How To Get What You Want From DARS

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) works in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have disabilities. DARS, like other states’ vocational programs, was designed to assist individuals with disabilities to, along with other things, gain employment. On our way to gainful employment we may need certain services, education, equipment or assistive technology. Before becoming employed we look to DARS to make those purchases. But, as in most relationships, there is a quid pro quo. We have to understand what our DARS counselor expects of us and how each counselor is rewarded.

Imagine each of us is an investment opportunity (IO). A DARS counselor is responsible for many IOs. He or she will allocate resources (money) to each IO, with most money going to the most promising IO. You have to ask yourself, “How can I be the best IO?”

There are several ways to be the best IO. Each and every step of the way you must show you will become employed. I spoke with Jonas Schwartz from DARS about the relationship between DARS counselors and clients. According to Jonas, DARS previously had quotas of cases counselors needed to close. Now DARS is focused more on quality of closed cases rather than quantity of closed cases. DARS is very interested in the employment goal that a consumer wants to pursue. When the Individual's employment goal is being discussed a counselor explores the employment goal which must be consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the consumer.

The employment goal is based on the comprehensive assessment, which includes an assessment of any stated career interests of the consumer. Based on 34 CFR 361.45 as outlined in the Rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended. The goal is to balance the desires of the consumer with available jobs in the area where the consumer wants to work.

My interpretation is, while in the training phase, perhaps going to college, show your proclivity for areas such as accounting or teaching. If you want to major in philosophy you may as well start practicing saying, “Do you want fries with that?” In case you haven’t noticed, there are not many want ads for philosophers. You must major in an area that corresponds to the needs of the labor market. If you still have a strong desire to study philosophy, choose it as a minor or do it on your own time. Tax payers won’t foot your tuition otherwise.

Patterns

There is a science devoted to study patterns in nature, fractals. There are patterns to all we do in life. To be a good IO, you must show you have a pattern of being successful. If you are in college and you repeatedly drop classes or take an inordinate amount of time to complete classes, this tells your DARS counselor you may not be a good IO. Now nobody expects every person with a disability to always be at the top of their class. Still, counselors expect to see improvements. Remember, school is part of your job training. In my case, it took several years in college to show I was a good IO. Part of my problem was learning how to avoid pressure sores and urinary tract infections. Once I learned that, I was on my way to being a good IO.

It’s a Jungle Out There

Whether we want to admit it or not, life is all about survival of the fittest. For those of us with disabilities, that may mean working extra hard. When I was first in school studying math and physics, we didn’t have personal computers. I couldn’t use a typewriter to do my homework because it didn’t have mathematical symbols to write equations such as
If f(x,y) := x2y, then ∂f/∂x = 2xy or mathematical limit of A(k) as k goes from 1 to n = 12 + 22 + 32 + 42

In order to do my homework, I had to use a brace on my hand because I couldn’t use my fingers. The brace was big and bulky and hard to put on. As a result, there were many nights I stayed up all night doing my math or physics homework. It was the only way I could keep up with fellow students. Though this worked in an academic setting, it would not be appropriate in a work setting. It did, however, show my vocational counselor that I was willing to work extra hard and was, therefore, a good IO.

* My ‘all night’ habits inspired a fellow student to make a sign out of a pizza box and affix it on my dorm room door. It read, “Geno’s Place, open 24 hours.” That since has become my web site title: www.GenosPlace.org.

Getting to Yes

To get what you want, it’s best to make your counselor’s job as easy as possible. For example, let’s suppose you want to be self-employed and need a computer. First, research the need for the type of work you would like to do. Is it a growing field? What is the competition like? If you are serious about being self-employed, present a business plan that shows exactly how you will grow your business. Identify the computer you need. Explain why it’s the best computer for what you need to do. Be prepared to accept an alternate product recommended by your counselor. How does Consumer’s Report rate that computer? What does CNET.com say about it? You must be able to show the answers to these questions, in writing. The more seriously you present your request, the more likely your DARS counselor will honor your request.

Be honest in your research and you may end up requesting something different from what you originally planned. For general inquiries, call DARS at 1-800-628-5115.

Henry David Thoreau said, “Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.” If your passion is photography then join a photography club. Subscribe to photography magazines. Invest some of your money in photography equipment. All of these things will not only further your career but it will show your DARS counselor that you are very serious and he/she will, in turn, take you more seriously.

Do you have a question about employment and disability? Send your question to grodgers@austin.rr.com and put “DLRP JOBS” in the subject line.