Arizona Department of Economic Security - Rehabilitation Services Administration

The Rehabilitation Services Administration program provides a variety of services to persons with disabilities, with the ultimate goal to prepare for, enter into, or retain employment.

Services They Provide:

Employment Assistance

  • Job Training Programs

  • Employment Assistance

Services Offered

  • Vocational Rehabilitation: employment services for individuals with any kind of a documented disability that presents barriers to employment. All services are around the disability impact to employment, and preparing the individual for competitive, integrated employment, with our without supports.

    • Examples: Career Exploration, Adjustment to Disability (learning about accommodations needed to address disability), Rehabilitation Instruction Services (learning such skills as getting around the community safely, independent living skills, financial management skills), Training for career goal, Job Development and Placement, Assistive Technology and Assessment; Evaluations for eligibility and planning purposes.

    • Services for Blind, Deaf, Hard of Hearing; much the same as above, only specialized to the sensory disability

    • Blind Employment Program, helps persons who are legally blind become food service operators in state government buildings

COVID Specific Services

  • All VR staff interactions are virtual at this time (using Zoom or Google Meet or other platform, phone); VR service providers may provide in person or virtual services, and contracted service providers have their own COVID requirements.

Services Offered Virtually

  • Orientation to VR, Intake, Development of Individualized Plan for Employment, Pre-Employment Transition Services provided by VR counselor, ongoing appointments with VR staff.

Eligibility

  • Must have a documented disability

    • Disability impacts ability to prepare for, get, keep employment or progress in employment (higher positions) without VR services.

    • Individual requires VR services to do the above.

Required Documents

  • Social Security card, State ID, documentation of disability (VR can pay for copies of medical documents if necessary, or pay for evaluations/assessments if necessary), information about earned income (self or family if under 18), SSI/SSDI award letter or verification of receipt of unearned income

  • Does your organization provide funding for required documentation?

    • Possibly, depending on circumstances and economic need. We can pay for medical records as needed for eligibility determination. Other services (ID, DL) may depend on eligibility.

  • Do they need to be found eligible for your program before you can provide funding for documentation?

    • Yes

  • What will your organization need and ask from a youth in order to receive funding for erquired documentation?

    • Need a valid ID, could be school, state, passport or DL; youth would have to ask VR counselor and justify need. Could take up to a week to 2 weeks.

Cost of Services

  • No cost for services; this is federally and state funded program.

Times and Days Program is Offered

  • Typically Monday-Friday: 8 AM to 5PM, but depending on individual VR staff and/or VR contracted provider, may be outside these time lines.

Locations

  • 2455 S 7th St, Phoenix, Arizona 85034

  • 11420 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85029

  • 3221 N 16th St, #200, Phoenix, Arizona 85016

  • 1850 N 95th Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85037

  • 11526 W Bell Rd, Surprise, Arizona 85378

  • 11518 E Apache Trail, #110, Apache Junction, Arizona 85220

  • 125 E Elliot Rd, Chandler, Arizona 85225

  • 8930 E Raintree Dr, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

  • 3425 E Van Buren St, #102, Phoenix, Arizona 85008

  • 20 W 1st Ave, Mesa, Arizona 85210

  • 5328 E Washington St, Bldg C, Phoenix, Arizona 85034

Languages Institution has Translators for

  • Most languages through the Language Line services, and ASL, CART.

Transportation Resources Available

  • Bus Passes and Gas Cards

  • Do you need to be found eligible for the program?

    • Yes

  • What will your organization need and ask from a youth in order to receive transportation assistance?

    • Youth must meet our Economic Need criteria for transportation assistance. Economic Need based on Federal Poverty Level, and changes every year.

Contact

  • Betty Schoen

    • Title: Regional Transition Specialist

    • Email: bschoen@azdes.gov

    • Phone Number: 602-542-6282

  • Traci Zweig

Website Link

Arizona Department of Economic Security-Vocational Rehabilitation - https://des.az.gov/services/employment/rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation-vr

Social Media Pages

Facebook: @OfficialArizonaDES | Twitter: @arizonades | Vimeo: @azdes