State of Illinois
Department of Human Services
Rehabilitation Services Annual Report 2020 (pdf)
VR 100
Vocational Rehabilitation 1920 - 2020
DRS Success: Making It Work Together
FY2020 Annual Report
Message from the Chair...
On behalf of the Illinois State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) and with our Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) partner, we are pleased to present the 2020 Annual Report for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program.
I don't think that any of us could have predicted the many novel challenges we have faced this year due to COVID-19 and commend the Illinois DRS leadership with working quickly to maintain service provision in the safest manner possible for consumers and DRS staff. We started out the year with priorities that indeed shifted during the months but DRS staff were able to continue to concentrate on the bigger picture of maintaining outcomes while also acting quickly to transform service provision. They have done a tremendous job!
Some of the notable accomplishments during the year include:
- DRS continues to adopt and integrate the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( WIOA) standards and processes into their system.
- DRS completed a MOU with the Illinois Department of Developmental Disabilities to strengthen the partnership between these two agencies for supported employment.
- A pilot project for Customized Employment has been created.
- SRC and DRS worked with the Governor's office to get all outstanding SRC council members approved to the Council.
- The State Plan was completed and includes many aspirations for the SRC and DRS.
- Devised innovative methods to try to keep the Illinois Community Rehabilitation Provider network strong for Illinoisans with disabilities.
- Worked with RSA and federal and state legislators to receive guidance and request waivers and remedies of federal rules and regulations to ensure continued provision of most effective services during the pandemic.
- Continuing to move individuals from 14(c) employment to competitive integrated employment.
Many other initiatives have been started this year and will roll into next year. The SRC is working with DRS to create a reporting system to address the items in the state plan; create a more effective strategic planning session structure; create an effective Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment; customer satisfaction survey system; strengthen the partnership between DRS and the SRC; and to ensure that Illinois DRS provides the best possible services.
I wish to thank the DRS staff for their dedication, expertise, and professionalism in helping people with disabilities achieve their desired employment outcomes. I also wish to thank the SRC members who give freely of their time to help the SRC and DRS to make continuous improvements to efficiency and service quality.
Sincerely,
LaDonna R. Henson, Chair
Illinois State Rehabilitation Council
Success Story - Ashley Kim
Storytelling is an art and can be found in every culture and society. Stories can bring people together, simplify complex issues, inspire and motivate us as well. Ashley Kim believes that "stories really have power" and shared that she would like to help tell people's interesting stories in the future. She has a powerful and interesting story of her own and it's just beginning.
It was September of 2009 and Ashley was just 12 years old. She was at a birthday pool party with friends and they were all having fun. That is, until Ashley dove into the pool in an area that was not as deep as she thought and fractured her C-6 & C-7 vertebrae, resulting in quadriplegia.
Ashley required surgery and several months of therapy before returning home and fitting back into her active, pre-teen life with friends and family. The challenge of learning to live with a disability can be overwhelming in and of itself, especially when combined with teenage peer pressure, pressures to succeed academically and the stress of an uncertain future.
When Ashley was asked to share associated struggles or obstacles that she encountered with managing her disability or dealing with peer pressure, her response was not what you might expect. She calmly explained that "every day is a struggle; the struggles range from the small things to bigger problems but if you worry about them before they even occur, you'll be unable to do anything about them".
This philosophy was developed early in her life and she developed an interest in psychology courses and thoughts of becoming a Psychologist. It wasn't until her senior year in high school that she discovered a book in the library titled "Fifty Years of Silence" and it was this story that would inspire and motivate Ashley to tell people's stories that need to be told.
Fifty Years of Silence is a personal memoir written by Jan Ruff O'Herne, one of thousands of young women forcibly removed from their families in World War II to provide sexual services as 'comfort women' in a military brothel run by the Imperial Japanese Army between 1929 and 1945.
It took 50 years to break her silence and she was encouraged by the testimony of Asian women who first came forward to demand recognition and apology from the Japanese Military who still claim that all the accounts are false. So, in 1994 Jan became the first European 'comfort woman' to speak out regarding the brutality they faced in her book which would be published in six languages and a documentary film about her life won numerous accolades as well.
Ashley was first connected with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program while she was in high school and was already receiving personal assistance services since 2011 through the DRS Home Services Program (HSP). She has always been an excellent student and with the assistance of Jennifer Schmidt, a VR counselor in the Rolling Meadows field office, a VR case was opened with Ashley in preparation for DRS to assist her with her employment goal.
This goal included attending college and a strong desire to major in Film & TV Production. Ashley has always been highly motivated and through her research, found that Boston University had a major in Film & TV Production that she liked so she applied and was accepted.
Attending college in another state resulted in a challenge due to the home care services she was receiving in Illinois. Boston University considered Ashley an Illinois resident and therefore, she would be ineligible to receive personal assistant services paid by the University or other entities in Massachusetts.
