client to access trial work services.  Because vehicle modification is a complex and comprehensive service, (per 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.5 (c) (41)) Vehicle Modification Assessment and modification shall not be provided as a Post-Employment Service (PES). (See Chapter 8.22 Post-Employment Services.)​
   
   
6. Age 22 or younger.
   A client age 22 or younger is a candidate for Vehicle Modification Assessment and modification if: 
   
   
   
1. Supervisor gives written pre-approval 
   
    
2. Client is not enrolled in a public secondary (junior and senior high) school (which is a comparable benefit and has a legal mandate to provide school-related transportation services for this population)
   
    
3. Client is enrolled in a public secondary school, and the transportation is vocationally necessary, and the school is not mandated to provide the transportation (such as transportation to an after school job, to a VR service, etc.)
   
   
7. Vehicle.
   The vehicle must be appropriate for modification (See Policy 2: Section B of this chapter).
   
   
8. Driver.
   The prospective driver of the vehicle (which may be the client or someone else) must have, or in counselor judgment will be able to obtain, all of the following:
   

1. Driver or passenger.
   The client may be eligible for driver or passenger modification, but not both. The decision as to which modification is most appropriate shall be made jointly by the client, vehicle owners, and counselor and must consider the Driver Evaluation Report and any other pertinent information. The client and counselor may wish to include the driver evaluator or DRS rehabilitation engineer (or both) in this discussion.
   
   
2. Repair or replacement.
   Repair or replacement of existing Class I equipment (for definition see Chapter 8.21, VEHICLE) prescribed in the Driver Evaluation Report (Vehicle Modification Report) shall require pre-approval from the DRS rehabilitation engineer.  Additional pre-approval is required from the driver evaluator at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) unless:
   
   
   1. The person has used the Class I vehicle modification in the past, and
      
       
   2. There are no changes in client functioning level since the most recent use
      
      
3. All other Class I and any Class II (for definition see Chapter 8.21, VEHICLE, Policy 5, Section A1) recommendations/reports/prescriptions from a facility other than Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) shall require pre-approval from the WWRC driver evaluator. Requests for new, non-driving equipment, such as wheelchair loader, etc. may be submitted by telephone or e-mail. The WWRC driver evaluator will determine if a more thorough evaluation is required. 
   
   
4. Qualified assessor.
   All assessments for any vehicle modification that the person (client or prospective driver if client will be the passenger) will use for the first time shall (per Federal Register Vol. 66, No. 11, pp 4430 – 4431 guidance on 34 CFR § 361.51 concerning standards for vendors)be performed by a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist certified by ADED (The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialist) or a Certified Driving Instructor affiliated with an adapted driving program. 
   
   
5. Vehicle.
   The vehicle must be appropriate for modification (See Policy 2: Section B of this chapter).
   
   
6. Prescription.
   The assessor shall provide the counselor a final prescription for vehicle modification. 

[REVISED: 8/2/13]

DRS reserves the right to limit by make, model, or mileage the vehicles considered for modification, based on safety, cost, and the recommendation from the WWRC driver evaluator or DRS rehabilitation engineer, including these requirements:

1. The vehicle must have a current State Inspection sticker required by Virginia law § 46.2-1157 of the Code of Virginia.
   
   
2. The client must provide proof from the insurer, which becomes part of the case record, of Liability and Collision insurance on the vehicle.
   
   
3. The client must obtain Comprehensive insurance on the modification.
   
   
4. Modification of an automobile must be ruled out before considering more costly van modification.
   
   
5. If the vehicle to be modified is a used vehicle, the client must provide a Used Vehicle Inspection Form (RS-36) that indicates the vehicle is in good operating condition and is signed by ASE-certified repair shop or manufacturer-certified/ASE-certified auto mechanic who is not the vehicle owner. 
   
   
6. A vehicle older than seven (7) years or driven more than 70,000 miles may be considered for modification when: 
   
   
   1. The driver evaluator or DRS rehabilitation engineer inspects it and concludes: it is appropriate for the prescribed modification and the modification is cost effective and in the client best interest; and  
      
       
   2. The Used Vehicle Inspection Form indicates that the vehicle is, and will probably remain, in good operating condition for at least the next seven (7) years.
   
   
7. If the client or prospective driver plans to purchase the vehicle new, the counselor and DRS rehabilitation engineer shall provide information on standard features it needs to be compatible with the prescribed modification specifications.