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DEPARTMENT OF ASSISTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Pursuing Excellence, Changing the Future

Contents

Introduction

The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) administers programs that ensure Texas is a state where people with disabilities and children who have developmental delays enjoy the same opportunities as other Texans to live independent and productive lives.

The Department operates programs in four distinct units:

Through these program areas, DARS provides services that help Texans with disabilities find jobs through vocational rehabilitation and ensure that Texans with disabilities live independently in their communities. We also work with families to help children with disabilities and developmental delays reach their full potential.

The 2010 Annual Report is a comprehensive resource for readers who want to know about DARS operations. The report features descriptions of each of our programs and introduces readers to some of the consumers who have benefited from those programs. It also includes statistics on DARS employees, brief biographies of the Department's executive management team, and information on the Department's advisory councils and committees.

It is a fundamental value of DARS to listen, to learn, and to be responsive to our stakeholders and our consumers in an ongoing effort to make programs and services even better.

If you have suggestions or comments about DARS, please call the Inquiries Unit at 800.628.5115, or email: DARS.Inquiries@dars.state.tx.us. If you have comments about the 2010 Annual Report, please email: CPER@dars.state.tx.us.

Pursuing Excellence, Changing The Future

Terrell I. Murphy, Commissioner

New technologies such as smart phones enable people with and without disabilities to accomplish daily tasks.

The theme of the 2010 Annual Report reflects the DARS culture and the outcomes it produces. Our culture of excellence, combined with the hard work of our consumers and staff, changes the future for Texans with disabilities by helping them live independent and productive lives.

The DARS culture is defined in our management philosophy, guiding principles, values, and beliefs. These tenets stress respect, professional growth, open communication, and trust. We challenge ourselves to be innovative, creative, and efficient; to customize services; and to cultivate partnerships.

We wrote these cultural guideposts when DARS was formed in 2004. They are displayed in our offices as a daily reminder of our responsibilities and how to go about our work. In recent years, we've added a new challenge to pursue what I call E3—excellent service to every customer, every time.

As you read this report, you will learn about our results in terms of the bottom line—impressive facts and figures about budgets, consumers, and outcomes. For example, our general and blind vocational rehabilitation programs served 99,695 consumers, and Early Childhood Intervention provided comprehensive services for 61,125 children. Our award-winning Division for Disability Determination processed 302,393 cases.

Even more impressive are the stories that show what can happen when DARS professionals honor our culture and work with consumers to change their future for the better. The story of a little boy with Down syndrome whose family learned practical techniques for helping him reach goals that were developed with guidance from DARS. A Blind Services consumer who found success as a television producer. A mother of five who overcame meningitis and deafness to have a career as a nurse. A 6-year-old boy with autism who used to be isolated and fearful, but now plays happily with other children. A waitress who was able to have back surgery and continue to work thanks to help from DARS and the Medicaid Buy-in Program.

These and other stories are in the pages that follow, and I invite you to read them all and learn more about DARS.

At this writing, I am near my retirement from state service. It has been my privilege to serve as the first DARS Commissioner and help form the DARS culture. I take great pride in the accomplishments of our employees and consumers. They have formed a remarkable partnership in not only 2010, but also every year since 2004.

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

The DARS vision, mission, principles, and values will guide our decisions. Consumers and their families, when appropriate, will be active participants in planning the services they receive.

DARS Vision

A Texas where people with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays enjoy the same opportunities as other Texans to pursue independent and productive lives.

DARS Mission

To work in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society.

Guiding Principles

DARS Statistics

DARS Employees: Who We Are

DARS enjoys a stable, long-tenured workforce. More than half of our employees have at least 10 years of state service, and 76 percent have 5 or more years of state service.

In Fiscal Year 2010, DARS employed approximately 3,222 full and part-time employees.

The majority of DARS employees (2,863) were assigned to direct service delivery and geographically dispersed throughout Texas.

DARS Workforce by Division. Click to show as table data.

Within the Health and Human Services Enterprise (composed of DARS, the Health and Human Services Commission, and the Departments of State Health Services, Aging and Disability Services, and Family and Protective Services), DARS had the lowest employee turnover rate at 8 percent (including interagency transfers). Excluding retirements and involuntary separations, the turnover rate at DARS was 4 percent.

DARS Workforce by Age. Click to show as table data.

DARS Operating Budget - 2010

Expenditures by Division

Division/Program/Function Dollars
Rehabilitation Services $279,462,580
Early Childhood Intervention $189,487,732
Disability Determination Services $119,556,996
Blind Services $65,251,936
Program Support $29,771,369
Autism $3,300,000
Medicaid Infrastructure Grant $772,113
TOTAL $687,602,726

Expenditures by Category

Category Dollars
Services/Grants $440,190,067
Salaries/Wages $161,775,569
Operating Expenses $85,637,090
TOTAL $687,602,726

Budget by Method of Finance

Method of Finance Dollars
Federal Funds $546,570,476
General Revenue Related (GR and GR Dedicated) $122,628,850
Other Funds $18,403,400
TOTAL $687,602,726

DRS Division for Rehabilitation Services

DRS Overview

DRS consumers learn strategies to continue independent livingDRS is the state's principal authority on the vocational rehabilitation of Texans with disabilities, except persons who are blind. DRS provides services through the following programs:

DRS works in partnership with the Rehabilitation Council of Texas (RCT) and the State Independent Living Council (SILC). The RCT, which is federally mandated by the Rehabilitation Act, provides DARS with reviews, analysis, and advice regarding policy and the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services. The RCT also helps prepare the DRS State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation. SILC provides input on independent living matters and helps develop the State Plan for Independent Living.

For more information about DRS programs and services and eligibility requirements, call the DARS Inquiries Unit at 800.628.5115 or visit the DARS Web site at www.dars.state.tx.us and select Division for Rehabilitation Services or Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

DRS Services

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
This program helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep jobs. Rehabilitation services are individualized and may include counseling, training, medical services, assistive devices, job placement assistance, and other services. The VR Program partners with businesses to help workers with disabilities keep their jobs and cultivate new employment opportunities for VR consumers. VR counselors work with public school personnel on campuses across the state to transition eligible students with disabilities from school to work and to serve consumers who need ongoing support to maintain employment.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS)
DHHS works with people of all ages who are deaf or hard of hearing to eliminate communication barriers and ensure equal access and participation in their communities. This assistance is offered regardless of the consumer's location, socioeconomic status, or degree of disability. The Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services maintains a statewide network of community partners and contracted resource specialists to coordinate and facilitate service delivery. These partners and specialists work with other state and local government agencies and the private sector. Interpreter services, assistance for locating and obtaining assistive devices, advocacy services, empowerment training, and interpreter training are among the services offered.
Independent Living Services (ILS) and Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
These centers promote self-sufficiency and enhanced quality of life for individuals with significant disabilities by focusing on mobility, communications, personal adjustment, and self-direction. The centers and DRS ILS counselors work together to coordinate services for consumers. CILs provide the core services of advocacy, information and referral, peer counseling, and independent living skills training. DRS provides assistive equipment and technology that are not available through CILs, such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, and prosthetics.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services (CRS)
CRS provides intensive therapies to people who cannot function independently due to traumatic spinal cord or brain injuries.