Not to be deterred, Ashley advocated for herself and was able to receive personal assistant services in the dorm while VR counselor Schmidt was able to work it out with HSP approvals to pay because she was considered an Illinois resident. On the other hand, VR was able to assist with tuition, housing, books and supplies while Ashley worked towards her degree and employment goal. To this end, Ashley graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Film & TV Production and a Bachelors in Public Relations in May of 2019.
Ashley was also able to obtain an internship in Los Angeles where she worked as a Development Intern at Escape Artists, LLC during the day and attended classes at night. She enjoyed the internship and was getting ready to move in March of 2020 but unfortunately, COVID-19 and the pandemic resulted in the shutdown of many of the filming companies in and around Los Angeles.
DRS recently assisted Ashley with completing a driving evaluation, driver education and van modifications to increase her independence. She is currently participating in an internship and looking for work in Los Angeles for Film or Public Relations/ Marketing positions where she will be able to tell inspiring stories as well as Asian American stories as well.
With her motivation it won't take long before she will be saying "Lights, Cameras, Action"!
Message from the Secretary and Director...
The Illinois Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS/DRS) celebrated 100 years of the Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, a fitting anniversary for such an extraordinary year. This year tested our century old program in ways few could predict, but in this adversity, it gave IDHS/DRS an opportunity to look at ways to reinvent ourselves.
IDHS/DRS immediately implemented measures to protect the health and safety of our staff, customers, and communities. We made necessary technical investments to move our staff to a remote working environment with connectivity to ensure complete continuity in service.
To further expand our ability to reach customers and maintain channels of communications with our communities, IDHS/DRS activated a mass texting program that has been used to provide critical information instantly to our customers and their families. To ensure customers are heard during these challenging and unprecedented times, we have shared targeted surveys to gain feedback and address their concerns quickly.
Additionally, in coordination with our partners, the Illinois Care Connections program provided much needed devices to our isolated seniors allowing them to maintain contact with loved ones without comprising their health.
These innovations are not just in response to the present pandemic but will allow the VR program to weather future storms without limiting our ability to serve our customers and communities. The pandemic has given us the opportunity to revolutionizing our service delivery model to include remote and digital tools and at the same time provide excellent quality of service to all Illinoisans with disabilities regardless of their location or mobility.
As we continue to navigate through COVID-19, IDHS/DRS will emerge from this pandemic stronger than before and have every confidence the best is yet to come for us all and the communities we serve.
Sincerely,
Grace B. Hou, Secretary
Illinois Department of Human Services
Rahnee K. Patrick, Director
Division of Rehabilitation Services
We invite you to visit the Division of Rehabilitation Services SUCCESS website at drs.illinois.gov/success and enjoy the wonderful stories from our customers and community business partners that will encourage and educate on how to make success happen at your home and in your community. In addition, there are numerous helpful resources provided for your use as well.
If you require this information in Braille or large print, please inform us of this preference.
IDHS/DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Program
FY 2020 Final Data Summary
Service Data
| Category |
Referrals |
Applications |
New Plans |
Total Served |
Outcomes |
| BFS Region 1 |
5,774 |
4,311 |
3,897 |
13,711 |
1,471 |
| BFS Region 2 |
4,393 |
3,167 |
2,775 |
9,463 |
1,136 |
| BFS Region 3 |
2,639 |
2,128 |
1,871 |
6,536 |
916 |
| BFS Region 4 |
1,537 |
1,086 |
767 |
3,177 |
332 |
| BFS Region 5 |
1,845 |
1,453 |
1,180 |
4,142 |
622 |
| BBS |
650 |
558 |
407 |
1,641 |
155 |
| Statewide Total |
16,838 |
12,703 |
10,897 |
38,670 |
4,632 |
