Transition: Keeping track of your progress
From DRS application to employment 
Front Page
Start:
Step 1 
Complete application with DRS

Step 2
Provide documentation of disability

Step 3
Your counselor will inform you if you are eligible

Step 4
Have DRS conduct a vocational evaluation

Step 5
Identify your career goals and services

Step 6
Complete the financial status form

Step 7
Develop and individualized plan for employment 
(IPE)

Step 8
Participate in Career Awareness
Step 9
Obtain work experience
 
Step 10
Get a cool job with benefits!

Second Page
 ÒAt every step of the process, you can contact 
your counselor, supervisor or the Client 
Assistance Program. See details on back.Ó 
ÒDreams Come True!Ó with the Department of 
Rehabilitation Services logo on the left side and 
the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council logo on the 
right side.
Transition: Keeping track of your progress
From DRS application to employment 
The Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) 
is an agency that assists people with disabilities 
to prepare for, obtain and retain their jobs. 
The transition: School-to-work Program helps 
high school students with disabilities (who are 
eligible for vocational rehabilitation services) to 
prepare for employment and life after high 
school. This process should being at 15.5 years 
of age, but can begin at any time. 
Step 1 Complete the application with DRS.  
Date:
-To obtain an application for DRS services, ask a 
teacher from your school or contact DRS at 
www.okdrs.gov or 800-845-8476
-Once the application is completed, be sure to 
sign (parents must sign if you are under the age 
of 18) and date the application and submit to the 
local DRS office

Step 2 Provide Documentation of Disability. 
Date:
-Work with your school and parents on gathering 
up required documentation about your education 
and disability to submit with the application to 
the DRS counselor

Step 3 Your DRS Counselor will inform you if 
you are eligible. 
Date:
-Timeframe of 60 date from receipt of application
-Once all information has been received and the 
DRS counselor has met with you and your 
family, they will determine if you are eligible for 
DRS services
-Eligibility is based on the significance of your 
disability, the barriers it places on your ability to 
be employed and your ability to benefit from 
DRS services

Step 4 Have DRS conduct a vocational 
evaluation. 
Date:
-Ask your DRS counselor to set up a time for you 
to receive a vocational evaluation to determine 
what interests and strengths you have to help 
you better decide on a career choice
-DRS staff can assist you with this at school or 
at one of the DRS Career Planning Centers

Step 5 Identify your career goals and services. 
-Talk with your family and teachers regarding 
your career goals and interests.
-Begin taking interest and career assessments 
through your school or on-line at home to 
determine your interests and strengths. 
-Research careers to understand education on 
training required for each job. 

Step 6 Complete the financial status form. 
Date:
-To determine if you would be required to share 
in the cost of DRS services, your DRS counselor 
may ask you and your family to submit 
household income information

Step 7 Develop an individualized plan for 
employment (IPE). 
 Date:
-Timeframe is 90 days from eligibility 
determination 
-Now that you have a career goal in mind and 
services available to you, your DRS counselor 
will work with you and your family on developing 
the plan that will be followed to get you to 
employment. 

Step 8 Participate in Career Awareness
-Continue to research careers and look for 
opportunities to job shadow, have a mentor and 
volunteer at your school and in the community
-Get to know everything you can about your job 
interests, including training, pay levels, tasks 
required, job location and room for advancement

Step 9 Obtain work experience 
-Ask about job and work experiences offered at 
your high school and in your community
-Consider getting part-time jobs after school, on 
weekends or during the holidays to build your 
skills. Use this time to learn to be a good 
employee

Step 10 get a cool job with benefits! 
Date:
-When you accomplish all of the preparation 
necessary to get that great job, it is time to start 
that dream job and become independent 
-After having your job for 90 days, the DRS 
counselor will close your case
-You can always contact DRS if other services 
are needed down the road

The client assistance program (CAP) at 405-
521-3756 is available at any stage to assist you 
with information and/or advocacy. 
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation 
Services 
3535 N.W. 58th Street, Suite 500, Oklahoma 
City, OK 73112
405-951-3400 Voice/TTY 800-845-8476 Toll Free 
Voice/TTY okrehab.org

Bottom left of page is the DRS Logo and the 
bottom right is the Oklahoma Rehabilitation 
Council Logo