DRS At A Glance

For every dollar spent on vocational rehabilitation, consumers generate more than $7 in personal taxable income through the remainder of their work lives. By retirement, the average rehabilitated consumer will have repaid the cost of services at least three times through taxes paid.

DRS Consumer Success Story

Tim Alexander
Tim Alexander: Living the Dream

Tim Alexander of Fort Worth was living the American dream. He had a new job at a Fortune 500 company, a new house, and a loving wife and son. He was only seven courses away from completing his bachelor of science degree in engineering at Tarleton University.

But Tim's life changed dramatically in one afternoon.

While riding his motorcycle, Tim was hit by a drunk driver. He sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury that resulted in incomplete quadriplegia, a condition of paralysis and loss of sensation that affects all four limbs. He started physical therapy with Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation and was deemed eligible for the DARS Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Program because of his spinal cord injury. But Tim decided he wanted to get back to work and didn't want to wait, so Baylor referred him to the Vocational Rehabilitation Program at DARS.

"When Tim came to the Division for Rehabilitation Services office, he was in a wheelchair that he was borrowing from the hospital," said Janet Moore, Tim's vocational rehabilitation counselor. "The first thing we did was get him into his own wheelchair that met his specific needs. After he received his chair, he went back to work part time."

DARS also paid for Tim's driving evaluation and arranged for his vehicle to be modified with hand controls so he could continue driving. After DARS modified his home office, Tim's employer let him work from home three days a week so that he could continue his therapies.

As a result, Tim is once again a full-time employee. He continues to have success in his therapy, and today he can walk with a cane. He is active again with his son, who wants his dad to chase him, but Tim admits he can't do that just yet.

Although he has reached many goals throughout this journey—goals that doctors told him he never would reach—Tim says his ultimate goal is to get back to running. "Given what he has accomplished thus far, I believe he will reach his goal," Janet said. "Less than a year after he was injured he was successfully back at work full time."

Tim also has gone back to school and expects to graduate with his engineering degree in May 2011.

"DARS has opened the doors for everything," Tim says. "They have allowed me to resume my life again, as normal as possible."

Kelley Keeton
Kelley Keeton: Beating the Odds

Wife and mother of five Kelley Keeton of Anna, Texas, wanted to become a nurse. But in one nightmarish night, her life changed and it looked like her dream never would come true.

On that night, Kelley became extremely sick and was hospitalized with meningitis, a serious condition that affected the membranes covering her spinal cord and brain. She was given a 10 percent chance to survive.

Kelley beat those dire odds, but the illness left her deaf, and she had to learn to walk again. She and her husband Jerry didn't know what to do or who to turn to until a social worker gave them a number for Esther Kelly, a DARS hearing loss resource specialist.

As soon as Kelley was settled at home, Jerry contacted Esther, and she arranged a Saturday morning home visit. When Esther arrived, Kelley was still very sick, and Jerry was desperate. Esther assured Jerry and the Keeton children that help was available.

This first meeting introduced Kelley to DARS services and other resources to help her remain independent and continue to communicate. Esther learned that Kelley had Medicaid coverage and referred her to Medical City Hospital in Dallas for a cochlear implant.

The first implant was not successful due to damage from the meningitis. But a few months later, a second cochlear implant in Kelley's other ear was completed successfully.

After Kelley recovered from meningitis, it was time to help her become successfully employed. Kelley contacted the DARS office in Plano, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Mary Carey took her case.

Mary started working to help Kelley earn the nursing license she always had wanted. Kelley enrolled in the Grayson County College Vocational Nursing Program with a state tuition waiver. DARS also helped with technology, books, and CART (Communication Access Real Time Translation).

Kelley received an "Outstanding Vocational Nursing Student" award and graduated. Now she is preparing to go to work at a local hospital.

In a letter to Esther and Mary, Kelley said: "Both of you were monumental in helping me realize my dream. Esther Kelly, you are amazing; you gave me and Jerry hope. The cochlear implant was life changing. Mary Carey helped me with everything I needed to finish nursing school. I could not have achieved my dream without either of you. I am so thankful that God put both of you in my life"

Bruce Byron
Bruce Byron: DARS Angels to the Rescue

Bruce Byron of Abilene had been working as a healthcare professional. Ironically, he lost his job because of his health problems.

Bruce had Type 1 diabetes that had become increasingly severe. A near-fatal accident proved how severe. Returning from a job out of town, he checked his blood sugar before getting behind the wheel. But somewhere on the trip, Bruce's blood sugar dropped significantly. He pulled over on the side of the highway, suddenly realizing he had missed his exit by about 30 miles. Upon pulling back into traffic, he was struck by a tractor trailer rig. It was a miracle he survived.

Bruce came to DARS after losing his job at a hospital because he experienced episodes in which he would pass out and collapse. He faced homelessness and losing everything he owned. He couldn't pay for medical care, but he didn't qualify for assistance because of his previous year's income.

DARS Unit Program Specialist Lori Bowen set about finding a sensor for his insulin pump. The sensor would alert Bruce that his blood sugar level was too extreme so that he could control his condition. Lori then went to work to find help to pay his electricity bills and delay foreclosure on his home. DARS also helped Bruce improve his résumé.

Lori discovered a program that was hiring—Training, Rehabilitation, and Development Institute (TRDI), which provided services to the local air force base. However, Bruce needed a driver license before TRDI could hire him, and he had lost his license after his accident. With help from his doctor and documentation of what had been achieved with the insulin pump sensor, Bruce obtained a restricted driver's license, and he was hired by TRDI.

Bruce's supervisor at TRDI is committed to working with people with all types of disabilities and swears that they make the best employees.

With help from DARS to obtain the services and equipment necessary to stabilize his condition and return to work, Bruce got back on his feet. He was able to keep his home, his vehicle, and his beloved pets. He also was able to bring his wife and daughter from China to live with him.

Bruce continues to work at the local air force base. He also works at events for the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and is a true advocate of helping people with disabilities.

Asked about DARS services, Bruce replied, "You all are my angels."

Richard O'Crowley
Richard O'Crowley: A Simple but Eloquent 'Thank You'

Richard O'Crowley of San Antonio is lucky to be alive. In 2008, he was in Mexico for his job in public relations for a resort company. While there, he was assaulted, brutally beaten, and left on the street to die. He has no recollection of who his assailant was, how it all happened, or the time he spent in Mexican hospitals following the crime.

Once his condition was stabilized, Richard's family transported him back to San Antonio, where he remained at his mother's home and was referred to University Hospital. The assault left Richard with a traumatic brain injury, unable to communicate, walk, or independently care for himself. He depended on the supportive care of his mother and brothers to perform all his daily living activities.

Richard's mother Yolanda heard about DARS through the United Way. She contacted DARS in hopes that the agency's services could address her son's significant needs and help him to relearn, at some level, the skills he lost as the result of his injury. She applied to the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Program on his behalf.

