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DRS Services: Vocational Rehabilitation
What is vocational rehabilitation (VR)? How do you contact us? Who is eligible? What is a consumer? What services are available? What do services cost? How do you apply? What are the steps in the VR process? What are your rights? What are your responsibilities? What is the Client Assistance Program? Where can you get more information? Related Services
Vocational Rehabilitation
What is vocational rehabilitation (VR)?
Vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs offered by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division of Visual Services help Oklahomans with disabilities get jobs in careers of their choice. DVR and DVS are divisions of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).
How do you contact us?
For more information about vocational rehabilitation and employment services, contact lsantin@drs.state.ok.us. You may also phone our toll free hotline at (800) 487-4042 (Voice) or (800) 845-8476 (TTY/TDD) to have your call routed to the nearest office.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services if you have a physical or mental disability that keeps you from working and you need vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, find, keep or return to employment.
What is a consumer?
A consumer is an individual with a disability who is eligible for services provided by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Division of Visual Services through the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. We use the word to emphasize that our clients are involved in making decisions about what services they consume or use.
What services are available?
The primary vocational rehabilitation (VR) services are counseling and guidance with job placement. Other services compensate for, correct or prevent disability-based barriers to employment, these services are highly individualized for each consumer's specific needs.
Medical and/or psychological assessments are used to determine eligibility and review consumers' background, abilities, disability-related barriers to employment and rehabilitation needs.
Vocational evaluation, counseling and career planning guidance are provided by counselors to consumers throughout the rehabilitation process.
Information and referral help individuals get appropriate services from other agencies.
Employment services, including job search, placement and follow-up services, help consumers find and keep suitable employment in their chosen careers.
Assistive technology, including telecommunications, sensory and other rehabilitation equipment and devices, enable consumers to function more effectively in the workplace.
Training includes vocational, post-secondary, on-the-job, personal and vocational adjustment training, job search skills development and job coaching.
Diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental disabilities may be provided to enhance consumers' employment opportunities when services are not available through health insurance or other benefits.
Maintenance helps pay for additional costs connected with being evaluated to determine eligibility or receiving certain services under an IPE.
Transportation is provided in connection with other services needed to reach employment goals.
Instructional services, such as rehabilitation teaching and orientation and mobility services, assist individuals who are blind.
Self-employment programs help individuals who want to work for themselves, telecommute using computers or operate their own businesses.
Personal assistance services are available while individuals are receiving VR services.
Transition School-to-Work services help high school students with disabilities prepare for and reach employment goals.
Supported employment assists individuals with severe physical, emotional, mental or multiple disabilities with employment in the community.
Post-employment services help consumers get, keep or move ahead in their jobs.
Specialized programs assist consumers who are blind, deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and individuals with speech impairments, severe disabilities and those who require independent living services.
Foreign language interpreter services enable individuals who do not speak English to participate in their vocational rehabilitation programs.
What do services cost?
Some services, such as medical examinations to determine if you are eligible for services, vocational counseling and job placement, are always provided at no charge to you. You may be asked to share the cost of some other services, depending on your income and financial resources.
How do you apply?
Individuals may apply at DVR/DVS field offices located throughout Oklahoma. To find the nearest office, check the Office Locator feature on this web site or email lsantin@drs.state.ok.us.
You can phone our toll free hotline at (800) 487-4042 (Voice) or (800) 845-8476 (TTY/TDD) to have your call routed to the nearest office.
Offices can also be located by checking the government "blue pages" in your local phone book.
What are the steps in the VR process?
Step 1: Applying for services
Staff will arrange for you to make an application and meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor so you can provide the information needed for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or Division of Visual Services to determine if you are eligible for services. You can speed up the application process by bringing current medical, psychological and/or educational records or other information about your disability with you to the appointment.
Step 2: Evaluating your disability
DVR/DVS must evaluate your disability to find out if you are eligible. You may be asked to help get medical or other records. If additional tests are needed, DVR/DVS will pay for the tests needed to determine your eligibility. The purposes of the evaluation are to gather diagnostic information and explore your background, abilities, disability-related barriers to employment and rehabilitation needs.
Step 3: Determining your eligibility
DVR/DVS has 60 days from the time you apply to determine whether or not you are eligible for services unless you and your counselor agree to an extension. Even when you are not eligible for VR services or when you are placed on a waiting list, DVR/DVS will provide vocational rehabilitation information and referral assistance to help you obtain services from other sources.
Step 4: Planning your services
If you are eligible, your DVR/DVS counselor will provide information about choices you have for developing an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). This is a plan of VR services that you will follow to get or keep suitable employment in an appropriate career. You will have the opportunity to choose an appropriate employment goal, the vocational rehabilitation services to be provided under your plan, the businesses or companies that will provide the services and the methods for providing those services.
Step 5: Receiving Vocational Rehabilitation Services
The primary vocational rehabilitation (VR) services are counseling and guidance with job placement. Other services compensate for, correct or prevent disability-based barriers to employment:
Step 6: Getting a job
Your counselor will assist you in finding a job. We also have job placement specialists who work with counselors and potential employers to match qualified consumers with suitable employment. Generally, your VR case will be closed after you have worked successfully for 90 days.
