OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES

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OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES
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What Kinds of Jobs Do Our Clients Find?

• Any sort of job you can imagine.
• Examples
• Pharmacist
• Nurse
• Teacher
• Clerical
• Janitorial
• Food Service

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How Does the Process Work?

• Submit an application for services and meet with
  a counselor to determine if services are
  appropriate.
• At this time, there is no limit to the number of
  times an applicant can apply for services.

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Eligibility

• Can benefit in terms of an employment outcome
  from vocational rehabilitation services (benefit)
• Physical or mental impairment which constitutes
  substantial impediment to employment
  (impediment)
• Requires vocational rehabilitation services to
  prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful
  employment. (need)

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Eligibility

• Anyone who receives SSI and/or SSDI is
  presumptively eligible for services. Applying
  for DRS services does not help with eligibility
  for social security benefits.
• Eligibility is determined by review of medical
  records to identify impediments to employment.

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Priority Groups

• When eligibility is determined, the client will
  be placed in a priority group based upon the
  severity of their disabilities and their
  functional limitations.
• To make this determination we look at functional
  limitations which may be affected, such as social
  skills, mobility, work tolerance, etc.

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Priority Groups

• There are three priority groups with Group One
  being the most severe.
• Budget constraints sometimes require the closure
  of priority groups. When a group is closed, the
  applicant goes on a waiting list until funds are
  available.
• At this time, all priority groups are open.

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Planning

• The counselor may order a vocational evaluation
  to help the client determine vocational goals by
  career exploration.
• The vocational evaluation also identifies
  academic deficiencies and strengths. It may be
  used to justify, or rule out, post-secondary
  education.

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Vocational Evaluation

• The vocational evaluation will also identify
  market trends and growth in the area of
  vocational interest.
• This assessment is done by the agency at no cost
  to the client and cannot be used to determine
  eligibility.

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Vocational Evaluation

• A vocational evaluation includes paper and pencil
  testing, computer exploration of vocations as
  well as hands on activities such as visual
  perception and mechanical ability.

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Plan Development

• The plan (IPE) is individually developed to
  remove impediments to employment.
• The plan should take into account client
  interests, skills and limitations as well as the
  job outlook for the vocational goal.
• It differs from an IEP in that the focus is on
  employment not education.

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Goals

• Each plan will detail a vocational goal
• The plan will specify progress criteria toward
  that goal
• The plan addresses the disability

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Services

• All services are job related and must be
  justified.
• DRS is not a medical or dental care provider.
• When planned services are agreed upon, both the
  counselor and the client will sign the plan.

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Service Examples

• Assistive technology devices
  
• Counseling and guidance
  
• Drivers training
• Employment and retention
• Glasses

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Service Examples

• Job placement
  
• Post employment services
• Supported employment services
• Transportation
• Vocational /college training
• Work clothing

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Cost of Services

• The counselor will review income guidelines and
  the clients finances. Medical expenses can be
  deducted. Many services are free. Client
  participation is determined prior to the signing
  of the plan.

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SERVICES

• Counseling and guidance will be provided on an as
  needed basis by drs
• DRS staff dates 
• Assistive technology devices to provide
  accommodations as recommended by a rehabilitation
  engineer
• Unknown vendor dates
• Tuition, books, fees and certification
  examination fees to complete office skills
  training program
• Moore Norman Tech Ctr dates

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SERVICES

• Job placement assistance will be provided on an
  as needed basis by drs
• DRS staff dates
• Personal adjustment counseling will be provided
  on a short term basis with 12 sessions. Primary
  pay
• Alan DuPuis LPC dates 
• I will follow all professional medical advice as
  well as prescribed medications during the course
  of my case.
• Private physician dates

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SERVICES

• Transportation expenses associated with training
  will be my responsibility at no cost to drs.
• Family dates
• Post employment services will be assessed and
  provided on an as needed basis by drs staff
• DRS staff dates

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Implementation

• All services must be pre-authorized.
• Plans are designed to be flexible and can be
  amended as needed during the life of the case.

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Case Closure

• Successful after a client has been employed for
  90 days (or 12 weeks for supported employment),
  their case is closed successfully.
• Successful closures allow the agency to receive
  more federal money to help others.

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Case Closure

• Unsuccessful closure a case which does not
  result in employment is closed unsuccessfully.
  The case may be red-flagged if the client abused
  services.
• A red-flagged case can affect future services.

