Transitioning to Adult Care for Epilepsy Patients

Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

www.dars.state.tx.us/
1-800-628-5115 
In order to contact your local DARS office.

If you have a physical or cognitive disability that is keeping you from living independently or from finding a job, the Division for Rehabilitation Services (DRS) provides the following types of assistance:

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program

Is a state-federal partnership that helps people with disabilities prepare for, find & keep jobs. Work related services are individualized & may include counseling, training, medical treatment, assistive devices, job placement assistance, and other services. Eligibility criteria for this program include: the presence of a physical or mental disability that results in a substantial impediment to employment, whether the individual is employable after receiving services, & whether services are required to achieve employment outcomes. The VR program helps Texans with disabilities prepare for, find & keep employment. This program also helps students with disabilities plan the jump from school to work. Please see our Vocational Rehabilitation Guide to Applicants to learn about the process of applying for VR services.

Independent Living (IL) Services and Centers 

Concentrate on self-sufficiency and quality of life, even if work potential is limited. Independent Living Centers and Services promote self-sufficiency despite significant disability - providing people with disabilities with improved mobility, communication, personal adjustment and self-direction. Independent Living Centers are operated by and for people with disabilities throughout the state to provide assistance through peer counseling, information and referral, advocacy support and other measures that encourage people to make their own decisions.

Supported Employment

Serves consumers of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program who need on-going support to maintain competitive employment. Counselors ensure that consumers in this program have the opportunity and support necessary to work in their communities. (*Please see Easter Seals North Texas information)

Transition Planning

Counselors provide consultative and technical assistance to public school personnel in planning the move from school to work for students with disabilities. Assist counselors in coordination with schools, independent school districts, and regional Educational Service Centers.

DRS Rehabilitation Technology Resource Center

Helps keep track of new equipment and engineering services designed to help people with disabilities be more independent.

Easter Seals North Texas

www.ntx.easterseals.com
Director of Employment Services (Tempe Pate)-817-759-7958;  tpate@ntx.easterseals.com
Assistant Director of Employment Services (Linda Baker) - 817-759-7967;lbaker@ntx.easterseals.com. 

Employment Services

Match skills & interests of people with disabilities with opportunities for success in the workplace. They provide the following: on-the-job training, person-centered planning, job coaching, ongoing follow-up, retention & advancement services, rapid re-employment assistance, job development services, resume instruction, interview training, and job search skills training.

Ticket to Success (Ticket to Work Program)

Provides assistance to people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and are interested in returning to work.

Supported Employment

As a provider Supported Employment is a one-on-one intensive approach to job placement in which the trained employment consultants work individually with each job seeker and acts as the job seeker’s advocate to the business community.

Job Placement

Assist those more able to participate in their own job search. Clients receive resume instruction, job skills search training & job leads.

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Services

Support adults receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits learn about the financial and medical incentives for returning to work or obtaining employment, so that they can make informed decisions.

Community Options

www.comop.org (There are 6 offices throughout the State of Texas;  the numbers & contact people may be found @ this website.) 
Community Options believes that every person who wants to work can work. It rejects the view that a disability means a person has to accept unemployment or below minimum wage jobs. It also rejects the view that a disability means the person must work in a sheltered workshop or a segregated work place.

Community Options is successfully placing people with severe disabilities in real jobs - at minimum wage or better. It is increasing the numbers of people with disabilities landing better jobs with better benefits in the competitive marketplace. Community Options' technology department works with employers to adapt and apply relevant technology to enable people with disabilities to work as effectively as possible.

Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind

www.dallaslighthouse.org
214-821-2375; e-mail:  info@dallaslighthouse.org

Business Training - The Dallas Lighthouse offers business training that enables visually impaired individuals to function effectively & productively in skilled service positions in a variety of office environments.

Computer skills -  The Dallas Lighthouse Technology Lab offers one-on-one courses and training for the visually impaired to learn or enhance computer skills.

Manufacturing – The agency currently offers more than 150 manufacturing jobs in its Industrial and Sewing Centers and the majority of employees filling those positions are visually impaired.

Recreation - The Dallas Lighthouse provides a social community for its clients in addition to its many other services.