IDHS-DRS made great strides in 2024 and we look forward to providing excellent supports and services to Illinoisans with disabilities in 2025. The new goals established in the WIOA Unified State Plan will span the course of four years and provide an opportunity for the Division to refocus on our mission and modernize our delivery of services, ensuring all Illinoisans with disabilities have the opportunity for equitable employment opportunities. IDHS-DRS adopted the following long-term goals and will begin our essential work in FY 2025:
GOAL 1: Improve access to DRS and methods of communication with agency stakeholders, especially customers, potential customers, and employers.
- DRS will develop a system to obtain real-time, direct customer feedback throughout the VR process while supporting a range of communication modality preferences.
- DRS will develop an accessible communication and outreach plan to educate customers and potential customers on how to access DRS offices and services regardless of their personal barriers such as technology, transportation, mode of communication, disability type, race, gender, language, and justice system involvement, to promote growth in the DRS VR program.
- DRS will develop a comprehensive model to increase and simplify customer access to services such as offering community or home-based appointments, expanded office hours, and ways to connect virtually.
GOAL 2: Increase collaboration and partnership among workforce partners and employment service providers.
- DRS will participate in WIOA core partners' work toward equity and access to ensure the needs of the disability community are represented and incorporated into plans and programs.
- DRS will develop an accessible communication plan to expand and build partnerships, through cooperative agreements, contracts, and/or pilot programs, with employment service providers including community rehabilitation providers, Centers for Independent Living, benefits planners, and other providers who support people with disabilities.
- DRS will increase co-enrollment of VR customers in other WIOA programs.
GOAL 3: Expand and extend engagement with employers.
- DRS will expand and extend engagement with employers, including:
- Developing an accessible communication plan to educate employers on vital programs offered by DRS.
- Simplifying and communicating how employers can best access and engage DRS offices and services.
- Educating employers on how to increase quality work opportunities for disabled persons through innovative programs, such as "Earn while you learn" opportunities, apprenticeships, paid work-based learning opportunities, and on the job training experiences.
GOAL 4: Address statewide transportation deficits.
- DRS will work with other State agencies and disability-related organizations to address transportation deficits throughout the state by
- Assess the transportation needs of persons with disabilities.
- Formulate strategies to mitigate transportation barriers for customers seeking employment,
- engaging employers on or near transit routes or paratransit routes,
- offer incentives to rural transportation providers,
- collaborate with other providers to offer transit training, and
- address staffing shortages within DRS certified orientation and mobility staff and Regional Coordinators of the Deaf.
GOAL 5: Develop collaborative partnerships to augment programs for transition age youth and adult workers (> 25).
- DRS will develop and augment programs to support adult workers (>25) with disabilities in job retention and placement services.
- DRS will develop collaborative partnerships between VR, State and local educational agencies, and centers for independent living to help individuals with disabilities seamlessly transition to life after high school, preparing them for independent living, competitive integrated employment, and community integration.
- DRS, working in partnership with the ISBE and local education authorities, will ensure that 100,000 students with disabilities engage in Pre-ETS during their time in school.
- DRS will establish a process for the transfer of individuals completing supported employment through DRS to receive support under the DDD waiver program.
GOAL 6: Upgrade programs and policies to facilitate competitive integrated employment, including self-employment.
- DRS will upgrade programs and policy to increase Self-employment opportunities for customers.
- DRS will promote alternative business models for 14(c) certificate holders to reduce Subminimum Wage work and support Competitive Integrated Employment through the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) grant project.
- DRS will transition minimally 100 individuals per year from 14(c) employment into competitive integrated employment.
- DRS will achieve and exceed 6,000 competitive employment outcomes annually.
- DRS will increase earnings at case closure and the second quarter follow-up for individuals closed as competitive employment outcomes.
The new goals established in the WIOA Unified State Plan will span the course of four years and provide an opportunity for the Division to refocus on our mission and modernize our delivery of services, ensuring all Illinoisans with disabilities have the opportunity for equitable employment opportunities. Together our efforts will allow all of us at IDHS to work toward equity, dignity, access, and inclusion within all our communities.
