Ninety-five percent of those who went to work had severe disabilities. Through a collaborative agreement with the Department of Education, additional counselors help students with disabilities move from school to jobs. Sixty-two school districts provide local funds which allow DRS to draw down new federal funds for this effort. Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation staff provided extensive residential, vocational and outpatient services for 3,456 people with a variety of disabling conditions. Assistive work technology is often critical to ensure that people with disabilities are independent and employable.
Rehabilitation engineers assess, prescribe, build, or modify equipment used for work.
The Technology Access Program helped 481 people with assistive work technology services such as voice activated computers, ramps, and print magnifiers. A mobile technology unit is being piloted to provide on-site assessment and manufacture assistive work technology equipment for people in rural areas. This service is 100 percent federally funded. In 1997, DAS began participating in three federal pilot studies designed to streamline the application and determination process. DRS educates organizations about disabilities, work, disability-related law, and resources.