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Post Employment Services

• Post employment services are designed to assist a
  client with additional services that may be
  required after successful closure.
• Examples
• repairs to prosthesis,
• resume writing
• The counselor will determine if a new case should
  be opened.

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Transition Services

• Transition services are designed to help a
  student make the adjustment from high school to
  the world of work.
• Minimum age for application is 16. Any student
  with an IEP or section 504 plan is probably
  eligible for DRS services.
• Also, any student who can document a disability
  which fits the eligibility criteria is likely to
  be eligible for services.

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Transition Referrals

• Referrals are usually made by the school
  counselor or Special Education teacher.
• If you think someone would benefit from services,
  please make the referral. There may be
  limitations which are not apparent that will
  surface during our evaluation process.

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Transition Services

• OJT provides paid hands-on training in specific
  occupational skills that students receive as part
  of their workplace experiences. This service is
  provided through a contract with the employer.
• WAT provides students with vocational training,
  including soft skills, work behaviors, and
  specific work tasks provided by a contract with a
  community-based facility (18 month maximum
  duration).

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Why Refer Students

• DRS Counselors can attend IEP meetings and parent
  meetings to educate families on services provided
  and to assist the student with job placement or
  training.

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Paid Work Experience Samples

• Custodial
• Daycare assistant
• Library aid
• Office assistant
• Mail clerk
• Teachers aid
• Sports team manager
• Landscape maintenance
• Information services assistant

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Visual Services

• Individuals who are
• blind
• have significant visual impairments or
• have diabetes.
• Provides help with job placement, adjustment to
  vision loss and services for older blind
  individuals.

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Hearing Impairment and Deafness

• Individuals whose primary disability is hearing
  loss or deafness are served by this division of
  DRS.

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Hispanic Services

• DRS has counselors who specialize in providing
  services to Hispanic families across Oklahoma.
• This unit handles incoming calls on a statewide
  toll-free line for Spanish speakers by
  interviewing callers and providing information
  about DRS, the number is 1-800-523-1565.

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Assistive Technology and Evaluation

• DRS evaluators meet with clients to determine
  appropriate assistive technology and recommend
  accommodations. These evaluators have received
  specialized training in the latest technical
  advances.

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Benefits Planning

• Benefits planners meet with clients to explain
  how much money they can earn before their SS
  benefits are affected.
• They will also answer questions about various SS
  programs.

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Retention Services

• Retention services are designed to assist clients
  who are already working. They are the same
  services available to other clients, but client
  participation in the cost of services is more
  likely. Examples
• hearing aids
• prosthesis
• vehicle modifications

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DDSD

• Developmental disabilities services division is a
  part of DHS. They provide services to
  individuals with developmental disabilities to
  assist them to be as independent as possible.

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Contacting DRS

• Call the statewide toll-free number at
• 1-800-487-4042.
• WWW.OKDRS.ORG
• Transition Coordinator Kim Osmani - 405-635-2768

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Definitions

• SSI supplemental security income - usually the
  full amount is 674. Determination made by
  Disability Determination Division for Social
  Security. DDD is a division of DRS. SSI is for
  individuals who have not worked enough quarters
  to quality for SSDI.

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Definitions

• SSDI Social Security Disability Income. The
  amount depends on the amount of income earned
  while working. Beneficiaries have worked the
  required number of quarters. Determination made
  by DDD.

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Definitions

• Employer Work Study Paid work experience in the
  community where students receive credit. Done
  through a contract with DRS and schools.

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Definitions

• Individualized Education Program (IEP) An
  educational program implemented while in school
  that includes special education and related
  services to be provided, along with annual goals,
  objectives, and activities.

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Definitions

• Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) A plan
  for employment developed by DRS that takes into
  consideration the young adults needs, strengths,
  and interests, and assists in obtaining
  employment skills and experiences to reach
  employment.

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Definitions

• On-The-Job Training (OJT) Paid Work experience
  in the community through a contract between DRS
  and the employer.

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Definitions

• School Work Study Paid work experience on
  school campus where students receive credit.
  This is done through contracts between DRS and
  schools.

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Definitions

• Section 504 Plan This plan requires that no
  persons with disabilities shall be excluded from
  participation in, be denied benefits of, or
  otherwise be subject to discrimination. It
  applies to preschool through adult education
  programs. Individuals must be provided a free
  appropriate public education regardless of the
  nature or severity of disability.

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Definitions

• Work Site Learning Paid work experience off
  school campus where students receive credit.
  This is done through contracts between DRS and
  schools.

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• Jan Hatch - Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation
  Services
• Thanks to Kim Osmani for reference materials