BUREAU OF CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY BLIND SERVICES | DIVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES (DRS)

Blind Service staff provide a variety of services to individuals who are blind, visually impaired or Deaf/Blind to assist them in achieving self-sufficiency through obtaining competitive employment. Services include: - Vocational rehabilitation. - Rehabilitation Instructors providing instruction in independent living skills, communication strategies, Braille, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, and health and wellness. - Orientation and Mobility Instructors providing instruction in skills, methods, and techniques to independently travel safely and effectively in various surroundings. - Rehabilitation Counselors and Coordinators provide a wide variety of services necessary to assist the individual in obtaining their employment outcome goal. - Blind Services manages the Older Individual Blind Grant funds allocated to community agencies which provide services to individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. - The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind provides business opportunities for individuals who are legally blind to manage vending facilities, including vending, gift shops, snack bars, and cafeterias.

Date of Last Formal Update

04/26/2024

Data provided by

PATH Inc. 211

Physical Address

1330 Oakwood Avenue, Dekalb, IL 60115

Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Fee

Most services are free of cost.

Eligibility

- Vocational rehabilitation services: Age 14.5 years old with a significant visual impairment that makes going to work difficult. - Blind Services: Open to all citizens of Illinois who meet the criteria listed. Services are designed to help persons served under this program to adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs. Blind Services manages Social Service Block Grant funds allocated to community agencies which provide services to: A) Individuals ages 18-54 whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Services are designed to help persons served under this program to adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs. B) Individuals ages 18+ who have both a hearing loss and visual impairment who will benefit from training in independent living skills, advocacy, sign language instruction and outreach.

Agency info

DIVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES (DRS)