ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Office of Rehabilitation Services Who should be referred? The student who meets the following guidelines: o A student with a disability who may need assistance transitioning to employment. o A student with a disability who may need additional skills development after high school to succeed in the work force. A referral may be the result of a transition team's planning. This is evident when: o The student is receiving special education services and the referral is indicated in the IEP. o The student is being served through a 504 plan and the plan reflects desired vocational outcomes which include transition planning and services. When should the referral be made? Referrals to DHS/ORS should be made when any of the following occur: o The student will exit high school within two years. o The school, parent(s), or legal guardian(s) believe that the student’s disability will interfere with their ability to work within the community and that DHS/ORS services are necessary for the student to successfully achieve employment. o The vocational rehabilitation services that the student requires are not available through programs and services mandated for the schools to provide. Information requested from the School District may include: o Referral sheet o Information describing the student’s disability, needs, preferences, interests, and skills. o Copy of current IEP/ITP o 504 plan o Current psychological testing records o Medical records o Copies of any work experience records o Certificate of eligibility for special education o Senior high school transcripts Helpful Hint: DHS/ORS has a liaison assigned to all public high schools. Check with school administrators, or call the local DHS/ORS office or 1-800-843-6154 (V/TTY). Programs, activitiesandemploymentopportunitiesintheIllinois DepartmentofHuman Servicesareopenandaccessibletoany individualorgroupwithoutregardtoage,sex, race, sexual orientation,disability,ethnicoriginorreligion.Thedepartmentis anequalopportunityemployerandpracticesaffirmativeaction and reasonableaccommodationprograms. DHS4500(N-10-00)ORSStudentTransitiontoEmployment PrintedbytheAuthorityoftheStateofIllinois. P.O. #3222,25,000copies 3 0112 042544939