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Job readiness checklist -

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My experience visiting the Aurora Division of Rehabilitation Services office was quite positive. I was referred to the Aurora location instead of the Elgin or Dekalb location, as my cooperative currently works with this site. Funding for DRS has been cut dramatically, which the counselor I spoke with, Stacy Zapadinsky, spoke about in detail. This has led to DRS counselors having larger case loads, and eligibility lists becoming stricter. Stacy indicated that she has worked with my cooperative for three years, with our transition team, but did not realize that there was a high school program within the cooperative as well. Somehow, this was not communicated when she began working with my cooperative, which is why DRS has not worked within our high school program to date. Going forward, I look forward to having Stacy take part in IEP meetings, especially during my students junior and senior years. During these meetings, Stacy will meet with the transition team and family to discuss transition goals, and post-secondary options.
Once students are connected with DRS, there are many services that are offered such as job placement, job trainings and counseling services.

DRS strengths lie in its ability to serve a large population of people with disabilities. If determined eligible for services, DRS offers a great deal of services to allow people with disabilities access to live, work and participate in their own communities. As previously mentioned, DRS has a limited number of clients it can take on, as funding is one of the biggest issues in the state of Illinois. I would recommend this agency because of the broad range of services it provides to people with disabilities.The agency is designed to allow a more seamless transition for students with disabilities, and the counselor I worked with seemed to be caring and proactive. Although some of my students I work with within my program would not qualify, I know that many will. I believe that the added support DRS provides for adults with disabilities to live and work in their own community is immeasurable and I look forward to collaborating with this agency going forward.

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There are no fees necessary for services and programs offered by DRS. All funding comes from the state of Illinois, and has seen budget cuts over the last few years due to our states financial situation.

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DRS offers:
- Counseling and vocational guidance - counselors are available to attend IEP meetings and will case manage. Assistance for transition goal writing or job skills is provided by DRS as well.
- Job placement services - Counselors work with community businesses to find clients job placements.
- Information and referral services - Information can be found at: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29764
- Job trainings - Counselors and job coaches use worksite checklists to monitor clients levels of job readiness and independence. See attachment section for example.

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To determine the degree of significance of the disability, DRS looks at how the disability affects:
- Mobility
-Self-Care
-Self-Direction
- Work Skills
- Work Tolerance
- Interpersonal Skills
- Communication
- Serious limitations to functional capacity
- How consistently and substantially does the disability affect functional capacity

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DRS serves men and women on a determination scale of, "most significant disabilities, a very significant disability and significant disability." Prior to determining the significance of an individual's disability, it must be determined that he or she: has a disability, or a combination of disabilities that cause, "substantial physical or mental impairment that is similar but not limited to the following list of disabilities":
A)        amputation,
B)        arthritis,
C)        autism,
D)        blindness,
E)        burn injury,
F)         cancer,
G)        cerebral palsy,
H)        cystic fibrosis,
I)         deafness,
J)         head injury,
K)        heart disease,
L)        hemiplegic,
M)       hemophilia,
N)        respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction,
O)        mental retardation,
P)         mental illness,
Q)        multiple sclerosis,
R)        muscular dystrophy,
S)         musculo-skeletal disorders,
T)         neurological disorders (including stroke and epilepsy),
U)        paraplegia,
V)        quadriplegia (and other spinal cord conditions),
W)       sickle cell anemia,
X)        specific learning disabilities, or
Y)        end stage renal failure disease;
Z)         has a disability, or a combination of disabilities, that seriously limits his or her functional capacities,

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Primary Contact: Stacy Zapadinsky, M.A
- Rehabilitation Counselor
Address: 888 S. Edgelawn Dr. Ste 1771, Aurora, IL 60506
Phone: 630-892-7417 Ext 217.
E-mail: Stacy.Zapadinsky@illinois.gov

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"DHS's Division of Rehabilitation Services is the state's lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. DRS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities"