News and Information
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS)
Mission Statement
In partnership with people with disabilities and their families, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services collaborates with the public and private sectors to provide and advocate for the highest quality services that empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and full inclusion into society.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program was established under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals with disabilities so that they may prepare for and engage in gainful employment. The DRS VR program provides direct services to consumers through its 36 field offices located throughout the Commonwealth. Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center provides consumers with residential or outpatient programs ranging from early medical rehabilitation to complete vocational services and re-entry into the community. In Federal Fiscal Year 2003, the DRS VR program served 30,500 individuals, of whom 93% had significant disabilities. The VR program provides a comprehensive range of services, including vocational evaluation, job placement, career counseling, vocational and academic training, rehabilitation and assistive technology, physical restoration and personal assistance services.
In addition to its Field Rehabilitative Services (FRS) program, DRS has strong partnerships with many community-based rehabilitation providers across the Commonwealth and supports facility-based employment and supported employment services for the Employment Services Organizations (ESOs), the community rehabilitation providers in Virginia.
DRS also works closely with private, non-profit Centers for Independent Living which provide independent living skills, training, advocacy, information and referral and peer counseling for individuals with disabilities.
Reports
DRS State Plan
DRS is required to file a State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment with the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration, annually. Topics covered in the State Plan include:
- Rehabilitation and career needs of people with disabilities
- Methods to expand and improve services to meet those needs
- Services provided by Employment Services Organizations (ESOs)
- Quality, scope and extent of Supported Employment services
- Transition of students with disabilities, including students with disabilities who are not in special education programs, from education to vocational rehabilitation.
- FY 2005 - 2006 State Plan (Word)
- FY 04-05 State Plan and Preprint Document (Word)
- FY 2003 - 2004 State Plan (Word)
- FY 2002 - 2003 State Plan (Word)
- FY 2001 - 2002 State Plan (Word)
- FY 2000 - 2001 State Plan (Word)
- FY 1999 - 2000 State Plan (Word)
An important Attachment to the State Plan summarizes recommendations and advice provided by the SRC to DRS, and presents the agency's response to these recommendations. In the current State Plan (Word), the SRC's advice to DRS is contained in Attachment 4.2(c) (Word).
Each year, DRS conducts special hearings for the purpose of obtaining public input into its State Plan.
2003 State Plan Public Comments (Word)
2002 State Plan Public Comments (Word)
The SRC and DRS invite public comment at any time to assist in the development of the State Plan. You may submit public comment on the next DRS State Plan to:
Ms. Elizabeth E. Smith
Director of Policy and Planning
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
8004 Franklin Farms Drive (23229)
Richmond, VA 23229
Voice: (804) 662-7071
Voice Toll Free in Virginia: (800) 552-5019
TTY: (804) 662-9040
TTY Toll Free in Virginia: (800) 464-9950
Fax: (804) 662-7696
E-mail: SRC Web
SRC Annual Report
The SRC submits an Annual Report to the Commissioner of the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration and to the Governor of Virginia on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs operated within the state.
- 2007 Annual Report (PDF | Large Print - Word)
- 2006 Annual Report (PDF | Large Print - Word)
- 2005 Annual Report (PDF)
- 2004 Annual Report (PDF)
- 2003 Annual Report (Word)
- 2002 Annual Report (Word)
- 2001 Annual Report (Word)
- 2000 Annual Report (Word)
Copies may be obtained by contacting the SRC Liaison at SRC Web.
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998
In 1998, the federal laws governing job training programs, adult education and literacy programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs were rewritten to create workforce development systems at the state level to handle these programs in a more flexible and streamlined fashion. Governor James S. Gilmore, III, designated the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) as the lead agency for implementation of the Workforce Investment Act in Virginia. The VEC's Workforce Investment Act Website has more information on how this is being done, and links to job listings and CareerConnect, Virginia's one-stop electronic workforce development system.
The Virginia Workforce Council
To assist the Governor in meeting workforce training needs in the Commonwealth, and to serve as the state workforce investment board for the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Virginia Workforce Council (VWC) was established by the Virginia General Assembly in February, 1999. The VWC held its initial meeting on August 12, 1999, at which time committee members were appointed to guide the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act in Virginia.
