Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services to end wait times for service

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services staff at an annual conference in Waterloo. (Photo courtesy of IVRS)

People with physical or mental disabilities using the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services to find work won’t need to wait to be served starting in September.

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) helps eligible Iowans with disabilities find employment by connecting them to employers, running practice interviews, giving resume support, providing general consultation and more.

After Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation joined Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) in early July, its responsibilities were trimmed to remove things already done elsewhere at the larger agency.

James Williams, an IVRS administrator, said when someone wants resume help or a mock interview, IVRS counselors no longer have to be the ones to do it. That saves counselors time and lets them take on more cases.

Williams said that by bringing the two agencies “under one umbrella,” IVRS can concentrate on what it does best.

“We frankly have more staff resources and bandwidth now as a part of IWD that we just never really had previously,” Williams said.

Sara Bath, an operations manager at IWD, said increasing collaboration leads to a better outcome for everyone involved. The different departments save time, energy and resources while the individual gets better, more comprehensive support.

“The more partners you can have working with an individual, the better off the individual is,” Bath said.

IVRS received over 4,500 applications for help in 2023 and managed to help nearly 1,900 people find work.

Besides blind people who can go to the Iowa Department for the Blind, IVRS assists people diagnosed with autism, amputees and anyone else with a physical or mental disability.

Prior to these recent changes, a person with disabilities applying for assistance at IVRS would be listed under one of three categories – most significant disability, significant disability or other eligible. IVRS would use order of selection and prioritize those with the most significant disabilities when choosing who to help.

However, those listed as most significant disability are now served immediately. Beginning in August, those listed as significant disability will not wait for service and all others eligible won’t be forced to wait starting in September.

Outside of greater collaboration with IWD, Williams said rehiring staff lost during the pandemic and stable funding has allowed the department to help more people and remove wait times.

All of these changes will lead to more people with disabilities being served and finding employment, Williams said.

ADA protections

In the workforce, people with disabilities are entitled to protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prevents employers from unfairly discriminating against workers or prospective employees because of their disabilities.

Service animals, accessible parking spaces and employers required to communicate effectively to those with disabilities are some of the protections provided by the ADA.

The Iowa Liaison for the Great Plains ADA Center Molly Wuebker said her work with IVRS is to ensure both employers and employees are aware of ADA mandates.

“We’re providing that coaching to those employers related to what their responsibilities are regarding the ADA,” Wuebker said. “[We’re] also providing that advocacy training for people so that if they need reasonable accommodations, they know how to initiate that.”

More than just money

Wuebker said for those with disabilities, jobs provide monetary benefits as well as a feeling of independence.

“They have basic needs just like anyone else. They need that financial security to be able to cover those basic needs,” Wuebker said. “It provides them with a sense of empowerment that can really enhance their quality of life.”

Williams said employment gives financial independence and decreased reliance upon government resources for those with disabilities.

“If we can get people with disabilities jobs, they go from being a recipient of government money and services to being a contributor and a taxpayer towards government funding and services,” Williams said.

Bath said the ultimate goal is to find people with disabilities work but that work can provide benefits outside of monetary value.

“I feel like work gives people value and people deserve to have dignity and to work in a psychologically safe environment,” Bath said. “I think that that’s what all of the counselors and the department strive for.”

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