Illinois vocational rehabilitation focus shifts    

[DEC. 31, 2004]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services is implementing a policy designed to enhance the division's focus on serving individuals with the most significant disabilities through the vocational rehabilitation program. This policy change, which will require a temporary moratorium on intake effective Jan. 4 through Feb. 11, will provide opportunities for staff to offer more intensive services to their current customers.

When intake is resumed on Feb. 14, only individuals with the most significant disabilities will receive vocational rehabilitation services. Upon the reopening of intake, Division of Rehabilitation Services staff will be using a functional analysis that is used to determine how the customer's disability affects them vocationally, including their ability to maintain or gain employment.

"The change gives us an opportunity to review our current policies to make sure we are serving those with the most significant disabilities, as is required by federal law," explained Kristine A. Smith, assistant director.

Recognized as a national leader in providing vocational rehabilitation services, the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services is dedicated to helping people with the most significant disabilities obtain and maintain employment that pays a living wage, provides health insurance benefits and enables them to leave their Social Security benefits behind. During fiscal 2004, 8,053 individuals with disabilities entered competitive employment through the program in Illinois. The entire budget for the program is $104 million, with the state contributing $12 million.

"This new policy shouldn't prevent any person with a disability from achieving his or her employment goals," said Ann Ford, executive director, Illinois Network Centers for Independent Living. "Instead, it will help create a level playing field for those whose disabilities are more complex and whose needs exceed what other employment services are able to provide."

"Christopher" is one of the thousands of Division of Rehabilitation Services customers who went to work in fiscal 2004. Like many people who receive Social Security benefits, Christopher, who was working part time, was concerned that he could lose his benefits if he found a better job. Christopher talked with a benefits planning specialist who helped him understand the value in self-sufficiency versus sole reliance on state benefits. Empowered with this information, Christopher found the full-time job he had always wanted. He works at a social service agency and says: "I've always had an interest in helping others. I love challenges. On this job, each day is different and I love the positive aspects of it."

The Division of Rehabilitation Services has helped countless individuals like Christopher obtain quality employment that allows them to become totally self-sufficient and no longer dependent on Social Security benefits. Jon, who has an orthopedic and neurological-related disability, earns more than $30,000 per year as a parts manager at an automobile dealership. "Albaro," a young man who is deaf, works full time as a machinist, earning $10.50 per hour. Born with cerebral palsy, "Meagan" earns $7.50 per hour working as a full-time office support person.

By focusing resources on people with the most significant disabilities, the Division of Rehabilitation Services will continue to help more customers become self-sufficient.

[Illinois Department of Human Services news release]