Rehabilitative Services (DRS) Blind Services (DBS) Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS)

What is DRS? Department of Rehabilitative Services We are a Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Our goal is to help individuals who have a physical or mental disability prepare for, find, and maintain employment. You MUST have a disability that has already been diagnosed.

Definition of Disability An individual with a disability is a person who: - has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities - has a record of such an impairment - is regarded as having such an impairment.

Our Primary Goal…. …is to remove the applicants impediment to employment and assist them with preparing for, obtaining, and/or maintaining employment.

What we can do Provide services that will assist you in preparing for, obtaining, or maintaining employment. Each client will receive individual services based on his/her needs and disability. - Example: (hearing aids, prosthetics, medical restoration, counseling, etc.)

Application Meeting Bring the following items: - your Driver’s license, Texas ID, or Student ID card - Social Security Card - copy of last pay stub/or parents’ last paystub or income information - SSI/SSDI award letter; Medicaid or Medicare - any current medical records or reports you have - names and addresses of any doctors you have seen recently - 2 contacts information (names, address, #)

Application Meeting You will meet with a counselor to discuss your individual disability and how it affects your ability to work. Other areas that will be discussed will be your prior work history, your education and financial situation as well as your vocational interests.

Eligibility DRS is given 60 days to determine your eligibility for our services —but doesn’t always take the full 60 days During this time, we will be requesting your school records, medical records, and scheduling appointments for diagnostic evaluations. You would not be required to pay for any evaluations. Payment will be the responsibility of DARS.

Eligibility Criterion The applicant must have a physical or mental impairment. The physical or mental impairment must constitute or result in a substantial impediment to employment. The applicant requires VR services to prepare for, obtain, or maintain an employment outcome consistent with the consumer's strengths, capabilities, interests.

Eligibility (cont.) If you receive social security… and proof is obtained to confirm this, you are presumed eligible for services. Once presumed eligible, DARS will still need to request records regarding your disability or possibly send you for assessments before proceeding with your case You are not required to receive social security to be eligible for services.

Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) If determined eligible for services, a plan of services will be determined that will help you to prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. Once IPE is completed you will start your services that you and your counselor agreed upon in order to reach your employment goal.

Communication It is very important for you to keep your counselor updated and maintain contact. If you are experiencing problems or have concerns, please let your counselor know as he/she may be able to assist. It is very important that you keep all appointments. Please let your counselor know if you can’t make it to one.