Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
BESS also oversees Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDHH) through Transition Student Job Fairs at Life Center Transitioning Programs. Presentations are provided to school districts about transition services for deaf students. Additionally, brochures are developed which promote programs to help the deaf transition to employment, training and receive accommodations if they have a hearing loss.
Staff attended and participated in the annual WIOA Summit. Two staff attend the National Employment Team Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. This summit gave staff the ability to connect with their national cohorts on the types of services that are being provided to customers nationally.
The deafblind program focuses on the provision of services to persons who are deaf. The term "deaf" is used to identify individuals who use varying communication modalities and have some hearing loss. This includes persons who are culturally Deaf, as well as those who self-identify as hard of hearing or late deafened. DeafBlind persons are persons who have both visual and hearing loss. As with deaf persons, this group has varying abilities to utilize residual hearing and vision.
The needs of persons in this population are specialized and can be complex. These persons use varying modes of communication depending on individual factors such as the age of hearing loss, the level of language deprivation, the person's comfort level with equipment, and the individual's communication preference.
| Demographic |
Customers Served |
% of total Served |
Competitive Employment Outcome |
% of Total Outcomes |
| Deaf/Deafblind/Hard of hearing |
1,617 |
4.00% |
287 |
6.79% |
Hispanic Services
To better serve Spanish-speaking individuals throughout Illinois and address their needs, the Illinois Department of Human Services created the Hispanic Services (April 2023) unit under the Division of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS-DRS), Bureau of Engagement and Support Services (BESS). The mission of the Hispanic Services Unit is to work with and help Hispanic, Latino, Latina, LatinX, and/or Latine Illinoisans with disabilities (ages 16-64) obtain employment, education, training, and access to IDHS-DRS services, including community resources. The Hispanic Services Statewide Specialist (Hispanic Services Unit) has focused on two main areas: Outreach and capacity building. In FY 24, the Division of Rehabilitation Service (IDHS-DRS) had more than 7,000 Hispanic, Latino, Latina, Latin X, and/or Latine contacts, an increase of 15%. IDHS-DRS assisted 654 Hispanic services to gain competitive employment.
| Demographic |
Customers Served |
% of total Served |
Competitive Employment Outcome |
% of Total Outcomes |
| Hispanic/Combination |
7,296 |
18.07% |
654 |
15.47% |
Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
Individual Placement and Support supported employment (IPS) is the only evidence-based practice model of vocational rehabilitation. Studies have shown that persons who received IPS services have quadruple the sustained employment rate, including higher incomes and growth in work careers, when compared to those who received traditional vocational rehabilitation services. DRS works in partnership with the Division of Mental Health to deliver IPS services, including services to Williams and Colbert Class members.
IDHS-DRS is the primary funder of IPS services in Illinois. In FY24, 404 IPS customers achieved competitive employment earning an average of $475 per week.