Customers By Service Category
| Category |
STEP |
Non-STEP |
Transition |
SEP |
College |
| BFS Region 1 |
6,837 |
245 |
7,082 |
559 |
1,377 |
| BFS Region 2 |
4,681 |
357 |
5,038 |
283 |
1,064 |
| BFS Region 3 |
2,457 |
255 |
2,712 |
113 |
1,183 |
| BFS Region 4 |
1,358 |
87 |
1,445 |
61 |
810 |
| BFS Region 5 |
1,682 |
211 |
1,893 |
106 |
763 |
| BBS |
138 |
53 |
201 |
29 |
289 |
| Statewide Total |
17,153 |
1,218 |
18,371 |
1,151 |
5,486 |
Customers By Age Group
| Category |
Served |
Outcomes |
Percent of Outcomes |
Percent of Served |
Average Hourly Wage |
Average Weekly Earnings |
| less than 20 years |
24,157 |
2,296 |
50 |
65 |
11.48 |
317 |
| 21-30 years |
4,294 |
799 |
17 |
12 |
12.07 |
339 |
| 31-40 years |
2,750 |
509 |
11 |
7 |
13.36 |
399 |
| 41-50 years |
2,500 |
456 |
10 |
7 |
13.71 |
422 |
| 51-60 years |
2,502 |
437 |
9 |
7 |
13.5 |
391 |
| 61 or more years |
849 |
135 |
3 |
2 |
13.74 |
367 |
| VR Total |
38,670 |
4,632 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
12.26 |
349 |
Customers By Disability Category
| Category |
Served |
Outcomes |
Percent of Outcomes |
Percent of Served |
Average Hourly Wage |
Average Weekly Earnings |
| Blind-Visual Impairment |
1,418 |
118 |
2.6 |
3.8 |
15.42 |
498 |
| Deaf-Hard of Hearing |
1,858 |
351 |
7.6 |
5.0 |
12.82 |
480 |
| Physical Disability |
2,126 |
225 |
4.9 |
5.7 |
14.38 |
445 |
| Mental Illness |
7,384 |
1,153 |
24.9 |
19.9 |
12.14 |
339 |
| Intellectual Disability |
10,124 |
1,080 |
23.3 |
27.3 |
10.71 |
249 |
| Learning Disability |
9,724 |
1,180 |
25.5 |
26.2 |
11.62 |
337 |
| Alcohol-Substance Abuse |
69 |
13 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
11.91 |
448 |
| Brain Injury |
405 |
45 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
14.15 |
437 |
| Other Condition |
3,944 |
467 |
10.1 |
10.6 |
12.45 |
349 |
| VR Total |
38,402 |
4,632 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
12.26 |
349 |
Customers By Race/Ethnic Group
| Category |
Served |
Outcomes |
Percent of Outcomes |
Percent of Served |
Average Hourly Wage |
Average Weekly Earnings |
| White |
21,080 |
2,824 |
61.0 |
56.9 |
12.11 |
355 |
| African American |
9,045 |
1,059 |
22.9 |
24.4 |
12.60 |
343 |
| Hispanic/Latino |
5,448 |
596 |
12.9 |
14.7 |
12.28 |
330 |
| Asian |
827 |
82 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
13.45 |
367 |
| Hawaiian/Pacific Islander |
59 |
5 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
11.12 |
311 |
| American Indian |
61 |
6 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
12.08 |
337 |
| Multi Racial |
532 |
60 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
11.52 |
309 |
| VR Total |
37,052 |
4,632 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
12.26 |
349 |
| All Minority Categories |
15,972 |
1,808 |
39.0 |
43.0 |
12.49 |
339 |
Customers by Race and Education Program
| Category |
White |
Black or African American |
Hispanic or Latino |
Other Race |
Two or More Races |
Total |
All Minority Categories |
| STEP |
4,836 |
1,764 |
1,808 |
274 |
140 |
8,822 |
3,986 |
| Non-STEP Transition |
212 |
47 |
34 |
4 |
15 |
312 |
100 |
| College/University |
2,804 |
751 |
491 |
122 |
79 |
4,247 |
1,443 |
| Other |
77 |
37 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
127 |
50 |
| None |
5,921 |
3,039 |
1,392 |
286 |
156 |
10,794 |
4,873 |
| VR Total |
13,850 |
5,735 |
3,735 |
688 |
391 |
24,302 |
10,452 |
Measurable Skills Gains
| Category |
Skills Gained |
Post Secondary Students |
MSG |
| BBS |
135 |
233 |
57.9 |
| BFS Region 1 |
444 |
1,016 |
43.7 |
| BFS Region 2 |
516 |
769 |
67.1 |
| BFS Region 3 |
424 |
680 |
62.4 |
| BFS Region 4 |
305 |
632 |
48.3 |
| BFS Region 5 |
275 |
518 |
53.1 |
| Statewide Total |
2,099 |
3,848 |
54.5 |
Customers by Order of Selection
| Category |
Rehab Closures |
Non-Rehab Closures |
Rehab Rate |
Average Weekly Earnings |
Average Spending on Rehab Education |
Average Spending on Rehab Non-Education |
| Disability which is Most Significant |
2,418 |
3,006 |
44.59 |
325 |
6,738 |
2,289 |
| Disability which is Very Significant |
1,776 |
1,998 |
47.06 |
393 |
7,194 |
2,331 |
| Disability which is Significant |
438 |
407 |
51.83 |
410 |
6,588 |
1,967 |
| Total |
4,632 |
5,411 |
46.13 |
359 |
6,840 |
2,195 |
Customers by Education Program
| Category |
Rehab Closures |
Non-Rehab Closures |
Rehab Rate |
Average Weekly Earnings |
Average Spending on Rehab Education |
Average Spending on Rehab Non-Education |
| Community College |
520 |
356 |
59.4 |
455 |
9,501 |
5,603 |