Step 7: Using post-employment services
You may be eligible for post-employment services to help keep your job, get your job back, move ahead on your job or move to a better job. If you need a lot of assistance, you may be asked to reapply for services.
What are your rights?
We are committed to treating individuals with disabilities fairly and with respect. As an applicant and as a consumer, if you are eligible for services, you can expect the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or Division of Visual Services (DVS) to do these things:
Contact you by phone or in person within 30 days if you are referred for services or ask DVR or DVS about services.
Evaluate you for and provide DVR/DVS services, if you are eligible, without regard to your race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability.
Determine whether you are eligible to receive services, generally within 60 days. If you are legally blind, you will also be referred to a rehabilitation teacher to find out if you are eligible for rehabilitation teaching services.
Include you as a full participant in decisions about your vocational rehabilitation.
Look for services and benefits available to you through other programs.
Provide relevant information so that you can make informed choices about your program.
Authorize services for you according to your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).
Notify you in writing as soon as possible about any negative decision concerning your case.
Inform you about your rights and responsibilities as an applicant and/or consumer of DVR/DVS services, including your rights to pursue mediation, get decisions reviewed by an impartial hearing officer and/or get help from the Client Assistance Program (CAP).
What are your responsibilities?
You also have responsibilities as an applicant or consumer. To help make your vocational rehabilitation a success, you should:
Provide information and be available to complete the assessment process to find out if you are eligible for services.
Be on time and keep appointments with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or Division of Visual Services staff, doctors and others.
Call in advance or as soon as possible, if you cannot come to an appointment.
Follow the advice of doctors and other medical professionals.
Apply for and use benefits, services and additional sources of funding (such as education grants, public welfare programs and private insurance) to help pay for your vocational rehabilitation services if other funding is available to you.
Participate with your DVR/DVS counselor in developing your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).
Make progress toward completing the steps outlined in your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) in order to reach your employment goal.
Attend education or training classes on a regular basis and make at least passing grades, if your IPE includes these services.
Review your IPE with your counselor at least once per year and participate in making revisions to the plan when needed.
Work with your counselor to get or keep suitable employment when your other services are completed.
What is the Client Assistance Program?
Client Assistance Program (CAP) is an advocacy program which is not part of the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). CAP staff can help you communicate concerns and work out disagreements through administrative, mediation, legal and other solutions. For more information, contact:
Client Assistance Program (CAP)
2712 Villa Prom
Oklahoma City, OK 73107-2423
Phone: (405) 521-3756 Voice/TTY/TDD
Toll Free: (800) 522-8224Voice/TTY/TDD
Where can you get more information?
People who are blind and those with visual impairments should contact the Division of Visual Services at kklohr@drs.state.ok.us. Legal blindness occurs when visual acuity with best correction is 20/200 or less or when side vision results in a field restriction of 20 degrees or less.
People who have other disabilities should contact the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation at lsantin@drs.state.ok.us.
To obtain more detailed information on DRS rules and regulations read Title
612 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code and Register. There is no direct access link to the DRS Policy Manual, but you can click on the link below and then select the blue “View Code” button on the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. After that just scroll down and select “Title 612: State Department of Rehabilitation Services” to view DRS’s Policy Manual. http://204.87.112.100/oar/codedoc02.nsf/frmMain?
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Related Services
American
Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Program
The American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program is designed to assist
eligible Native Americans with disabilities in becoming employed.
In Oklahoma, the program provides culturally appropriate services to individuals
through a cooperative effort between the state of Oklahoma and Federal and Tribal
service providers.
Examples of available services include vocational, medical and psychological evaluations, vocational counseling and guidance, physical; and mental restoration, training, rehabilitation equipment and devices and job placement.
In counties served by participating Nations or Tribes, individuals may be eligible for services if they:
- have a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card
- reside within an area served by a participating Nation or Tribe
- have physical or mental disabilities which are barriers to employment
- can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services to obtain an employment outcome
- require VR services to get, keep or return to work
A tribal liaison from the Department of Rehabilitation Services provides technical assistance to the program which is funded through the U. S. Department of Education Grant Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.
Tribal Liaison
Department of Rehabilitation Services
3535 N.W. 58th Street, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
(405) 951-3400
For more information, contact ajhall@drs.state.ok.us.
Business Enterprise Program (Vending Facilities)
The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) trains and assists people who are blind or visually impaired in establishing and operating food service businesses in public and private facilities across the state. The Division of Visual Services equips locations, provides initial inventory and offers on-going technical support.
Licensed BEP managers must complete vending facility training courses. They must also pay a percentage of net proceeds to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, which matches federal funds to support the program.
Total sales generated by BEP managers average over $7 million each year.
Business Enterprise Program
Division of Visual Services
Department of Rehabilitation Services
8 NW 8th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 231-1060 Voice/TTY
For more information, contact kklohr@drs.state.ok.us.