Working with Comprehensive Rehabilitation Counselor Linda Mueller, Ms. O'Crowley received extensive information about her son's rehabilitation process. Linda provided counseling, guidance, and education about brain injury.

Linda also coordinated Richard's services with local provider ResCare Premier, where he would receive his therapy. He received a complement of team supportive services to address his needs in daily living, cognition, communication, and mobility skills.

Once Richard successfully completed his post-acute brain injury program, he was discharged to his mother's home. He has since received additional referrals to semi-independent living resources.

Richard always will have challenges as the result of his severe brain injury, but with help from DARS, he has improved significantly and can function more independently. He has progressed from crawling on the floor, to using a wheelchair, to walking with the aid of orthotics. He is able to meet his daily needs such as grooming, bathing, eating, and dressing. He can speak rather than use signs and gestures, and he has learned to make a simple meal.

Richard expressed his gratitude for the DARS services he received simply: "I'm great…Thank you."

DRS Statistics

Vocational Rehabilitation

Operating budget: $230,505,168
Average cost per consumer: $2,582

Consumers

Primary Disability Total Consumers Percent*
Cardiac/Respiratory/Circulatory 1,563 2%
Cognitive 19,266 22%
Deaf & Hard of Hearing 10,488 12%
Mental /Emotional 15,946 18%
Musculo-Skeletal Disabilities 20,077 22%
Neurological 4,163 5%
Substance Abuse 3,281 4%
Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury 2,464 3%
Other Impairments 12,011 13%
TOTAL 89,259 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Education at Application Total Consumers Percent*
Bachelor's Degree 4,457 5%
Postsecondary Education, no degree 15,797 18%
Associate degree or Voc/Tech Certificate 7,624 9%
High School Graduate/Equivalency 28,022 31%
Secondary Education, no high school diploma 19,373 22%
Elementary Education 2,426 3%
Special Education Certificate/ attendance 9,861 11%
Other 1,699 2%
TOTAL 89,259 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Services

DRS VR Expenditures by Type of Service*. Click to show as table data.

*Total case service expenditures: $153,720,171

Outcomes

Occupation Total Consumers Percent*
Service 2,804 25%
Office & Administrative Support 1,988 18%
Healthcare Practitioners, Technical, & Healthcare Support 1,162 10%
Sales & Related 920 8%
Transportation & Material Moving 905 8%
Education, Legal, Community Service, Arts, and Media 902 8%
Production 844 7%
Management, Business, and Financial 682 6%
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 470 4%
All Other 658 6%
TOTAL 11,335 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%
Categories reflect 2010 Standardized Occupation Code Changes

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Outcomes

DHHS Consumers and Services Number
Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Who Received Communication Access Services 41,957
Equipment/Service Vouchers Issued to Persons with Disabilities 27,438
Interpreter Certificates Issued 1,721
Consumers Educated and Interpreters Trained 1,018

Independent Living Services

Operating budget: $5,875,315
Average monthly cost per person receiving IL services: $730

Consumers

Primary Disability Total Consumers Percent*
Cardiac/Respiratory/Circulatory 69 4%
Deaf & Hard of Hearing 486 27%
Mental /Emotional or Cognitive 7 0%
Musculo-Skeletal Disabilities 612 34%
Neurological 289 16%
Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury 89 5%
Other 233 13%
TOTAL 1785 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100%

Education at Application Total Consumers Percent*
Bachelor's Degree 75 4%
Associate degree or Voc/Tech Certificate 99 6%
Post-secondary Education, no degree 207 12%
High School graduate or equivalency 601 34%
Secondary education, no diploma 281 16%
Elementary education 380 21%
Special Education Certificate/ in attendance 19 1%
Others 123 7%
TOTAL 1785 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Services

DRS ILS Expenditures by Type of Service*. Click to show as table data.

*Total service expenditures: $5,711,462

Outcomes

Centers for Independent Living

Operating budget: $2,689,283
Average cost per consumer: $499

Services

Services Number of Services Provided*
Information & Referral (I & R) - General 25,940
Advocacy/Legal 8,616
IL Skills Training & Life Skills Training 7,321
Peer Counseling 3,670
Transportation 2,867
Youth 2,804
Assistive Devices/Equipment 2,693
Communication 2,263
Recreational 2,107
Housing, Home Modifications, & Shelter 1,324
Vocational 1,117
I & R - Assistive Technology 1,097
Relocation from Nursing Home or Institution to Community 729
I & R - Transportation 519
Children's Services 144
Other 4,632
TOTAL 67,843

*CIL consumers (with a plan or waiver) may have tapped these services multiple times

Outcomes

Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services

Operating budget: $17,472,762
Average monthly cost per CRS consumer: $3,658

Consumers

Education at Application Total Consumers Percent*
Bachelor's Degree 34 6%
Post-secondary Education, no degree 129 21%
Associate Degree or Voc/Tech Certificate 61 10%
High School Graduate/Equivalency 220 36%
Secondary Education, no diploma 132 22%
Elementary education 14 2%
Special Education Certificate/in attendance 6 1%
Other 10 2%
TOTAL 606 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Services

DRS CRS Expenditures by Type of Service*. Click to show as table data.

*Total service expenditures: $16,781,298

Outcomes

DBS Division for Blind Services

The DARS Division for Blind Services works in partnership with Texans who are blind or visually impaired to reach their goals.

DBS Overview

Braille is one skill for continuing an independent lifestyleDBS envisions a Texas where people who are blind or visually impaired enjoy the same opportunities as other Texans to pursue independence and employment.

Blind Services helps eligible individuals of all ages and their families, providing services based on their goals and needs. DBS helps Texans live independently, participate in community life, find a high-quality job, or find the training needed to be successful in school and beyond.

In a society designed by sighted people for sighted people, barriers may be inadvertently created for people who are without sight. To overcome these barriers, a person who is blind or visually impaired must have specialized skills and a high level of confidence. An extensive continuum of services and an effective partnership between consumers and DBS are the keys to successfully acquiring these skills and bolstering confidence.

DBS strives to ensure that each rehabilitation program is tailored to fit individual needs. To ensure success, services must be matched to the consumer's choices, skills, aptitudes, and capabilities.

For more information about DBS services and eligibility requirements, call the DARS Inquiries Unit at 800.628.5115 or visit the DARS Web site at www.dars.state.tx.us and select Division for Blind Services.

