Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Department of Rehabilitative Services? The Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) is the state agency that helps people with disabilities prepare for, enter, and maintain employment. For employers, DRS offers a comprehensive Business Services Program designed to meet employers' recruitment and diversity needs. Our Business Development and Marketing staff works in partnership with employers to hire from a virtually untapped labor pool of skilled and qualified candidates found in people with disabilities. DRS helps address workplace issues such as accommodation, ADA compliance, disability etiquette and more.
2. I am new to the 'disabilities' arena, where do I start? Knowledge is key, so the more you know, the more comfortable you will become. A good place to start is by contacting a disability-related organization, such as DRS, to learn more about people with disabilities in general. Attending one of our free Disability Awareness Training seminars allows employers to explore general attitudes and misconceptions about people with disabilities in an open, interactive environment. Another valuable source of information is to learn from other businesses who know first-hand about the benefits of working with people with disabilities. Virginia's Business Leadership Network will help you connect with these employers.
3. How much will it cost to recruit through DRS? DRS connects businesses to job-ready candidates at NO COST. We do all the skills assessment testing and training. All you have to do is present us with your recruitment needs and we work on our end to ensure you the right match with the right job candidate(s).
4. Are your consumers qualified and ready to go to work? Our consumer-base represents candidates with diverse work skills, transferability skills, academic degrees, various career interests and talents that make them marketable for today's workforce.
5. I have an employee who has become disabled but wants to return to his old job. How can DRS help? If a current employee has obtained a disability, our staff can work with you on making reasonable accommodations and if needed, revise position descriptions so that your employee can remain on the job and, more importantly, your business does not become disrupted.
6. What is a reasonable accommodation? An accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment or the way things are usually done that enables an employee to do his or her job more effectively and productively. Most people with disabilities require little to no accommodation to perform their job. The accommodations that are necessary are usually low-tech, inexpensive, and are common-sense types of adjustments.
7. What do I do if the person who I have hired is not working out? If the employee is not meeting the specifications of the job, the employer can terminate the employee as long as the reason for termination is not related to the employee's disability. If the reason is related to the employee's disability, then accommodations should be considered as an option first.
8. Why should I interview/hire persons with disabilities if I feel that they cannot perform their duties? If you feel that the person cannot perform the essential duties of the job because of their disability, the best approach would be to discuss it with them. You may find out through discussion that the person can indeed do the job with reasonable accommodation. It is best to be straightforward when talking to the person. If after discussing the job with them, you still feel that they cannot do the job, then it is up to you to decide if you want to interview/hire them, as it would be with anyone else you were considering for the position.
9. How do I know whether I am complying with the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Information about the ADA can be found at the United States Department of Justice's ADA Homepage or the ADA Information Center Mid-Atlantic Region.
10. Are there any tax credits for hiring people with disabilities or making accommodations to my place of business? There are a number of tax credits available for businesses that hire and accommodate people with disabilities.
11. What can we do to ensure our website is accessible to visitors with disabilities? See "Tips for Designing Accessible Web Pages" or call 1-800-526-7234 (Voice/TTY).
12. What support can I expect after I hire an employee with a disability? Our job does not end with just placing the employee, we continue to ensure your satisfaction. DRS provides 90 day follow-up services and will remain available for consultation whenever the employer or employee needs further assistance.