The Magic Bullet

Many clients come to the Department of Rehabilitation Services during a time in their lives, which is very stressful. Sometimes a client has been newly-diagnosed by their doctor as having a particular debilitating condition. That kind of news can be hard to process.

Sometimes a client is undergoing overwhelming financial challenges. I donÕt have the rent for next month. My heat is going to be turned off, and this is wintertime. I live in rural Oklahoma and donÕt have transportation to do the business I need to do. The list goes on of very real concerns which affect people every day.

We finally get approved for a federal/state program from the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and it is natural that we think that now we have a means to solve all our problems. We have expectations, and those expectations are high. I donÕt have the means, but government does. That is partially true. LetÕs talk about this further.

DRS is not a magic bullet for all the woes we are experiencing at a particular time in our lives. DRS is a good federal/state program to help you address your need for employment as a person with disabilities. Even then DRS is a process and that process takes time for you to get that job that matches your interests and abilities.

But your needs are right now. Yes they are. While the DRS program may not be able to assist you in a financial need, they may be able to provide you counseling and guidance on other resources you can use to meet your needs.

Counseling and guidance is a service, which is automatically placed on every Individual Plan of Employment (IPE), and we really donÕt pay much attention to it. The DRS Counselor is listed as the person responsible. If you have a particular challenge in your life, share this with your DRS Counselor even if this challenge has nothing to do with employment.

While the DRS program may not be able to assist you in a financial need, they may be able to provide you counseling and guidance on other resources you can use to meet your needs.

DRS Counselors have a masterÕs degree in counseling and are familiar with local resources. They may know a little about the Affordable Care Act and where you can go to get that ongoing medical attention you need, which DRS will not do. DRS Counselors may know when heating/cooling assistance (LIHEAP) will be offered through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Remember that your DRS Counselor is a state employee and is in the field of social service. Many DRS clients are so embroiled in efforts to get DRS to pay for a service that they do not think about generic resources to meet their needs, which are not related to employment. Ask your DRS Counselor for help even when the service you need is not something DRS does.

You need a special, expensive medication, which controls the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Your DRS Counselor replies that they do not do Òongoing medical servicesÓ according to their policy. So can you tell me another place that I might get this medication paid for? I do not have health insurance. Ask for what you need even if it is not something DRS does.

ÒCounseling and GuidanceÓ covers a lot of territory. Use that knowledge base that your DRS Counselor has to help you and refer you to other resources to meet your needs. Remember that the DRS program is there to assist you in employment related needs. There is a big difference between saying you need new shoes and saying you need shoes to go on a job interview.

The Department of Rehabilitation Services is not a magic bullet to solve the problem of ÒlifeÓ. DRS is a very real resource to assist you in achieving your Vocational Outcome. When you put your efforts together with the agencyÕs supports, you just may get that job which will change your life.