DBS Programs

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
The VR Program helps adults with a visual impairment obtain or maintain employment. The Program also serves individuals who are deafblind. Services may include counseling and guidance, physical or mental restoration, and vocational diagnostics; assistance in adjusting to blindness; and training in vocational and adaptive skills, orientation and mobility, and Braille. The Transition Program provides consumers age 10 to 23 with educational and career guidance, assistive technology, supported employment services, and assistance in obtaining employment.
Business Enterprises of Texas (BET)
BET is a federally funded program administered by the State. It provides food service management opportunities for Texans who are blind.
Independent Living (IL)
The IL Program helps adults who are blind or visually impaired learn adaptive skills to continue to live independently and confidently. Services focus on sharing information about vision loss and related resources, teaching alternative ways to perform daily activities, helping consumers participate in social and recreational activities in the community, and providing adaptive devices that help individuals achieve their independent living goals.
Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC)
CCRC, a residential program in Austin, offers an intensive training program that empowers consumers to develop the skills, confidence, and positive attitude that are needed to fully participate in employment, their community, and society.
Blind Children's Vocational Discovery and Development Program (BCVDDP)
BCVDDP helps visually impaired children and their families by providing information and teaching the skills required for personal independence, potential employment, and other pursuits.
Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment (BEST)
BEST helps Texans keep their vision healthy and prevent blindness. It is funded with voluntary donations when Texans renew their driver license.

DBS AT A GLANCE

Helping individuals who are blind or significantly visually impaired go to work is the core of the DBS mission.

For business, finding and keeping good employees is one of the keys to success and is a major challenge in today's market. DBS programs help businesses find the right match to fill business needs.

By focusing on business needs, DBS is better able to meet the employment needs of people who are blind or significantly visually impaired.

DBS programs help consumers learn the skills and gain the confidence essential to live independently in their community.

DBS Consumer Success Stories

Betty Decker
Betty Decker: Paying It Forward

Nestled deep in the tall pines of East Texas, just off Highway 37, lies Winnsboro. It's a small town where one is likely to see logging trucks, deer, and a wave from a neighbor.

But in the midst of this affable community, Betty Decker and her husband found themselves isolated and challenged to maintain the lifestyle they loved.

Betty, in her eighties and legally blind from glaucoma, was experiencing difficulty functioning in all areas of her life, especially reading, cooking, and ambulating safely in her home. At the same time, her husband was receiving in-home care because several strokes had temporarily affected his vision as well. There were few resources in this rural area to address their concerns and day-to-day frustrations.

Upon meeting Betty, DARS Independent Living Coordinator Karen Guay said it was evident she was deeply concerned with how she and her husband could continue living independently and safely in their home. Betty's confidence was visibly shaken.

Once skills training began through the Division for Blind Services Independent Living Program, Betty's confidence, competence, and independence steadily grew. She learned new ways of completing everyday tasks without relying on her fluctuating vision.

DARS also provided adaptive modifications and equipment. With the help of a CCTV (video magnifier) to enlarge text size, Betty began to read again for the first time in years. She uses the CCTV to read mail, prescription bottles, and the local newspaper, and to write checks. She also has learned safe travel techniques using a white cane. Skills training, adaptive devices, and supportive counseling have allowed Betty to regain and maintain a quality of life where vision loss is no longer an obstacle.

Betty has achieved all her independent living goals, which she initially thought would be impossible. Perhaps her greatest success is her transition from being very frightened to serving as a mentor to others who have experienced vision loss.

"Betty wants to help others in their time of need, just as DARS helped her in what she calls 'her darkest hour,'" Karen said. "When I caught up with Betty by phone, she was excited to report that she is functioning very well, using her CCTV daily, and using tips and tricks she has learned through DARS." When asked for a final word, Betty replied, "I am so blessed. If I can help just one more person, I would be most grateful."

Marcie Robinson
Marcie Robinson: Dispelling Her Own Doubts

Think of a career where you must work with pictures, moving images, and graphics to create interesting visual content. Now imagine having that career without the ability to see those images.

That scenario is not imaginary for Marcie Robinson, who is blind and also holds a full-time job producing programs, documentaries, and other content for a television station in Amarillo. DARS was instrumental in helping Marcie accomplish her unlikely professional goals.

When Marcie's vision deteriorated as a result of glaucoma, cataracts, and an eye infection, a colleague advised her to contact the Division for Blind Services. She scheduled an appointment with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Lisa Sharp. "Marcie is strong, but she had been through a traumatic time with her vision," Lisa said. "It was difficult for her to contact us and admit that she needed help."

Lisa explains that Marcie had her hands full at that point: she was a teacher at Amarillo College, a wife, the mother of two, and a student working on her master's degree. But when she realized the extent of her vision loss, she dropped out of graduate school and quit her job because she believed that she could not work or continue in school. "She describes this time in her life as 'very sad,'" said Lisa. "She felt like she had no options."

At first, Marcie reluctantly participated in activities designed to increase her confidence and independence. She was skeptical, doubting that she would be able to perform her duties as a broadcaster. She was so doubtful that she discouraged other people with blindness from going into broadcasting.

But as time passed and she learned adaptive ways to perform familiar tasks, Marcie's confidence and self-esteem blossomed. She started to believe that she could go on with her day-to-day life and pursue her goals. With assistance from DARS, she returned to college.

Today, Marcie has a master's degree in communications from West Texas A&M University. With the help of coworkers who describe videos on the screen and using assistive technology devices provided by DARS, she ably performs her job duties as a writer, researcher, and producer for daily and weekly televisions programs.

"Marcie is happy, and she continues to learn," Lisa said. "The one piece of advice she would like to share is, 'Enjoy your life, enjoy what you have, and relish the things you can do.'"

Janette Garza-Westra
Janette Garza-Westra: Prepared for the Future

Janette Garza-Westra stood in the Corpus Christi City Council Chamber Board Room waiting for her husband Ken, who worked at City Hall. Janette didn't know the mayor was about to proclaim May 15, 2010, as "Janette Garza-Westra Day."

This surprise, arranged by Ken, was an honor that she couldn't have imagined, considering the challenges she had faced most of her life.

Diagnosed with hearing loss at 18 months of age, Janette had worn hearing aids since her childhood. Later she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye disease. Due to a combination of her diagnosis and other personal problems, Janette began using drugs. "I was in denial. I did not want to accept the fact that I could go blind."

In 2003, she found DARS Division for Blind Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Eileen Longoria, who became Janette's cheerleader and confidante. "I secured a job for Janette at a supply store at the Corpus Christi Army Depot," Eileen said. "Janette was working as a stocker when she injured her knee. As with most job injuries, she was asked to take a drug test."

"I failed the test," Janette said, "but I still tried to hide the fact that I was using drugs." In an attempt to help Janette get back on track, Eileen told her that DBS could continue services only if she went to drug counseling.

Janette made the decision to turn her life around. She entered counseling, stopped using drugs, and decided to get an associate's degree, which she did two years later. Then she decided to get a bachelor's degree. Her disabilities made studying difficult and slow. "It was difficult to hear discussions in the classrooms because I would miss a lot of words. I always went to class early to sit in the front so I could read lips….My classmates studied for three hours, but I found myself studying for eight hours or the whole day," she said.

Throughout this time, DARS provided counseling and guidance, mobility training with a cane, books and supplies, hearing aids, and paid transportation costs so she could get to class. Janette also received independent living skills training, assistive technology, and equipment specific to her dual disability.

Despite all the obstacles, Janette graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a bachelor of science degree in May 2010. She plans to pursue a master's degree and hopes to one day have her own psychology practice.

