News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2008
Contact: Aileen Colorado, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: 804-662-7532
Email: Aileen.Colorado@drs.virginia.gov
Web: http://www.vadrs.org
Tazewell County Department of Motor Vehicles Receives Award of Excellence
- Accessible Manuals and Driver’s Test Open Opportunities for People with Disabilities -
Richmond, Va. – Commissioner James A. Rothrock of the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) presented his annual Award of Excellence in Transition to the Tazewell County Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on March 17, 2008, at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. The award, which honors an individual or group who has significantly contributed toward the employment and independence of youth with disabilities, recognized DMV for its partnership with DRS and Tazewell County’s Public Schools to provide accommodations for students with disabilities seeking to obtain their driver’s license.
“One of the greatest barriers to employment for people with disabilities is lack of transportation,” said DRS Commissioner Rothrock. “DMV’s support in helping us tackle this problem exemplifies how state agencies can work together to create real change.”
The partnership developed when Tammy Muir, vocational rehabilitation counselor, DRS, coordinated a meeting with representatives from Tazewell County’s Public Schools and Tazewell’s DMV office to address the needs of students with disabilities who traditionally failed the written portion of the driver’s license test because of their learning and test-taking abilities. As a result, a number of accommodation strategies were applied.
DMV agreed to provide copies of the driver’s manual in audio cassette and CD format. DRS and school staff assisted students with completing forms and applications, and provided half-day review sessions the day before and the day of the test. Moreover, DMV granted allowances such as extra time, repeated questions, and verbal testing as an accommodation for the test-takers.
“The results were immediate and tangible,” said Muir. “The rise in self-esteem, the feeling of acceptance, and the motivation to attack new goals could only be measured by the look on the faces of students who participated through the program.”
Between June 2007 and February 2008, 88 students received their learner’s permit. Of this group, 70% of the male students and 40% of the female students received their driver’s license and went on to find employment. Effects of this program also filtered beyond the high schools. DRS’ Pounding Mill office reported calls from adults in the community inquiring about the DMV program and the possibility of utilizing the accommodations as well.“We are proud to be a part of an initiative that has such an impact on the lives of people with disabilities and our Commonwealth,” said DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit.
The Tazewell DMV/DRS pilot program will be presented at the Virginia Transition Forum 2008, which takes place March 17-19 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, for replication throughout the Commonwealth.For more information about the pilot program, please contact Beth Somers, transition coordinator, DRS, at (804) 640-1168.
Background:
The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) is the state agency that provides and advocates for the highest quality of services to help persons with disabilities maximize their employment, independence and full inclusion into society. Through its 4 regional and 36 field offices, DRS provides a comprehensive array of services such as vocational counseling, career exploration, training, assistive technology, and other specialty programs that meet individual needs, interests and abilities. For more information about DRS, call 1-800-552-5019 (v), 1-800-464-9950 (TTY) or visit www.vadrs.org
