DRS

The State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program is authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This federal program provides grants to assist States in operating statewide VR programs, each of which is an integral part of a statewide workforce development system. State VR programs provide VR services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, so that they may prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment or supported employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. The State is federally prohibited from sub-granting the awarded funding

34 CFR Part 361; The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title I, Parts A and B, Sec. 100-111; 29 U.S.C. 720-731

Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act [20 ILCS 2405].

Illinois Administrative Code Title 89, Sub-Chapter B, Vocational Rehabilitation Program

This program provides funding to support a wide range of services designed to help individuals with disabilities prepare for and engage in gainful employment consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice. Eligible individuals are those who have a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment, who can benefit from vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for employment, and who require VR services. Priority must be given to serving individuals with the most significant disabilities.

Yes

Not Applicable

None, State Agency Use;

Under the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program, the Secretary of the federal Department of Education provides grants to assist States in operating statewide comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient, and accountable vocational rehabilitation programs, each of which is - (a) An integral part of a statewide workforce development system; and (b) Designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice so that they may prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

State VR programs provide VR services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, so that they may prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment or supported employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. To be eligible for the VR program, individuals must have a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment and who require and can benefit from VR services to achieve employment and maximize career goals. Some states may have more than one VR agency, one for individuals who are blind and one for all other individuals with disabilities. Priority must be given to serving individuals with the most significant disabilities if a State VR agency is unable to serve all eligible individuals. In addition to serving individuals determined eligible for the VR program, State VR agencies may also provide pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities who are potentially eligible for the VR program. VR agencies also engage with employers to increase job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Direct Payments for Specific Use

Human Services

Funds are distributed to states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories based on the statutory formula that takes into account population and per capita income in determining the amount of Federal funds made available to each grantee for VR program purposes. Grant funds are administered under the approved VR services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan in accordance with WIOA Unified and Combined State Plan Requirements.

Not Applicable

To be eligible to receive funds under this part for a fiscal year, a State must submit, and have approved, a vocational rehabilitation services portion of a Unified or Combined State Plan in accordance with section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. (2) The vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must satisfy all requirements set forth in this part. (b) Separate part relating to the vocational rehabilitation of individuals who are blind. If a separate State agency administers or supervises the administration of a separate part of the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan relating to the vocational rehabilitation of individuals who are blind, that part of the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must separately conform to all applicable requirements under this part. (c) Public participation. Prior to the adoption of any substantive policies or procedures specific to the provision of vocational rehabilitation services under the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, including making any substantive amendment to those policies and procedures, the designated State agency must conduct public meetings throughout the State, in accordance with the requirements of § 361.20. (d) Submission, approval, disapproval, and duration. All requirements regarding the submission, approval, disapproval, and duration of the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan are governed by regulations set forth in subpart D of this part. (e) Submission of policies and procedures. The State is not required to submit policies, procedures, or descriptions required under this part that have been previously submitted to the Secretary and that demonstrate that the State meets the requirements of this part, including any policies, procedures, or descriptions submitted under this part that are in effect on July 22, 2014. (f) Due process. If the Secretary disapproves the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, the Secretary will follow these procedures: (1) Informal resolution. Prior to disapproving the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, the Secretary attempts to resolve disputes informally with State officials. (2) Notice. If, after reasonable effort has been made to resolve the dispute, no resolution has been reached, the Secretary provides notice to the State agency of the intention to disapprove the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan and of the opportunity for a hearing. (3) State plan hearing. If the State agency requests a hearing, the Secretary designates one or more individuals, either from the Department or elsewhere, not responsible for or connected with the administration of this program, to conduct a hearing in accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR part 81, subpart A. (4) Initial decision. The hearing officer issues an initial decision in accordance with 34 CFR 81.41. (5) Petition for review of an initial decision. The State agency may seek the Secretary's review of the initial decision in accordance with 34 CFR part 81. (6) Review by the Secretary. The Secretary reviews the initial decision in accordance with 34 CFR 81.43. (7) Final decision of the Department. The final decision of the Department is made in accordance with 34 CFR 81.44. (8) Judicial review. A State may appeal the Secretary's decision to disapprove the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan by filing a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the State is located, in accordance with section 107(d) of the Act.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Consistent with 34 CFR 361.60 Matching requirements. (a) Federal share - (1) General. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the Federal share for expenditures made by the State under the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, including expenditures for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services and the administration of the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, is 78.7 percent. (2) Construction projects. The Federal share for expenditures made for the construction of a facility for community rehabilitation program purposes may not be more than 50 percent of the total cost of the project. (b) Non-Federal share - (1) General. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section, expenditures made under the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan to meet the non-Federal share under this section must be consistent with the provisions of 2 CFR 200.306(b). (2) Third party in-kind contributions. Third party in-kind contributions specified in 2 CFR 200.306(b) may not be used to meet the non-Federal share under this section. (3) Contributions by private entities. Expenditures made from those cash contributions provided by private organizations, agencies, or individuals and that are deposited in the State agency's account or, if applicable, sole local agency's account, in accordance with State law prior to their expenditure and that are earmarked, under a condition imposed by the contributor, may be used as part of the non-Federal share under this section if the funds are earmarked for - (i) Meeting in whole or in part the State's share for establishing a community rehabilitation program or constructing a particular facility for community rehabilitation program purposes; (ii) Particular geographic areas within the State for any purpose under the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, other than those described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, in accordance with the following criteria: (A) Before funds that are earmarked for a particular geographic area may be used as part of the non-Federal share, the State must notify the Secretary that the State cannot provide the full non-Federal share without using these funds. (B) Funds that are earmarked for a particular geographic area may be used as part of the non-Federal share without requesting a waiver of statewideness under § 361.26. (C) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, all Federal funds must be used on a statewide basis consistent with § 361.25, unless a waiver of statewideness is obtained under § 361.26; and (iii) Any other purpose under the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, provided the expenditures do not benefit in any way the donor, employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, an individual with whom the donor has a close personal relationship, or an individual, entity, or organization with whom the donor shares a financial or other interest. The Secretary does not consider a donor's receipt from the State unit of a subaward or contract with funds allotted under this part to be a benefit for the purposes of this paragraph if the subaward or contract is awarded under the State's regular competitive procedures. Consistent with 34 CFR 361.62 Maintenance of Effort requirements. (a) General requirements. The Secretary reduces the amount otherwise payable to a State for any fiscal year by the amount by which the total expenditures from non-Federal sources under the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan for any previous fiscal year were less than the total of those expenditures for the fiscal year two years prior to that previous fiscal year. (b) Specific requirements for construction of facilities. If the State provides for the construction of a facility for community rehabilitation program purposes, the amount of the State's share of expenditures for vocational rehabilitation services under the plan, other than for the construction of a facility for community rehabilitation program purposes or the establishment of a facility for community rehabilitation purposes, must be at least equal to the expenditures for those services for the second prior fiscal year.

