The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) advises the Secretary of the Department of Human Services and the Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services in matters concerning individuals with disabilities and the provision of rehabilitation services. The SRC provides true customer input into the current and future VR process. Read the Message from the SRC Chair.
SRC's specific federal mandates include:
- Reviewing, analyzing, and advising IDHS-DRS regarding its performance
- Advising and assisting in the development of the State Plan for VR services
- Reviewing and evaluating customer satisfaction
- Coordinating activities with other councils
- Identifying, jointly developing, and reviewing VR goals and priorities
- Jointly selecting Impartial Hearing Officers with IDHS-DRS
FY 24 Highlights
- Finalized goals for the Vocational Rehabilitation of the WIOA Unified State Plan
- Collaborated with IDHS-DRS to implement objectives outlined in the State Plan goals and in advocacy of the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment results,
- Filled critical board vacancies,
- Resumed in-person, Statewide council meetings, and
- Provided Statewide presence by holding meetings in geographically diverse locations around the State.
Vision for 2025
- Begin plans to facilitation the next federally mandated Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment
- Participate in strategic planning efforts to guide the work of the SRC,
- Explore ways to incorporate promising practices from the Illinois Work & Wellbeing Model
- Update brochures and communication materials, and
- Revise By-laws and Orientation and Policy Manuals to allow for hybrid attendance.
Membership
SRC members are appointed by the Governor with the majority having a disability. Membership includes representatives from:
- Disability and Advocacy Organizations
- Business, Industry, and Labor
- Community Rehabilitation Service Providers
- Client Assistance Program
- Secondary or Higher Education
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- Current or Former Customer of VR Services
- Parent Training Information Centers
- State Board of Education
- State Workforce Innovation Board
- Blind Services Planning Council
- Statewide Independent Living Council
- Director of IDHS-DRS
Current members are listed at: State Rehabilitation Council Members
To learn more about upcoming or previous meetings visit the SRC website.
To apply to become a Statewide Rehabilitation Councilmember, please visit the appointments website.
Committees
Executive Committee consists of five (5) elected officers - Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Fiscal Officer, and Member-at-Large. The Committee is responsible for ensuring the Council acts in accordance with federal and state statutes; manages the affairs of the Council in the interim between meetings; reviews the appointment categories the Council will need to fill in conjunction with the Membership Recruitment Committee; maintains a list of potential candidates to fill vacancies; and submits selected candidates for the following year to the Governor's Office of Executive Appointments for consideration.
Operations Committee consists of all Standing Committee Chairs and is responsible for developing an overall management plan for the Council and the Annual Report. With the assistance of other Committees, the Operations Committee shall identify the Council's goals and priorities for the year and shall identify the appropriate level of resources needed to accomplish the Council's tasks. Operations, procedures and policies will be developed and maintained in The Council's Orientation Manual, to be reviewed annually. The Committee shall also be responsible for reviewing the bylaws and submitting revisions to the Council. The bylaws shall be reviewed annually, and the Committee may make revisions as provided in Article VIII.
Policy/Legislative Committee is responsible for monitoring legislation that will have an impact on individuals with disabilities and on the operations of the Division of Rehabilitation Services. This shall include matters that affect and concern the Division's budget period. The Committee will make recommendations to the full Council with regard to positions on legislation and on the Division's budget. The Committee is also responsible for reviewing proposed changes to administrative rules and preparing a response to such changes on behalf of the Council.
Member Engagement Committee is responsible for interviewing each potential individual to ensure requirements of the category opening and other statute criteria.; appropriate approval and forwarding with the SRC recommendation to the Governor's Office and maintains a list of potential candidates to fill current and future vacancies.