Career Planning Centers
Consumers are referred to Career Planning Centers located in Lawton, Oklahoma City and Tulsa by their counselors. The centers increase consumer success by offering:
- Great labor market information
- Career exploration avenues
- Solutions to vocational barriers
- Vocational rehabilitation planning assistance
- Opportunities to find the perfect employment match
- Assessments or evaluations, regardless of the ability to read or write
Vocational evaluators at the Career Planning Centers are trained to match individuals with employment opportunities by measuring aptitude, achievement, motor skills, reasoning, social skills and actual abilities that are specific to the consumer's chosen field of work.
To receive services, Oklahomans with disabilities must first meet with a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
For more information, contact rgholder@drs.state.ok.us.
Jobline
Oklahomans with disabilities can find out about nationwide job openings 24 hours per day over the telephone through America's Jobline Network®. The Jobline system provides access to America's Job Bank, the most extensive online database of job listings from all states.
Position descriptions and application instructions are provided in high quality synthetic speech. Users can search for job openings nationally or by locality.
This service is operated in Oklahoma by the Division of Visual Services and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Nationally, Jobline is a program of the National Federation of the Blind in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor.
To access Jobline, call: Toll Free Statewide (800) 414-5748
Information on how to use Jobline is available from Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services counselors around the state.
For more information, contact ghdemartra@drs.state.ok.us.
Rehabilitation Technology Lab for Blindness and Low Vision
The Rehabilitation Technology Lab for Blindness and Low Vision provides free evaluations of individuals' needs and demonstrations that help people learn about and test technology that may help them reach their vocational goals. The lab is operated by the Division of Visual Services.
The lab is outfitted with various types of assistive (or adaptive) technology including talking computers, large computer images and video magnifiers.
Staff will evaluate each person and complete a report including background information on the visual condition, types of equipment the individual was evaluated on and specific equipment that proved useful.
Individuals who are blind or have low vision may contact the lab directly. Division of Visual Services counselors, employers, medical professionals or others may refer people for assistance.
Rehabilitation Technology Lab for Blindness and Low Vision
Division of Visual Services
Department of Rehabilitation Services
Shepherd Mall
2401 N.W. 23rd. Street, Suite 91
Oklahoma City 73107-2431
(405) 522-3398
(800) 523-0288 Toll Free
For more information, contact ahilliard@drs.state.ok.us
Supported
Employment
The Community Rehabilitation Services Unit (CRS) in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation oversees several specialized job placement programs and projects serving individuals with severe disabilities and those with the most severe disabilities. The unit creates new placement services and provides technical assistance and training to agencies under contract to deliver services to DRS consumers and to DRS staff.
CRS operates the supported employment program, which is a specialized type of job placement for people with the "most severe" disabilities. DRS contracts with multiple vendors across the state to provide intensive, specialized "job coaching" that individuals require to choose a job, learn the tasks, and keep the job.
Employment and Retention is a CRS job placement program designed for individuals with severe disabilities who require "short term" job coaching, beyond what is available in typical job placement programs, in order to obtain, learn, and/or keep a job. DRS contracts with vendors statewide to provide these services.
CRS's Oklahoma Milestone Payment System received awards from the Ford Foundation and other government groups for cutting government spending, improving service delivery and increasing consumer satisfaction by linking payment for contract services to a series of checkpoints, or "milestones," on the way to specific goals or outcomes, such as employment.
For more information, contact csames@drs.state.ok.us.
Ticket to Work
Those affected by the new Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Investment Act (TWWIIA) legislation currently receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The intent of the federal legislation is to assist these individuals in becoming employed, thus reducing or eliminating their need for disability benefits and social services assistance.
Under the Ticket to Work program, the Social Security Administration began distributing tickets to over 100,000 Oklahomans between the ages of 18 and 64 who are SSDI and SSI recipients with disabilities.
The tickets can be used to purchase services from service providers called employment networks which will provide employment assistance, vocational rehabilitation services and other support services. The Department of Rehabilitation Services' (DRS's) divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services will form a primary employment network with links to more than 50 partners under contract to provide services throughout the state.
For more information about the implementation of Ticket to work, contact Jason Price at jprice@drs.state.ok.us
Transition
from School to Work
The Transition School-to-Work Program helps students with disabilities who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for employment and life after high school. Services available through Division of Vocational Rehabilitation counselors assigned to each high school include:
Vocational counseling and guidance assists teachers, parents and students in developing appropriate career goals
Vocational assessment and evaluation helps determine students' employment-related strengths
Work study provides job readiness skills, work experience and high school credits
Work site learning, arranged through "cooperative agreements" with schools, provides minimum-wage work in the community or at school, job readiness skills, work experience and high school credits
Work adjustment training is purchased from community-based facilities
On-the-job training is arranged in the community for students in the second semester of their senior years with permanent employment as a goal
Supported employment helps students in the second semester of their senior years transition into permanent employment
Job development and placement specialists help students make job searches more successful
After graduation, DVR counselors and students continue to work toward vocational and employment goals
Some services are available to all eligible individuals without charge. At this point, individuals may be asked to share the cost of some services, depending on income and financial resources.
Transition School-to-Work
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
2401 N.W. 23rd Street, Suite 59
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73107
(405) 522-6522
(800) 951-845-8476
For more information, contact ljgameson@drs.state.ok.us.