Virginia State Rehabilitation Council

Improving Employment & Quality of Life For Virginians with Disabilities

The Virginia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is a group of individuals, most of whom have disabilities, appointed by the Governor to work on behalf of people with disabilities by serving as a source of advice, information, and support for the Commonwealth's Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services vocational rehabilitation and supported employment programs. The SRC constantly is searching for ways to communicate with DARS consumers, other people with disabilities, and those who support them.

SRC members outside Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, VA during a break at their November 2023 meeting. They stand in a corner niche of the red brick building in the bright direct sunlight, with some in long sleaves and others in coaats, on what looks like might be a cool day.

SRC members outside Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, VA during a break at their November 2023 meeting.
From left to right: Talisha McAuley-Davis, Madeline Nunnally, Frederick Foard, Joliefawn Liddell, Heidi Lawyer, and Justin Spurlock.

Mission

The mission of the Virginia State Rehabilitation Council, in partnership with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and in collaboration with advocacy groups, consumers and their families, is to ensure quality services for Virginians with disabilities to achieve meaningful employment, self-sufficiency and independence.

Vision

All Virginians with disabilities have access to quality services leading to meaningful employment, self-sufficiency and independence.

ABOUT THE SRC

Why the State Rehabilitation Council Exists

As a result of amendments to the federal Rehabilitation Act in 1992, each state has a citizens' advisory council for its vocational rehabilitation agency. In Virginia, the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Commonwealth's Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) was established by the General Assembly in its 1994 session. When the Rehabilitation Act was reauthorized as part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the role of this citizens' council -- now called a State Rehabilitation Council -- was strengthened in order to underscore its importance in providing public input and advice to the state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

SRC Bylaws

Download a copy of the SRC Bylaws.

Who Serves on the State Rehabilitation Council

In accordance with federal statutory requirements, the Governor of Virginia appoints individuals to the SRC. The SRC must include among its members:

Representatives of disability groups that include a cross-section of individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and mental disabilities; representatives of individuals with disabilities who have difficulty representing themselves or are unable due to their disabilities to represent themselves; and current or former applicants for, or recipients of, vocational rehabilitation services.

One representative each from the federal Client Assistance Program at the disAbility Law Center of Virginia; the Statewide Independent Living Council; the Virginia Board of Workforce Development; the Department of Education; the parent training and information center; the Employment Services Organizations; and a qualified counselor from the state's vocational rehabilitation department.

Four representatives of business, industry, and labor.

A majority of the members of the SRC must be people with disabilities.

Member Roster

Billie Cook - Hampton

Talisha McAuley-Davis - Richmond

Frederick Foard - Virginia Beach

Kathryn A. Hayfield - Richmond

Heidi Lawyer - Richmond

Angela Leonard - Blue Ridge

Joliefawn Liddell - Richmond

Madeline Nunnally - Richmond

Justin Spurlock - Richmond

Jennifer Witteborg - Rixeyville

NEWS & INFORMATION

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

Vocational Rehabilitation Program

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program was established under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals with disabilities so that they may prepare for and engage in gainful employment. The DARS VR program provides direct services to consumers through its field offices located throughout the Commonwealth. Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center provides consumers with residential or outpatient programs ranging from early medical rehabilitation to complete vocational services and re-entry into the community. The VR program provides a comprehensive range of services, including vocational evaluation, job placement, career counseling, vocational and academic training, rehabilitation and assistive technology, physical restoration and personal assistance services.

In addition to its Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) program, DARS has strong partnerships with many community-based rehabilitation providers across the Commonwealth and supports facility-based employment and supported employment services for the Employment Services Organizations (ESOs), the community rehabilitation providers in Virginia.

DARS also works closely with private, non-profit Centers for Independent Living which provide independent living skills, training, advocacy, information and referral and peer counseling for individuals with disabilities.

Consumer Satisfaction

The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) works in partnership with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to assess satisfaction with services received through the Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS). Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021 was the eighth year of assessing satisfaction for consumers in service delivery (post Individualized Plan for Employment but prior to Employment). Survey highlights provided below are indicative of real time assessment (what was happening with consumers at the time of survey completion).
A detailed report is available at https://www.dars.virginia.gov/publications.htm#annualreports.

Percentage of Consumers Responding "Yes"

Question Asked	Number of "Yes" responses	Percentage of “Yes” responses
Have you and your counselor agreed on your plans for reaching your job goal?	320	69%
Is your counselor doing what he/she said they would do to help you reach your job goal?	313	67%
Is your DARS office helpful in connecting you with people and services you need to reach your job goal?	318	68%
Has your DARS office kept in contact with you throughout the process?	330	71%
Are you moving toward employment in a timely manner?	251	54%

Consumers continued to share the best thing that had happened to help them move towards their job goal and what would help them move closer to their goal. (Percentages are based on number of responses since some consumers reported more than one thing.)

Of 429 responses regarding the best thing that had happened to help them, 30 percent were related to consumers’ positive outlook, twenty-one percent were related to helpfulness, and 11 percent were job related.
Of 424 responses regarding what would help them move closer to their job goal, 23 percent were job related and 14 percent were related to helpfulness. Eleven percent were related to post-secondary or training.

DARS State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment

DARS is required to file a State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment with the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration, annually. Topics covered in the State Plan include:

Rehabilitation and career needs of people with disabilities
Methods to expand and improve services to meet those needs
Services provided by Employment Services Organizations (ESOs)
Quality, scope and extent of Supported Employment services
Transition of students with disabilities, including students with disabilities who are not in special education programs, from education to vocational rehabilitation.

An important Attachment to the State Plan summarizes recommendations and advice provided by the SRC to DSRS, and presents the agency's response to these recommendations.

Each year, DARS conducts special hearings for the purpose of obtaining public input into its State Plan.

SRC Annual Report

The SRC submits an Annual Report to the Commissioner of the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration and to the Governor of Virginia on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs operated within the state.

Copies may be obtained by contacting the SRC Liaison at SRC Web.

MEETINGS

SRC meetings are held quarterly. Meetings are generally scheduled to occur at 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Richmond, Virginia, in the first floor conference room. The location of the meeting is accessible. Interpreter services will be provided, and other accommodations may be requested prior to the meeting.

To find out more about scheduled meetings, please contact:
Elizabeth.Patacca@dars.virginia.gov.

2024 Meeting Schedule