DBS Statistics

Vocational Rehabilitation

Operating budget: $50,985,313
Average cost per consumer: $4,886

Consumers

Education at Application Total Consumers Percent*
Bachelor's Degree 622 6%
Post-secondary Education, no degree 1,527 15%
Associate Degree or Voc/Tech Certificate 650 6%
High School Graduate/Equivalency 2,422 23%
Secondary education, no diploma 1,663 16%
Elementary Education 1,889 18%
Special Education Certificate/in attendance 57 1%
Other 369 4%
Not Reported 1,237 12%
TOTAL 10,436 100%

Services

DBS VR Expenditures by Type of Service. Click to show as table data.

Outcomes

Occupation Total Consumers Percent*
Service 218 16%
Education, Legal, Community Service, Arts, and Media 178 13%
Management, Business, and Financial 156 12%
Office & Administrative Support 154 12%
Production 144 11%
Healthcare Practitioners, Technical, and Healthcare Support 105 8%
Homemakers/Unpaid Family Workers 98 7%
Sales & Related Occupations 96 7%
Construction and Extraction 50 4%
All Other Occupations 131 10%
TOTAL 1,330 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%
Categories reflect 2010 Standardized Occupation Code Changes

Business Enterprises of Texas

Operating Budget: $2,707,794

Consumers

Services

Service Amount Percent*
Employee Salaries $1,012,600 35%
Administrative Costs** $700,530 24%
Repair of Existing Equipment $261,000 9%
Replacement of Existing Equipment (capital projects) $222,300 8%
Purchase of New Equipment (new facilities) $183,300 6%
Replacement of Outdated Equipment $253,900 9%
New Product Inventories for Managers $90,000 3%
Liability Insurance $67,400 2%
Professional Fees $47,804 2%
Training $29,000 1%
TOTAL BET Services* $2,867,834 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%
**Administrative costs include BET Trust Fund amount of $648,443

Outcomes

Independent Living

Operating Budget: $3,941,980
Average cost per consumer: $1,134

Consumers

Cause Total Consumers Percent*
Macular Degeneration 924 27%
Diabetic Retinopathy 626 18%
Glaucoma 437 13%
Other 1,488 43%
TOTAL 3,475 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Education:

Education at Application Total Consumers Percent*
Bachelor's Degree 166 5%
Post-secondary Education, no degree 229 7%
Associate Degree or Voc/Tech Certificate 137 4%
High School Graduate/Equivalency 1,065 31%
Secondary Education, no diploma 253 7%
Elementary Education 282 8%
Other 119 3%
Not Reported 1,224 35%
TOTAL 3,475 100.0%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Services

DBS IL Expenditures by Type of Service*. Click to show as table data.

*Total case service expenditures: $1,164,039
**Assistive Technology and Adaptive Equipment includes eyeglasses and low vision devices and prosthetics and orthotics

Outcomes

Blind Children's Vocational Discovery And Development Program

Operating Budget: $4,613,073
Average monthly cost per child served: $112

Consumers

Age in Years Consumers Percent*
0 - 9 3,245 85%
10 - 17 202 5%
18 - 22 15 0%
Not Reported 362 9%
TOTAL 3,824 100%

*Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%

Services

Blind Children's Program Expenditures by Type of Service*. Click to show as table data.

*Total case service expenditures: $1,101,645

Outcomes

Blindness Education, Screening, And Treatment

Operating Budget: $349,360
Average cost per consumer: $53

Consumers*

DBS BEST Program Consumers by Disability. Click to show as table data.

*Total number receiving BEST treatment: 120

Services

BEST Program Expenditures by Type of Treatment Service. Click to show as table data.

*Total Expenditures for Treatment Services: $253,797

Outcomes

ECI Early Childhood Intervention Services

ECI Overview

ECI coaches families to help them meet the needs of their childrenECI serves families with children birth to 36 months by contracting with 56 local agencies that serve all Texas counties. Contractors include mental health/mental retardation centers, school districts, education service centers, and private nonprofit organizations. ECI services are financed through federal, state, and local funds; Medicaid; private insurance; and a family cost-share system.

A team of ECI professionals and family members determines eligibility for services. Children are eligible if they meet one of the following criteria:

To find an ECI program or for more information, call the DARS Inquiries Unit at 800.628.5115 or visit the DARS Web site at www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis.

ECI Services

ECI services include the following features:

Referral
Anyone can make a referral to ECI. Most referrals come from the medical community or directly from families. Other sources include the Department of Family and Protective Services, childcare providers, and social service agencies.
Individualized Planning Process
Once eligibility is determined, an interdisciplinary team, which includes the family, develops an individualized family service plan. The services in the plan are provided in a location chosen by the family
Family-Centered Services
Services are based on the needs and concerns of each family and child. ECI professionals and family members incorporate activities into the child and family's daily activities to promote the child's development.
Case Management
ECI provides every family with case management services that help them access and coordinate other needed community services.
Familiar Settings
Most ECI services are provided in the home, but they also can be provided in other places where the child goes regularly—a childcare center, neighborhood park, library, or other community setting, for example.
Professional Providers
The teams that evaluate the child and plan their services include licensed or credentialed specialists: early intervention specialists, speech and language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, counselors, and hearing and vision specialists.
Plans for Continuing Services
ECI services end when the child turns three. Well before that time, the ECI team, including the family, decides on next steps. Children may transition to public school, preschool, Head Start, childcare centers, or other community activities and programs or they may stay home with their family. For those children who need further intervention services, the goal is a smooth transition with no service gaps.

ECI  At A Glance

What families say about ECI:

"When I was told about my child's hearing problem, it was very difficult. What helped me feel that my child was going to be okay was that I was connected with ECI. They connected me with other people who would help my child succeed, and for that I am thankful."

"The program helped our son's language improve by 70 percent. It also has helped me, as a parent, to continuously teach my son effective skills on a daily basis."

"ECI has been a wonderful experience. All of the therapists are extremely conscientious and helpful. The ECI program has walked hand-in-hand with us as we journey to fully understand our son's delays and needs."

ECI Consumer Success Story

Miguel and Juan Campos
Miguel and Juan Campos: An ECI Partnership That Works

Twins Miguel and Juan Campos were born prematurely in Longview, weighing less than four pounds each. They spent weeks in the intensive care unit, and the hospital referred them to DARS Division for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). At that time, the ECI staff and the family determined that services were not required.

A short time later the Campos family moved to El Paso, where their pediatrician became concerned because the twins had difficulty walking and talking. A new ECI evaluation revealed that the twins now needed occupational and speech therapy and the family needed support to adjust to this new situation.

An ECI counselor worked with the family and suggested ways to cope with Miguel and Juan's developmental delays. The counselor educated the family on the power of patience and helped the older siblings with their feelings toward the twins. "Until you understand developmental milestones and what your children are capable of doing, it is difficult to help them," said Miguel and Juan's mother Marie. With ECI's assistance, the family learned to understand what could be expected of Miguel and Juan, and they were better equipped to help the boys.

One of the most important goals for the twins was to improve their communication skills. Their speech therapist created ways for the twins to learn words, and Miguel and Juan developed their own communication style, which was beneficial to both. The twins copied each other when learning words and sounds and actually taught each other. With additional help from other family members, they learned to say "please," which was exciting for everyone.

