Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Services
2127 East South Boulevard
Montgomery, AL 36116-2455

Telephone: 334-288-0220
Web: www.rehab.state.al.us

Business Relations Program

For more than 25 years, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) has formally operated a business relations program in concert with its philosophy of "dual customer," i.e., individuals with disabilities and employers. To that end, a customized program for private and public sector businesses has been designed, delivered and tracked under a structured employer account system that includes an agency-developed employer database. Seventeen specialty staff of employer development coordinators (EDCs) implements this program at the local level with the initiative spearheaded by a state coordinator of business relations who also serves on the ADRS Executive Leadership Team. In support of the business relations program, ADRS conducts in-service training for staff and affiliates (e.g. community rehabilitation programs) via its annual "Employment Institute," along with extensive specialty training for all EDCs. It also operates under a "Strategic Plan for Collaboration of Employment Resources" so that there is coordinated outreach to the business community by ADRS and its affiliates.

Acting on the philosophy of business-as-customer, ADRS incorporates business partners from the private sector in many areas of leadership: the ADRS Board, State Rehabilitation Council, several advisory committees, and through the Alabama Business Leadership Employment (ABLE) Network. In this capacity, employer partners directly advise ADRS on, and participate in, the design and implementation of services to business based on their disability-related and employment needs. These services include: recruitment services (pre-screening, real-time electronic recruitment of VR consumers via ABLE, job site training, post-hire follow up, no obligation tryouts, outplacement); technical assistance (functional capacity assessments, workplace modification, ergonomics, job task analysis, product modification, accommodation implementation); employer training (accommodation dialogue and solutions, interviewing do's and don'ts, disability etiquette, identifying essential functions, disability awareness); disability management (retention services for employees whose job is affected by illness, injury or disability); ADA resources (employment mandates, interviewing issues, reasonable accommodations, undue burden, resources, accessibility reviews); and financial incentives (assistance with tax credits and tax deductions). Soon to be added to the list of services will be emergency preparedness for customers and employees with disabilities. Annually the ADRS EDC team of 17 works directly with more than 850 companies providing in excess of 5,500 services to them statewide.

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