Developmental Disabilities

Alabama Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to People with Developmental Disabilities

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is unique in the nation for providing services to children and adults with disabilities. The department provides, through a single agency, a seamless system of service delivery for infants, toddlers, adolescents, adults and older individuals with disabilities. A continuum of services is provided to assist Alabamians with disabilities at home, in school and on the job.

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities

The State of Alabama Client Assistance Program was established for the purpose of assisting the client with his/her relationship with the Vocational Rehabilitation Service. The program can help others to understand services available from the agency, provide advice on other benefits available from other state and federal agencies, help to pursue solutions to ensure protection of an individual's rights, and help to resolve any dissatisfaction that may occur regarding the provision of or denial of services.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Service Division (VRS) of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities to improve opportunities for employment. A professional rehabilitation counselor will provide information, resources, counseling and guidance, and choices related to an individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns and abilities to prepare for and obtain employment.

Sheltered Employment

Sheltered employment services are generally employment-related and require that individuals spend time on a job site under the supervision of a job coach. To find information regarding availability of Sheltered Workshop settings and to check eligibility, contact:

Competitive Employment

Alabama also has a strong chapter of Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE), a membership organization that works to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities for persons experiencing disabilities.

Supported Employment provides community-based assessments, job development, job coaching and extended support to meet the employment needs of individuals experiencing the most severe disabilities. Individualized employment assistance is provided to match the individual's interests, skills and abilities with an appropriate job in the community. A job coach works closely with each individual to teach the job tasks. To ensure long-term job stability, the consumer's rehabilitation counselor arranges for the employee and employer to receive continued supports for the direction of the employment.

Health and Safety

The Safe State Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program is a free service provided by the University of Alabama's College of Continuing Studies to small employees within the state. At your invitation, consultants will come to your office or plant to perform a survey and to advise you of existing or potential health and safety problems in your facility, suggest general approaches or options for solving those problems, identify other help available if further assistance is needed, and provide you with a written report summarizing the findings of the visit. The Safe State Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program is designed to help employers control costs by reducing accidents, illnesses, and problems with regulatory compliance.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Alabama Area Offices provide safety and health protections to most private sector workers and state and local government employees within the state. OSHA investigates complaints about workplace safety and health hazards.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Through its 67 County Offices, Adult Protective Services , Alabama Department of Human Resources, investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the elderly and disabled, 18 years of age or older who are unable to protect their own interests. The Department prevents and remedies abuse, neglect and exploitation through direct delivery and arrangement of services.

Protection and Advocacy

Another advocacy source is the Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities (ACDD). The ACDD has 36 members who oversee activities in advocacy, capacity building, and systems change. These initiatives contribute to a coordinated comprehensive system of community services that are directed by people with developmental disabilities and/or their families.

The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) is part of the Nationwide federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) system. ADAP's mission is to provide quality, legally-based advocacy services to Alabamians with disabilities in order to protect, promote and expand their rights. ADAP's vision is one of a society where persons with disabilities are valued and exercise self-determination through meaningful choices, and have equality of opportunity. ADAP provides information and referral services, public education programs, and individual case advocacy services.