The next goal was to make family meals less stressful. ECI staff members visited at lunchtime and taught the family feeding techniques. Marie learned how to prepare the boys' plates differently and showed each twin how to use eating utensils. As a result, they stopped dumping food off their plates and family mealtime was more pleasant.

Miguel and Juan are succeeding because ECI's expert team partnered with their family and helped them learn to help their children. A year after they enrolled in ECI, Marie says, "The twins have learned so much. They are walking, jumping, and saying a few words. My next goal is to teach them to say 'thank you.'"

Uriah Jadon Brookins
Uriah Jadon Brookins: The Power of Love and Early Intervention

When Pauline and John Brookins of Plainview watch their youngest son play with his older brothers and sister, they are elated to see him laughing while he wrestles and tumbles around on the floor. Uriah Jadon Brookins was diagnosed with Down syndrome when he was born in 2009. "Uriah is a beautiful boy who eats and cries like every other baby. He just has to work a little harder to do certain things," says Pauline.

Shortly after his diagnosis, Uriah and his family were referred to the DARS Division for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). ECI professionals and family members identified goals for Uriah and developed a plan for services that would benefit Uriah and the family. The entire Brookins family worked with an ECI service coordinator, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist to learn how they could help Uriah.

One of Uriah's goals was to drink through a straw. ECI staff members showed Pauline and John how to play with bubbles and straws, which helped Uriah learn this skill. It is these practical techniques that have been so beneficial to the Brookins family. When Uriah wasn't crawling, he was taught an "inchworm crawl" (short scoots across the floor) to help him move across a room. He still is learning how to crawl, but meanwhile he has taught himself how to roll in order to get where he wants to go faster. His mother sees Uriah's determination and believes he will achieve all his goals. "We understand that Uriah will learn at his own pace, and that's OK," Pauline said.

Uriah's brothers and sister play drums and show him how to hold balls and not let them go, which helps Uriah with his motor skills. He can pull up, stand, and cruise along the sofa. He learns a lot from his sister who is one year older than him. Pauline constantly talks to Uriah and wants him to learn to say "I love you." He can say "hi" and blow kisses. He likes to give hugs and a pat on the back, a gesture his mom believes is his way of saying "I love you."

Uriah enjoys being silly, loves to eat, and always has a smile. Pauline wants Uriah to prove that individuals with Down syndrome benefit from loving homes and early intervention. "ECI has provided resources for support, and we figure things out together. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank ECI," she said.

Early Childhood Intervention Services Statistics

Operating budget: $189,487,732
Average monthly cost per child: $489*

*Based on Comprehensive Services

Consumers

ECI Consumers Age at Enrollment. Click to show as table data.

ECI Consumers Reasons for Eligibility. Click to show as table data.

ECI Consumers Referral Sources. Click to show as table data.

Services

Planned Service Types Percent*
Developmental Services 86%
Speech Language Therapy 47%
Occupational Therapy 27%
Physical Therapy 21%
Nutrition 12%
Family Education/Training 7%
Behavioral Intervention 4%
Vision 2%
Audiology 2%
Psychological/Social Work 2%

 *Total Planned Service Types sum to more than 100% because consumers may receive multiple services

Outcomes

ECI Consumers Number
Children Referred 85,124
Children Received Comprehensive Services 61,215
Children Received Follow Along 9,059

Autism Program

The DARS Autism Program funds services for children ages 3 through 8 with an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism Program Overview

In August 2007, the Legislative Budget Board, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor, instructed the Health and Human Services Commission to fund services for children ages 3 through 8 with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Following a competitive procurement process, DARS awarded grant contracts to four organizations to provide autism treatment beginning April 1, 2008, and ending August 31, 2009. In 2009, the 81st Legislature provided additional funding that enabled DARS to award a two-year contract extension to the original four providers and add two more contractors, for a total of six.

With the increased level of funding for the 2010 – 2011 biennium, autism services will be provided by the following contractors:

For more information on the Autism Program, call the DARS Inquiries Unit at 800.628.5115 or visit the DARS Web site at www.dars.state.tx.us and select Find Services at the top of the page.

Autism Program Services

Autism Program services include the following features:

Autism  At A Glance

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but are four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between about 1 in 80 and 1 in 240, with an average of 1 in 110, children in the United States have an ASD. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html)

In 2008, there were an estimated 50,100 Texas children under age 21 with an ASD. (Demography Team, Strategic Decision Support, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, July 2008.)

During 2010, the DARS Autism Program provided services to 232 children.

Consumer Story

Jesse
Jesse: Growing His World

When 6-year-old Jesse first came to the DARS Autism Program, he had little interest in playing, a fear of large groups of people, problems with following directions, and some challenging behaviors, such as spitting and hitting. He also had difficulties with language and communication, which could further limit his full potential. He spoke English, but the primary language spoken in his home is Urdu.

Jesse's diagnosis was pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified. He was admitted to the Easter Seals North Texas (ESNT) Autism Treatment Program, with funding from the DARS Autism Program.

In June 2008, ESNT began treating Jesse using applied behavioral analysis, a technique for teaching behaviors through a system of rewards and consequences. At the same time, he was placed in a preschool program for children with disabilities. And his mother was taught how to help her son deal successfully with being in a large group of people.

Jesse made quick progress in a one-on-one setting with autism treatment staff and soon was moved to a small-group classroom. His instruction focused on the areas of communication and language, play, and pre-academic skills. Autism treatment staff members also worked with Jesse on reducing his challenging behaviors and difficulty following directions. The skills that still needed improvement were practiced more frequently at ESNT.

Thanks to the services Jesse received from the DARS Autism Program and ESNT, Jesse has made significant progress. His play skills and behaviors have improved, and he interacts more appropriately with other children. His language skills have improved, and he speaks in full sentences. He enjoys sports and is a big basketball fan. In fact, he knows all the National Basketball Association players by name.

In the spring of 2009, based on behavioral improvements and development of his skills, Jesse's school recommended changing his placement to a regular kindergarten class. While this was a major transition, he adjusted successfully and quickly and is behaving and learning at the same level as most of his classmates.

Today the little boy who used to be fearful now asks other children to play with him and attends assemblies with his classmates. Thanks to the DARS Autism Program and ESNT and Jesse's hard work, his world has grown by leaps and bounds.

Autism Program Statistics

Operating budget: $3,459,090
Average monthly cost per child receiving autism services: $2,288

Consumers

Percent of Autism Program Consumers by Gross Family Income. Click to show as table data.

Services

Service Children Who Received Services*
Total Percent of Total
Applied Behavior Analysis 232 100%
Testing 110 47%
Home-Based Services 86 37%
Speech-Language Therapy 29 13%
Pediatrics 14 6%
Occupational Therapy 12 5%
Audiology Evaluations 5 2%
Physical Therapy 4 2%

*Consumers may receive more than one service

Outcomes

Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG)

MIG Overview

The MIG collaborates with partners and stakeholders statewide to develop the infrastructure for a comprehensive system of competitive employment supports for people with disabilities. Among the strategies used to achieve this mission are efforts to increase participation in the Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) program. MBI allows eligible Texans with disabilities who are working to obtain Medicaid health coverage. The program is a resource for people who have disabilities but are concerned about losing their health coverage when their income level exceeds Medicaid eligibility limits.