Detailed in 89 ILCS 507; 89 ILCS509; 89 ILCS 521-657; 20 ILCS 2405; 20 ILCS 2407; 34 CFR Part 361; The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title I, Parts A and B, Sec. 100-111; 29 U.S.C. 720-731.

Consistent with 34 CFR 361.40 Reports; Evaluation standards and performance indicators. (a) Reports. (1) The vocational rehabilitation services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must assure that the designated State agency will submit reports, including reports required under sections 13, 14, and 101(a)(10) of the Act - (i) In the form and level of detail and at the time required by the Secretary regarding applicants for and eligible individuals receiving services, including students receiving pre-employment transition services in accordance with § 361.48(a); and (ii) In a manner that provides a complete count (other than the information obtained through sampling consistent with section 101(a)(10)(E) of the Act) of the applicants and eligible individuals to - (A) Permit the greatest possible cross-classification of data; and (B) Protect the confidentiality of the identity of each individual. (2) The designated State agency must comply with any requirements necessary to ensure the accuracy and verification of those reports. (b) Evaluation standards and performance indicators - (1) Standards and indicators. The evaluation standards and performance indicators for the vocational rehabilitation program carried out under this part are subject to the performance accountability provisions described in section 116(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and implemented in regulations set forth in subpart E of this part. (2) Compliance. A State's compliance with common performance measures and any necessary corrective actions will be determined in accordance with regulations set forth in subpart E of this part

Title 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90 Audit Standards

Title 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.430 Record Retention

0081 444 30 1200 00 00 0081 444 30 4400 00 00 0081 444 30 4900 04 00

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

In FY2020 the DRS vocational rehabilitation program assisted 4,632 people with disabilities in achieving a competitive employment outcome. This marked a decrease of 9.4% from the previous fiscal year. These individuals earned on average $18,148 at case closure, an increase of $1,295 annually from the previous year. This added a total of $6 million in additional income for Illinois households over the previous year.

89 ILCS 507; 89 ILCS509; 89 ILCS 521-657; 20 ILCS 2405; 20 ILCS 2407; 34 CFR Part 361; The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title I, Parts A and B, Sec. 100-111; 29 U.S.C. 720-731

Eligible individuals are those who have a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment, who can benefit from vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for employment may find the nearest IDHS DRS local Office here: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12

Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services 100 South Grand Ave E 1st Floor Springfield, Illinois 62794-9429

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29737

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

10/1/2020

FY 2019 : $115,031,590
FY 2020 : $117,477,921
FY 2021 : $118,811,693