| Secondary Transitional Experience Program |
1,765 |
3,260 |
35.1 |
294 |
5,486 |
1,860 |
| Technical Institute |
38 |
33 |
53.5 |
535 |
7,171 |
3,845 |
| Transition - Non-STEP |
235 |
316 |
42.6 |
390 |
11,628 |
4,379 |
| University |
247 |
201 |
55.1 |
617 |
35,393 |
22,954 |
| Programs Total |
2,805 |
4,166 |
40.2 |
364 |
13,836 |
7,728 |
Customers by Special Program
| Category |
Rehab Closures |
Non-Rehab Closures |
Rehab Rate |
Average Weekly Earnings |
Average Spending on Rehab Education |
Average Spending on Rehab Non-Education |
| Supported Employment |
206 |
244 |
45.8 |
199 |
9,996 |
3,314 |
| IPS Program |
383 |
199 |
65.8 |
300 |
7,449 |
1,351 |
| Community Rehab Program |
1,610 |
1,064 |
60.2 |
326 |
7,621 |
2,100 |
| SSI or SSDI Recipient |
1,487 |
2,158 |
40.8 |
288 |
8,585 |
3,004 |
| Programs Total |
3,686 |
3,665 |
50.1 |
300 |
8,413 |
2,442 |
Customers by Dual VR HSP Case
| Category |
Count of Dual Cases |
Referrals |
Applications |
Eligibilities |
Rehab Plans |
Competitive Outcomes |
Average Hourly Wage |
| BBS Regions |
130 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
70 |
4 |
13.78 |
| BFS Region 1 |
470 |
17 |
5 |
11 |
223 |
21 |
15.25 |
| BFS Region 2 |
229 |
13 |
7 |
6 |
96 |
11 |
13.06 |
| BFS Region 3 |
105 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
75 |
5 |
13.02 |
| BFS Region 4 |
60 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
22 |
3 |
9.58 |
| BFS Region 5 |
65 |
9 |
2 |
5 |
19 |
5 |
14.97 |
| Total |
1,059 |
42 |
24 |
32 |
505 |
49 |
14.03 |
Customers by Dual VR HSP Case Closures
| Category |
Count of Dual Cases |
Closed at Referral |
Closed at Application |
Closed at Eligibility |
Closed at Plan |
Total VR Spending |
| BBS Regions |
130 |
19 |
8 |
3 |
13 |
479,065 |
| BFS Region 1 |
470 |
131 |
13 |
6 |
40 |
2,824,419 |
| BFS Region 2 |
229 |
50 |
9 |
4 |
33 |
1,682,447 |
| BFS Region 3 |
105 |
9 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
3,642,842 |
| BFS Region 4 |
60 |
10 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
641,343 |
| BFS Region 5 |
65 |
8 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
346,095 |
| Total |
1,059 |
227 |
36 |
34 |
106 |
9,616,210 |
Data Summary
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
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.
The State Rehabilitation Council Ad Hoc Data Committee and DRS-VR have continued to make progress on establishing data metrics and sharing to fulfill those objectives laid out in the State Plan. This FY2020 Data Summary exhibits those new metrics with which DRS is seeking to both track and establish benchmarks. The inclusion of Order of Selection, Special Programs, and Education Programs will allow for the establishment of tracking and benchmarks for those programs of current focus. With this data, and that of historically underserved communities, DRS can examine each aspect of our service and seek to continuously improve upon that.
Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act
This will also lead to the inclusion of all WIOA data measures DRS has established targets for, with Measurable Skills Gains being the first DRS has established a target for at 62%. DRS served 3,848 Post-Secondary Students with 2,099 skills gained throughout FY2020, for an MSG rate of 54.5%. Per WIOA guidelines, DRS must reach 90% of their goal to have met. For this year, DRS missed this threshold by 1.3%. It is likely that the significant decrease in primary and secondary education functions in Illinois limited staff ability to record skills gains.
Home Services Program
DRS has placed a focus on those cases receiving Home and Community Based Services and seeking services through the Vocational Rehabilitation program. These Dual Cases highlight the complete service DRS provides customers seeking independence in their homes and fulfilling employment in the community. DRS served 610 Dual Case customers in FY2020 and produced competitive outcomes for 49 of these individuals.
IDHS/DRS: Empowering People with Disabilities.
Programs, activities and employment opportunities in the Illinois Department of Human Services are open and accessible to any individual or group without regard to age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin or religion. The department is an equal opportunity employer and practices affirmative action and reasonable accommodation programs.
IDHS 4195 (R-12-20) DRS Annual Report 250 copies
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