Goals for Rehabilitation

The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is the state's lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. DRS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities.

DRS collaborates with many partners to help high school students with disabilities plan for their future. Through this collaborative effort, these students have the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to achieve their employment, post-secondary education, and independent living goals. Transition students receive a wide variety of services, including career exploration, community-based training, and work experience, supported employment services, job training, and placement, independent living skills training, vocational evaluation, counseling, and guidance, as well as educational and financial planning.

DRS' Secondary Transition Experience Program (STEP) helps students transition from school to the world of work through school-supervised work experiences, vocational evaluation, and work adjustment. Our counselors work closely with transition specialists housed in high schools, staff in individual schools and school districts, and community partners to coordinate services for students. DRS vocational rehabilitation counselors also assist youth with disabilities who are no longer in high school in preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining quality employment.

DRS also supports local Transition Planning Committees (TPCs) that are charged with identifying existing resources and unmet needs, facilitating an ongoing exchange of information, and developing local customer training programs. Quarterly Transition Consortiums address transition issues, provide networking opportunities, and facilitate information sharing among local TPC members.