MIG funds also help

The MIG is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CFDA #93.768) and is part of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. The Centers have funded the DARS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant at the following levels:

Total: $2,000,000

For more information on the MIG, call the DARS Inquiries Unit at 800.628.5115.

MIG Consumer Success Story

Rosa Gonzalez
Rosa Gonzalez: Free From the Work-Pain Cycle

You don't need to work in a diner to know that the job of a waitress is often back-breaking labor. Few could tell you that better than Rosa Gonzalez from McAllen. She knows firsthand what carrying heavy loads of plates, glasses, and flatware can do to a person's back because she is a waitress.

Rosa is a mother of three who works day in and day out to serve her customers with a smile. But after six years, the duties of waitressing started to take a toll on her back. Eventually she reached the point where she was in continual debilitating pain.

She went to a chiropractor for two years, but her back did not get any better. The only way to provide relief for Rosa's pain was back surgery. But she didn't make enough in her waitressing job to pay for such an expensive procedure. She was caught up in an unfortunate cycle: her back pain was getting worse day by day as she worked on the job, but she couldn't afford to stop working.

One block away from the restaurant where Rosa works is the local Rehabilitation Services office of DARS. She knew she needed help for her disabling back pain and decided to go in the office, where she met Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Leigh Ann Godinez.

Leigh Ann arranged for Rosa to see a doctor for a diagnosis of the problems with her back. Sure enough, Rosa was diagnosed with severe spondylolisthesis, which is a painful condition in which two vertebrae on her spine rub against each other, caused by a slipped disc. In addition to severe pain radiating down a patient's back, it also can cause nerve damage and weakness in the legs.

Leigh Ann helped Rosa apply for the Medicaid Buy-In Program(MBI). The program allows Rosa to receive Medicaid, which paid for her back surgery. MBI also allows Rosa to continue to work without fear of losing her health coverage.

In June 2010, Rosa left her three children at her mother's house and headed to the hospital to have her long-needed back surgery.

Now Rosa is working without pain and is back to serving up some of the tastiest meals in McAllen.

Leigh Ann reports, "Rosa is doing remarkably well. Her whole spirit has improved since the surgery. She really got her life back."

MIG Statistics

Operating Budget: $732,128

MIG Activities

Medicaid Buy-in Activity by Month. Click to show as table data.

*Active consumers are consumers who are enrolled and eligible to receive services.

DDS Disability Determination Services

DDS Overview

DDS makes disability determinations for Texans with severe disabilities who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance and/or Supplemental Security Income. The Division is funded by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Texans with physical and/or mental impairments apply for benefits at their local SSA field office, and their applications are forwarded to DDS, which determines whether the applicant is disabled, according to federal criteria. SSA makes the final decision about whether a person is eligible to receive benefits.

DDS develops medical evidence and determines whether a claimant is disabled under the law. Usually, the division first tries to obtain evidence from the claimant's own medical sources. If that evidence is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination, arrangements are made for a consultative examination to obtain additional information.

After the evidence is developed, a trained staff member makes the disability determination and returns the case to the SSA field office for appropriate action. If the staff member determines that the claimant is disabled, SSA completes an eligibility determination, computes the benefit amount, and begins paying benefits. If the claimant is found not to be disabled, the file is kept in the field office in case the claimant decides to appeal the determination.

To apply for disability benefits or learn more about the application process, call the Social Security Administration at 800.772.1213 or visit the Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov. If you already have filed a disability claim with Social Security, you may contact DDS at 512.437.8000 or 800.252.7009 to obtain information or ask questions about your claim.

DDS Services

SSA administers two disability programs that provide cash benefits and medical coverage to people who are unable to work because they have severe physical or mental impairments. Cash benefits are designed to replace part of the income lost if a person becomes disabled. Many people are qualified to apply for both of these programs. Regardless of the program, DDS makes the disability determination for SSA, but only SSA can determine who is eligible to receive benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is related to work. People earn coverage for themselves and family members by paying Social Security tax.

SSDI covers workers age 18 to 65 who are disabled, disabled widows/widowers, and disabled adult children of workers.

Claimants must wait five months from the onset of their disability before getting their first check; they must wait 24 months after the first check before Medicare starts.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is related to what a person has or owns. A person who does not own much or have much income may qualify for this program. SSI covers adults age 18 to 65 and children from birth to age 18. There is no waiting period for benefits to start; Medicaid coverage for medical care begins with the first check.

DDS At A Glance

Disability Determination Services Statistics

DDS is federally funded, and statistics are based on Federal Fiscal Year 2010

Operating Budget: $114,065,167

Cases Received

DDS Types of Cases. Click to show as table data.

*Total cases received: 346,896

Outcomes

Advisors, Councils, Committees, and Boards

The DARS Council

The DARS Council helps the Commissioner and the Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner develop rules and policies for the Department. The council is composed of nine members of the public appointed by the Governor. To be eligible for appointment to the council, a person must have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of problems and available services related to early childhood intervention services or to people with disabilities other than developmental delay and mental retardation and people who are blind, deaf, or hard of hearing.

More information on the council is available on the Internet at www.dars.state.tx.us/news/darscouncil.shtml

Members

2 vacancies

Rehabilitation Council of Texas

The Rehabilitation Council of Texas reports to and advises the DARS Commissioner regarding the Divisions' performance in providing vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities. Council members are appointed by the Governor.

More information on the council is available on the Internet at www.dars.state.tx.us/announcements/rct.shtml

Members

State Independent Living Council

The State Independent Living Council (SILC) is an equal partner with DARS in the development, approval, and implementation of the State Plan for Independent Living. The Texas SILC leads, promotes, and advances the independent living philosophy and advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities. The Governor appoints council members, with the majority being individuals with disabilities.

More information on the council is available on the Internet at www.dars.state.tx.us/news/silc.shtml

Members

Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee

The ECI Advisory Committee helps the DARS Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services develop and implement policies that constitute the statewide ECI system. The Governor appoints the committee members.

More information on the committee is available on the Internet at www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/advisorycommittee.shtml

Members

4 vacancies

Board for Evaluation of Interpreters

The Board for Evaluation of Interpreters advises the DARS Division for Rehabilitation Services, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, in administering the interpreter certification program. The DARS Commissioner appoints the board members.

