Commissioner Boswell unveils news website for ADRS employees

ADRS Commissioner Cary Boswell welcomes all employees to the new and improved Rehab news. The interactive news website incorporates full-color photos, video, and insightful stories to help you keep in touch with the rehab family like never before.

Assistant Commissioner Jim Harris III’s retirement reception (video and photo gallery)

Members of the Rehab Family gathered last week to honor VRS-general Assistant Commissioner Jim Harris III for his 39 years of service to Alabamians with disabilities. Attendees included friends, family, and colleagues as well as former ADRS commissioners Steve Shivers and Lamona Lucas.

A Q&A with Jim Harris III and James Myrick

    Rehab news spoke with outgoing VRS Assistant Commissioner Jim Harris III and incoming VRS Assistant Commissioner James Myrick a week before Harris’s retirement. A transcript of that conversation follows:   RN: Jim, you’ve been with our department for 39 years. What does “rehabilitation” mean to you?   Harris: Rehabilitation is changing people’s lives

ADRS partners with AIDB, Troy University to provide Pro-tactile training

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Troy University Interpreter Training Program, and the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind partnered to provide a comprehensive Pro-Tactile training for members of the DeafBlind community and professionals in the field. The approach is designed to give the Deafblind person more access (that is, more information) to the

NDEAM events honor success, contributions of workers with disabilities

As part of the upcoming October observance of National Disability Employment Awareness (NDEA) Month, the Alabama Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, a program of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), will have 14 special events around the state. The events will honor the success and contributions of individuals with disabilities in

ADRS, AIDB sponsor upcoming White Cane Day Walk

An upcoming event in Talladega will highlight the importance of the white cane to the independence of people with visual impairments. National White Cane Awareness Day will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 30, with a free, public event organized by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind

CRS holds annual statewide PAC meeting

ADRS Commissioner Cary Boswell recently spoke to a statewide meeting of Children’s Rehabilitation Service’s Parent Advisory Committee. Commissioner Boswell talked to those in attendance about CRS’ budget situation for the upcoming fiscal year.

New staff members learn about ADRS services, culture, history

New ADRS staff members gathered in Montgomery in late September to learn more about the department. The two-day training featured presentations by service program directors as well as staff from the Accounting Division, Human Resource Development Division, Legal Office, and Office of Communications and Information.    

Retirements lead to reorganization in Blind and Deaf Services

The recent retirements of VR assistant commissioners Joe Helm and Rita Houston have led to a reorganization in VRS-Blind and Deaf Services. The initial change came as a result of the reallocation of Helm’s duties, including his oversight of the department’s highly regarded Business Enterprise Program, which employs almost 100 blind vendors at snack bars,

Upcoming EI conference to be ‘sailing with flying colors’

The 30th Annual Early Intervention and Preschool Conference is set for Nov. 17-19 at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile. The theme of this year’s conference is “Sailing with Flying Colors.” The keynote speakers for the two-and-a-half day conference will be Dr. Allen Mallory, one of the most-popular child care speakers in the country,