Department of Rehabilitative Services: A Community Resource

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Department of Rehabilitative ServicesA
Community Resource
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What is DRS?

• MISSION In partnership with people with
  disabilities, the Virginia Department of
  Rehabilitative Services (DRS) provides and
  advocates for the highest quality of services
  that empower individuals with disabilities to
  maximize their employment, independence and full
  inclusion into society.

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Who benefits from DRS?

• People with disabilities who are actively seeking
  employment, or wish to return to work
• Employers seeking skilled and qualified job
  applicants, or need help in addressing
  disability-related issues in the workplace
• Communities who recognize the wealth of talents
  from individuals with disabilities

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What is vocational rehabilitation?

• Vocational Rehabilitation is the state-federal
  program that assists persons with disabilities so
  that they may prepare for, enter, engage in, or
  retain gainful employment.

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Consumers Servednationwide

• 21 Orthopedic Disabilities
• 21 Psychological Disabilities
• 10 Mental Retardation
• 10 Substance Abuse
• 9 Learning Disabilities
• 6 Visual Impairments
• 5 Hearing Impairments
• 2 Neurological Disabilities
• 16 Other Disabilities

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ESRD Customers Served

• In Virginia from July 1, 2001 June 30 2002 DRS
  served 544 individuals diagnosed with end stage
  renal disease
• 88 of these individuals were closed in gainful
  employment
• The remaining individual were either closed
  unsuccessfully (96) or continued in their
  rehabilitation program (360)

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DRS Eligibility Criteria

• Physical or mental impairment that constitutes a
  substantial impediment to employment
• Be able to benefit from DRS services in terms of
  an employment outcome
• Requires VR services to enter, obtain or retain
  employment

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Customer Financial Participation

• The individual shall share in the cost of VR
  services except those who are exempt
• Individuals receiving TANF, SSI and SSDI are
  exempt from participating financially in the cost
  of their vocational rehabilitation
• Some services are exempt from financial
  participation, i.e. eligibility determination,
  guidance and counseling, PAS, job related
  services interpreter services and unpaid work
  experience

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Services for Consumers with Disabilities

• Diagnostic Evaluations
• Vocational Counseling
• Vocational Evaluation/Career Exploration
• Equipment/Assistive Technology
• Situational Assessment/Job Development/ Job
  Coaching

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Services Continued

• Unpaid Work Experience/On the Job Training
• Vocational Training
• Job Development/Job Placement
• Follow up Services

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Specialized Programs and Services

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
• Brain Injury Services
• Substance Abuse Services
• School-to-Work Transition Services
• Long-Term Mental Illness Services

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Community-based Programs

• Long-Term Rehabilitation Case Manage-ment
  Program
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Program
• Personal Assistance Services Program
• Nursing Home Outreach Program
• Consumer Services Fund

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Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center
Provides integrated medical and vocational
rehabilitation services addressing the
comprehensive needs of clients to improve
independence and employability.

• Counseling
• Vocational and Pre-Vocational Evaluation and
  Training
• Medical Rehabilitation Services
• Driver Education Student Internships
• Post-Secondary Education/Rehabilitation Training
  Program
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Student Residency

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As a community partner.

• Develop a relationship with your local VR office
• Think about VR for the individual who want to
  work and also for the person who is working and
  might need some intervention or accommodation to
  continue in employment
• Collaborate with the patient and the VR counselor
  in the patients rehabilitation/treatment plan
• Be proactive - ask questions and get information
  so that you can help to educate your patient
  about valuable community resources

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Give us a call!

• To find the DRS office nearest you,
  call 1-800-552-5019 (Voice)
  1-800-464-9950 (TTY)
  
• www.vadrs.org