More information on the board is available on the Internet at www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/bei.shtml

Members

DARS Executive Staff Profiles

Terrell I. Murphy, Commissioner

Terrell I. Murphy was appointed commissioner of the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services in 2003. Before his appointment, Commissioner Murphy served more than three decades at the Texas Commission for the Blind. His positions included placement specialist, mental health/mental retardation (MH/MR) program specialist, assistant state supervisor for community-based MH/MR services, assistant state supervisor for field services, director of field services, deputy director for programs, and executive director. He has served in several national organizations, including the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, and the American Foundation for the Blind. He also has been on the Advisory Board of the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute. He currently serves on both the P-16 Council and the Texas Workforce Investment Council. Commissioner Murphy has received the Texas Rehabilitation Action Network's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Texas Rehabilitation Association's Professional of the Year Award. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a proud veteran who was awarded three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart during his service in Vietnam.

Debra Wanser, Deputy Commissioner for Executive Support

Debra Wanser joined DARS in July 2007. She works closely with the commissioner on day-to-day operations and provides strategic direction to programs. The DARS Centers for Policy and Innovation, Learning Management, and Program and External Relations and the DARS Leadership Institute report to Ms. Wanser. Before joining DARS, she was the assistant commissioner for adult protective services at the Department of Family and Protective Services and associate commissioner for family health at the Texas Department of Health. Ms. Wanser is a registered nurse and has more than 30 years of direct care and administrative experience in nursing, mental health, public health, and social services. She has degrees from the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs, St. Edward's University, and Oklahoma State University School of Nursing.

Alvin Miller, Chief Operating Officer

Alvin Miller became chief operating officer (COO) for DARS in March 2004. Before coming to DARS, Mr. Miller was in senior management positions with several state agencies. He joined the Comptroller's Field Operations Division in 1973 as a state tax auditor and later was assistant regional director of the Northeast Texas Field Operations Region. He was promoted to director of field operations audit in 1981. He also served as director of the State Comptroller's Human Resources, Training, Revenue Management, and Internal Audit Divisions. In 1992, Mr. Miller joined the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) as chief fiscal officer. While with the OAG, he served as chief administrative officer of the State Employee Workers' Compensation System. He also was director of the OAG Child Support Enforcement Information Systems Development Division, where he led the systems implementation of federal welfare reform. He was chief financial officer for the Texas Commission for the Blind from 1999 until he joined DARS as COO. Mr. Miller is a certified public accountant, a certified governmental financial manager, and a project management professional.

Bill Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer

Bill Wheeler has been the chief financial officer (CFO) for DARS since its inception in 2004. Before that, he was the CFO at the Texas Rehabilitation Commission. He has 16 years of state government experience, all in financial management positions. Before joining the state, Mr. Wheeler spent 15 years in the private sector in financial management positions, including jobs as CFO and budget manager in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Mr. Wheeler holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a master of business administration (MBA) degree from Texas State University. He is also a graduate of the Governor's Executive Development Program.

Jim Hanophy, Assistant Commissioner for Rehabilitation Services

Jim Hanophy began his role as assistant commissioner for rehabilitation services in March 2008. He has 30 years of professional and volunteer experience working with children and adults with disabilities in Texas, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Mr. Hanophy first came to DARS in 2006 as a program specialist, a position in which his areas of responsibility included customized employment services, case consultation, and business development. Before joining DARS, he worked as an organizational consultant with the University of North Texas and was a faculty member in the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work, and Addictions. Mr. Hanophy holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Binghamton University and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from West Virginia University.

Barbara J. Madrigal, Assistant Commissioner for Blind Services

Barbara J. Madrigal has provided services to Texans who are blind for more than 30 years, working in direct service delivery, program development and implementation, and management. Ms. Madrigal has a bachelor's degree in education for the deaf and master's degrees in counseling and human services administration. She has taught deaf and hearing-impaired students, served as an instructor for the migrant program at St. Edward's University, and worked with the American Red Cross in its services to military families. She is the president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. She also serves on the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation Executive Committee as Chair of the Employment Committee. Her many honors include Texas Commission for the Blind Employee of the Year, recognition from the Texas House of Representatives for her efforts to enhance employment opportunities for blind Texans, the State Agency Council's Outstanding Women in State Government award in management, and the Texas RehabAction Network Award for Lifetime Achievement in Public Vocational Rehabilitation.

Kim Wedel, Assistant Commissioner for Early Childhood Intervention Services

Kim Wedel joined DARS in August 2006. She brings a wealth of experience from the private and public sectors to her leadership role with the Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services. Ms. Wedel began her state service in 1998 at the Department of Family and Protective Services Prevention and Early Intervention Services and later led their Contract Administration Division. In 2004 she became the Director of Community Services (long-term services and supports) in the Provider Services Division at the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Before entering the public sector, she spent 17 years working with community-based nonprofits in California, New York, and Texas. This blend of public and private sector knowledge brings a unique skill set to a system that delivers services to more than 60,000 infants and toddlers and their families through contracts with 56 local entities. Ms. Wedel holds a master's degree in public administration from Columbia University and a master's degree in social work (licensed master of social work) from Hunter College School of Social Work of the City University of New York.

Mary Wolfe, Assistant Commissioner for Disability Determination Services

Mary Wolfe became the assistant commissioner for disability determination services (DDS) in March 2004. Ms. Wolfe started her public service career with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC). Over the past 30 years with TRC and DARS, she has held both staff and management positions. Ms. Wolfe worked in various divisions and assignments in the offices/units of Disability Determination Services field services in regional and satellite offices and in the central office in Austin. Also during this time, Ms. Wolfe served as the interim commissioner of TRC and was responsible for administering policy, oversight, and administrative functions, including DDS and DRS. Ms. Wolfe is a graduate of St. Edward's University in Austin with a degree in public administration.

Dianne Skinnell, Director of Internal Audit

Dianne Skinnell has been the director of internal audit at DARS since November 2008. She leads the Internal Audit Division in performing risk assessments, developing annual audit plans, conducting audits, and providing support and guidance within the Internal Audit Division. Ms. Skinnell works with the DARS executive management team to address areas related to control, risk management, and governance for the agency. Ms. Skinnell has 29 years of state service in the areas of accounting and auditing, including 10 years with the Texas State Auditor's Office. Before joining DARS, she was the internal audit director at the Department of Family and Protective Services and also at the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. She held other positions with the University of Texas at Austin-Physical Plant, Texas Department of Water Resources, and Texas Water Commission. Ms. Skinnell has a bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University, and she is a certified public accountant.

Maps

DBS and DRS Offices

ECI Service Areas

Search for providers by county or ZIP code

Providers by Index:

Bexar County

1 - Center for Health Care Services

2 - Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center (ESRC)

3 - Brighton School, Inc.

Dallas County

4 - Garland Independent School District

5 - The Warren Center, Inc.

6 - Special Care and Career Services

7 - Dallas Independent School District

8 - Metrocare Services

9 - Dallas Center for Developmentally Disabled

Travis County

10 - Easter Seals, Central Texas

11 - Austin-Travis County MHMR Center

12 - Any Baby Can Child and Family Resource Center (CEDEN)

 

DEPARTMENT OF ASSISTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

This report is published annually by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.

Inquiries may be made to:

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
4800 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78756
800.628.5115
dars.inquiries@dars.state.tx.us

You may also view this annual report on the Internet at www.dars.state.tx.us

The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is an equal opportunity employer and services provider.