Virginia DARS Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS)
Description:
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) offers vocational rehabilitation programs and services to assist people with disabilities to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment.
Our team is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have opportunities to compete for and enjoy high quality employment. We collaborate with individuals with disabilities and community partners to empower individuals to maximize their employment, working towards economic self-sufficiency and independence.
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This program helps individuals on the autism spectrum prepare for the world of work through a comprehensive model that incorporates effective VR practices, evidence based services, meaningful collaboration, and access to providers with essential expertise, knowledge and skills for working with persons with autism.
The Consumer Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program helps people with disabilities get ready for, find, and keep a job. It helps to increase their ability to live independently in their communities. The Consumer VR program works with individuals with every type of disability. VR services include but are not limited to, vocational counseling, training, and job placement.
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program helps individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened or DeafBlind get ready for work, find a job or keep a job.
The office partners with community rehabilitation providers to provide employment and vocational services throughout the state. We provide long-term support fund management; standards oversight of Employment Services Organizations (ESOs); administration of the Economic Development Fund, and coordination and support of special programs.
DRS works together with students, youth, families, schools and community agencies and organizations to provide services that promote successful transitions from school to work and adult life.
DARS provides a variety of assistive technology (AT) services to agency clients, staff, and employers who hire DARS clients. The RTS team is comprised of AT Specialists (ATS) and Rehabilitation Engineering (RE) professionals who look for AT solutions that remove barriers to employment.
Self-employment is an option that may be considered for any DRS customer when it is determined through the IPE (Employment Plan) process that this is an appropriate method for that individual to reach the established employment goal.
The program enhances consumer community and vocational successes by providing vocational development, placement, and job retention services, primarily in conjunction with 10 CSBs/BHAs located throughout the Commonwealth.
DRS work in conjunction with DBHDS to address job entry and maintenance problems experienced by people with Substance Abuse Disorders (SUD) by focusing on vocational development, work habits, job readiness, and employment follow-along services along with collaborative CSB/BHA clinical and social supports.
This service is one of many effective ways of assisting persons with disabilities in gaining and maintaining employment. DARS partners with over 75 Employment Service Organizations in providing situational assessment, job development, placement and training services and long term follow along.
Ticket to Work is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work. Individuals who receive Social Security benefits because of a disability and are age 18 through 64 probably already qualify for the program. If you know you have a TTW, notify your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for proper ticket assignment.