The Bureau of Customer and Community Services (BCCS) consolidates all the direct field and ancillary support services into one Bureau to provide a holistic approach to the provision of services.
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program assists individuals with disabilities in preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining quality competitive employment. Our goal is to help our customers find quality employment that pays a living wage and offers a chance for advancement. Services include evaluation, guidance and counseling, education, training, physical and mental restoration, assistive devices, job development, job placement, and post-employment services.
Over 500 field staff working in 45 field offices located throughout the state provide these important services. IDHS-DRS staff provided services to over 38,000 customers in SFY2023 through direct services and contractual partnerships. VR was able to successfully place 4,456 in competitive, integrated employment with an average annual salary of $24,104. Our goal for SFY2024 is 5,000 outcomes!
Customers Served in 2023
Disability Category |
Number Served |
Employment Outcomes |
Percent of Outcomes |
Percent of Served |
Average Hourly Wage |
Average Weekly Earnings |
Blind-Visually Impaired |
1,653 |
128 |
2.87% |
4.35% |
$20.96 |
$673 |
Deaf-Hard of Hearing |
1,641 |
302 |
6.78% |
4.32% |
$18.07 |
$591 |
Physical Disability |
2,005 |
178 |
3.99% |
5.27% |
$19.23 |
$585 |
Mental Illness |
7,002 |
1011 |
22.69% |
18.42% |
$15.96 |
$443 |
Intellectual Disability |
11,762 |
1,230 |
27.60% |
30.94% |
$15.27 |
$390 |
Learning Disability |
9,571 |
1,104 |
24.78% |
25.18% |
$15.64 |
$471 |
Brain Injury |
325 |
42 |
0.94% |
0.85% |
$18.16 |
$512 |
Other Condition |
3,985 |
440 |
9.87% |
10.48% |
$16.94 |
$492 |
VR Total |
38,012 |
4,456 |
|
|
$14.70 |
$413 |
Top Employers of IDHS-DRS Customers
Industry |
Successful Placements |
Jewel Osco |
165 |
Wal-Mart |
120 |
McDonald's |
94 |
Goodwill |
73 |
Amazon |
59 |
State of Illinois |
53 |
Mariano's |
51 |
Schnuck's |
40 |
FedEx |
38 |
Portillo's |
36 |
Hy-Vee |
36 |