Our Blind Services staff teams coordinate services from 25 local offices located in communities throughout the state. We offer programs for adults with visual impairments to enable them to work and participate fully in family and community life. Our goal is to help these people rediscover their independence and freedom.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR)
Our staff work with individuals with severe visual impairments to help them find jobs or get ready to go to work. They also recommend assistive technology to help people perform tasks on the job.
Blind Services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program assists individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind to prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive integrated employment. A multitude of services are provided, by various staff and community partners, to individuals ages 14 and up.
Currently, Blind Services VR counselors and coordinators provide vocational counseling and guidance to the visually impaired and
- assist in determining an employment goal,
- physical restoration (which may include funding for assistive technology necessary for visual and communication access),
- transition services including job exploration, work-based learning experiences, counseling on post-secondary training, workplace readiness training, and instruction on self-advocacy,
- possible funding for post-secondary training, and
- job placement and follow-up services.
On a statewide basis, Blind Services has Rehabilitation Instructors (RI) who provide vision rehabilitation and education services. Individualized and group training may include
- use of adaptive communication,
- Braille,
- access and assistive technology,
- indoor orientation and basic mobility techniques,
- job site modification, and
- home management and safety skills
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists employed with Blind Services provides sequential training to teach customers how to utilize their senses to determine their position within the environment to safely move from one location to another. The training includes, but is not limited to
- skill development in the areas of environmental awareness using body, senses, and motor skills,
- human guide,
- white cane techniques,
- crossing streets, and
- the use of public transportation.
VR Program Highlights
- In FY 22 the Blind Service Plan component was implemented to measure the RI and O&M services offered, provided, and received by customers. The plan will provide documentation of the number of customers successfully completing the training and the relationship to completing other VR services.
- In FY 22, Blind Services VR placed 188 individuals who are blind, visually impaired or DeafBlind into competitive integrated employment.
- Many blind individuals, managing and operating vending sites on state and federal property, experienced drastic loss of income due to the pandemic. As Illinois slowly moved to a hybrid phase, Blind Services VR provided job retention services to 45 vendors, which gave them the resources necessary to reopen their businesses.
- As a result of the pandemic, field staff faced the challenge of providing continued VR services to our customers. Through the use of technology, continued instruction and VR services occurred.
- Virtual staff meetings were conducted on an office, regional and statewide basis which positively resulted in collaboration, opportunities to share information, resource, discussion of unique cases, and assistive technology tips and techniques.
- A technology loaner program was implemented to provide customers with the opportunity to experience, first-hand, assistive technology devices recommended prior to VR purchase.
VR Looking Ahead... FY23
The Blind Services VR Program is committed to increasing the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services to students with visual loss. The goal is to work within DHS-DRS to enhance services to students through Fast Track and STEP contracts. Staff will also work directly with students to offer transition services.
VR Program Success Stories
Greg Ketcham is 36 years-old and works full-time as a Residential Care Worker at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) in Jacksonville, Illinois. Greg was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic disorder of the eye that causes loss of vision. Greg's journey with DRS started when he was a student at ISVI, where he was provided transition services. When Greg graduated from ISVI, he requested DRS sponsorship with post-secondary-training and related services. Throughout his journey with DRS, he was provided job placement services, vocational guidance and counseling, information and referral, rehabilitation technology, blind Instruction, orientation, and mobility services, on the job training, a job coach and was referred to the Successful disability program. Greg believes that he was able to achieve his vocational goal with all the supports and resources that he received through DRS.
Aubrie Westmaas is 24 years old and is employed at County Market in the Popcorn Department. Aubrie presents with Kabuki and CHARGE syndromes; congenital conditions which affect multiple parts of the body with varying symptoms and severity. Aubrie has weakness on her left side and significant visual and hearing losses which present multiple communication and mobility barriers for her. Aubrie received transition services while attending the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. In collaboration with local and national community partners, Aubrie received assessments to determine necessary supports for her to be successful in postsecondary training and achieving her vocational goal of working in the food industry. She was provided with an array of audio and visual assistive technology devices allowing her access to her peers, environment, and co-workers. Aubrie received rehabilitation instruction and orientation and mobility services, providing her the resources to be independent and self-reliant. Working with DRS, she has been able to receive the supports, devices and aids necessary to secure and maintain her informed choice work goal.
In 2017, Jacque Lacour (not pictured) came to BCCBS for assistance with adjustment to his vision loss and for seeking a career in Information Technology. His vision loss from Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy makes him legally blind and accessing a computer and print challenging. This diagnosis can be a devastating experience, however, he started out with a great attitude and sense of humor as well as a strong aptitude for computers. He just needed the tools to adjust to his vision loss and to access computers and print. After we assisted him with adaptive equipment, adjustment skills training and college, he successfully earned degrees from the College of DuPage and Dakota State University. We received this email from him recently: "On May 6, 2022, myself, my wife, my now four-year-old son, my brother, parents, and mother-in-law flew up to Sioux Falls, SD. On May 7 I graduated from Dakota State University with my master's degree in Cyber Defense with a GPA of 4.0. This final semester was possibly the hardest as it was completed while employed full-time as a Cybersecurity Incident Responder at United Airlines at which I am loving my career and the team I work with. To top it all off, I was able to come home to our very own home which we purchased at the end of March. All of this would not be possible without the time, effort, assistance, and encouragement of the team there at DRS / BCCBS. A thousand thank yous for helping me find a future I love."
Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (BEPB)
The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (BEPB) provides training to blind and visually impaired customers in the BCCBS VR program. BEPB provides self-employment opportunities to blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind individuals. Customers are trained in the operation of professional food service businesses including a variety of high-tech vending machines, customized snack stands, cafeteria management, and sundries/gift shops.
The BEPB has 57 successful entrepreneurs, with an average income of $35,000, operating small businesses offering a variety of items in federal, state, private agencies, and businesses statewide. These employment opportunities allow customers to experience independence and provide for themselves, often eliminating the need for public assistance. Customers employed through BEPB positively impact the Illinois economy by paying sales tax and purchasinger 5 million dollars in merchandise from local companies.
This program offers management opportunities in the food service industry to individuals who are legally blind. After completing a six-month training course, certified graduates operate vending facilities throughout the state and average more than $40,000 a year in earnings.
BEPB Program Highlights
BEPB measures success based on average vendor income. We also measure the number of VR customers who successfully completed our training program. We measure success by the number of new businesses we create throughout the year.
As a result of the pandemic, several of our blind vendors who manage vending at highway rest areas have changed their business plan. These individuals now have contracts with the Department of Transportation to provide janitorial and landscaping services.
BEPB Priorities for FY23
The goals that will most change our program will be having the ability to find new candidates to operate some of the vacant business we have throughout the state of Illinois.
BEPB Success Story
Sonia Alcaide operates the vending at the Bedford Park bulk mail center. Although Sonia like so many of our operators suffered originally through the start of the pandemic, she has found ways to recover. Through job retention provided by Blind Services field staff she has been able to reinvent herself and her business to full capacity. Sonia is married and has two daughters and resides in Oaklawn. Since coming through our training program, 20 years ago, she has been able to enjoy financial independence and self-sufficiency.
Older Individual Blind Grant Program & DeafBlind Contract
The Older Individual Blind Grant Program provides services for individuals ages 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. These services are open to all citizens of Illinois who meet this criteria, they do not need to be VR customers.
Funds are used to provide independent living services, conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals and conduct activities to improve public understanding of the barriers they face. Services are designed to help the individuals served under this program to adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs.
Qualified Centers for Independent Living throughout the state of Illinois implement this grant. The services implemented through this grant will enhance the ability of older blind individuals to access information and resources, to receive rehabilitation technology and the training to utilize devices that promote Independent Living opportunities.
The DeafBlind contract is funded through Title XX and services are available for all citizens of Illinois who are DeafBlind and need assistance in the following areas:
- independent living skills,
- advocacy,
- sign instruction, and
- outreach to professionals who serve this population.
There are no age restrictions for use of this contract. The services provided are designed to promote independence by increasing their ability to care for their own individual needs. Currently the program works with 6 non-profit organizations to provide Deafblind and Sign Language services to the Deafblind and Deaf population.
Program Highlights
Over 2,500 people were served successfully through the Older Individual Blind Grant Program in FY21 and we are on the way to serving even more individuals in FY22 and FY23.
Priorities for FY23
The goals and driving factors to shaping the program for FY23 include moving forward despite COVID restrictions to ensure all consumers are provided with the best service possible. Division of Rehabilitation Services will continue to work closely with all our Providers to maintain open communication and support necessary to ensure all programs are successful.
Program Success Stories
Robert Taylor is 56 years old individual and has both vision loss and hearing loss due to Usher's Syndrome. He has received services through the Deafblind contract to help him remain independent in his home, as well as learn to use his computer with JAWS, iPhone with VoiceOver, and DaVinci for accessing print materials. The picture provided is of the client standing in front of his home. The client was in the process of converting his garage into an additional living space as he does not drive and did not have a need for a garage. The client completed most of the work himself, including framing, drywall, flooring, and some electrical work. He utilized a talking tape measure to assist with measuring tasks. The client is also employed on a part time basis. He continues to thrive due to continued support and services provided by these DRS programs.
It is so easy to treat yourself to a great cup of coffee or that Pumpkin Spice Latte everyone is talking about when there is a coffee shop right on the corner. A short walk in the brisk fall weather. The sun shining on your face as you stroll down the familiar street. That is, if you know there is a coffee shop on the corner. And, if you aren't afraid you'll fall or get lost. That is a major benefit of our mobility training. We go to our client's homes and teach them to travel to destinations they want to visit as they learn these vital skills.
A blind program customer learned about her neighborhood coffee shop during her very first lesson. This simple discovery filled her with enthusiasm for learning. "It is a change from thinking travel is beyond me. Now I can look forward to learning how to do it and benefiting from its empowering effect on my life." That first lesson was one year ago. She learned how to navigate her immediate neighborhood.
Training included learning the fundamentals of crossing streets, how to plan a route, use landmarks, and then reverse the route to get home; riding public transit to include learning how to pay for rides, plan routes, use the CTA bus tracker, and request assistance from staff.
Like most of DRS customers, she was interested in more than mobility. She also wanted to learn to use her new iPhone. The customer learned the gestures for VoiceOver, Apple's accessibility tool. Then, she moved on to apps. "I learned how to take notes, use the calendar and make phone calls." Whatsapp, a free messaging and video calling app, is one of the first tools she wanted to learn. She wanted to talk with her sister in France, as well as other family and friends. After she learned the steps to make a call, she and her instructor spent time calling a select group of close friends and family.
