Sep. 30—In celebration of October being Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services gives information on how residents with disabilities can receive job training and other services.
1 How many Oklahomans received help through ODRS last year?
In spite of employment barriers,1,158 Oklahomans with disabilities began earning paychecks last year, thanks to their own initiatives and employment services provided by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.
DRS' staff in Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired assisted 11,458 jobseekers with disabilities in 2022.
2 What services are available?
Services included career counseling, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental disabilities, education and training, assistive technology and job placement — all intended to improve employment outcomes in the near future.
On average, DRS clients who became employed earned $26,795 in annual wages and paid $4,019 in annual taxes in 2022.
3 Are there any qualifications?
To qualify for services, clients must have a physical or mental disability that is a substantial barrier to employment. They must be able to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services in ways that lead to finding or maintaining employment.
4 Is there any training and incentives for businesses?
DRS also helps Oklahoma employers with hiring and training qualified workers through VR and SBVI offices serving every county and the agency's Business Services Program.
DRS staff work with employers to set up on-the-job training experience for clients and may cover a portion of their salaries for a specified time. The only requirement is that the business must have a vacant position that can be filled by the trained individual upon completion of the experience.
5 Where can I receive more information?
For more information about employment programs offered by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, visit www.okdrs.gov or phone at 800-845-8476.
—Derrick James