Public Information

MDRS OVR/OVRB Public Hearing
Friday May 9, 2025; 10:00 a.m.

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), specifically the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind (OVRB), will hold a Public Hearing to gather comments on proposed policy changes. These changes concern the Post-Secondary Training, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Maintenance Sponsorship, and the Financial Needs Assessment (FNA) tool, which will be rescinded and applied to all eligible Mississippians seeking VR services.

Remote public hearing sites will be at the following locations, and you can access the zoom link, join via conference call or register to attend in person by contacting Excellanxt Woodard at 1-800-443-1000 or via email.  There will be a limited of seating to 10.  Please register in advance for face to face with Excellanxt Woodard by calling 1-800-443-1000. We want your involvement but also offer a safe environment. 

Options to participate in our MDRS OVR/OVRB Public Hearing

1.  Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89789467770?pwd=ULHhT5h2IclAdFa7ua9BHMHTnkShBH.1
   Meeting ID: 897 8946 7770
   Passcode: 639468
    
2.  Join via Conference Call:
   Phone Number: (605) 313-5568
   Access code: 1090450
    
3.  Register to attend:
   Locations are listed below
    

   AbilityWorks, Inc.
   3895 Beasley Road
   Jackson, MS 39213
   (601) 898-7076

   AbilityWorks, Inc.
   613 Pegram Drive
   Tupelo, MS 38802
   (662) 842-2144

   AbilityWorks, Inc.
   2503 Browning Road
   Greenwood, MS 38930
   (662) 453-7500

   AbilityWorks, Inc.
   1003 College Drive
   Meridian, MS 39034
   (601) 649-8094             

   AbilityWorks, Inc.
   934 Industrial Park Road, N.E.
   Brookhaven, MS 39601
   (601)  833-3201

   AbilityWorks, Inc.
   10280 Larkin-Smith Drive
   Gulfport, MS 39503
   (228) 897-7616

   Addie McBryde Center
   2550 Peachtree Street
   Jackson, MS 39296
   (601) 364-2700

   The ARC of Mississippi
   704 North President Street
   Jackson, MS 39202
   (601) 355-0220

   The ARC of Coastal Counties
   3109 Gulf Avenue
   Gulfport, MS 39501
   (228) 497-1035
   
   MS EMERGE Center
   310 N. Cleveland Ave
   Long Beach, MS 39560
   (228) 240 -2240

Click HERE to view the Public Hearing Announcement
Click HERE to view Standards for VR Sponsorship for Post-Secondary Education
Click HERE to view Post-Secondary Education and Training Services

MDRS State Office
1281 Hwy 51 N, Madison, MS 39110
3rd Floor Executive Board Room 304
Virtual – Teams - 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Quarterly State Rehabilitation Council Meeting will be held Friday, March 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the MDRS State Office, 1281 Hwy 51 N, Madison, MS 39110

The public is invited to attend and make comments. To address the Council for public comment, person(s) should make arrangements in advance by contacting Dr. Jennifer Jackson, VR Director at jjackson@mdrs.ms.gov or by phoning (601) 853-5270 at least two weeks in advance of the meeting so the agenda may reflect a period of discussion of these comments. The period for public comments will be limited to five (5) minutes per person. You may also notify us in writing at MDRS, SRC; P. O. Box 1698; Jackson, MS 39215.

If special accommodations are needed, please contact Dr. Jennifer Jackson, 5 days prior to the meeting. More information, including site location, to come.

The Office of Special Disability Programs TBI/SCI Trust Fund is accepting proposals for innovative programs supporting individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries (SCI) in the following categories:

Prevention and Education – Initiatives that promote awareness and safe practices to prevent TBI/SCI.
Click HERE for RFP

Transitional Living – Programs that assist with physical rehabilitation, cognitive retraining, socialization, and adjustment to disability.
Click HERE for RFP

Recreational – Activities that enhance quality of life through adaptive recreation.
Click HERE for RFP

RFP Issue Date: March 14, 2025
RFP Due Date: April 18, 2025
RFP Award Date: June 1, 2025

Any questions about the upcoming subgrant RFP timeline or submission process, please reach out to Laura Jones, TBI/SCI Trust Fund Coordinator - ljones@mdrs.ms.gov

AbilityWorks has awarded a bid to replace the roof of the Corinth office at 2701 County Rd. 402.

Click HERE for PDF.

Client Assistance Program, or often referred to as CAP, is a state managed and federally funded program designed to advise and inform clients and client applicants in the state of Mississippi. CAP assists in providing information obtaining to available services and benefits under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as well as the services and benefits available to individuals under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). 

The redesignation moves the Client Assistance Program from the Mississippi Society for Disabilities to the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. 

Click HERE to view PDF

Notice of Contract Award - RFA #3140003853

Click HERE for PDF.

Are you a school in Mississippi Interested in scheduling a PROM program? To see about scheduling a PROM program in your school, please contact the Office of Communication at PROM@mdrs.ms.gov, call 1-800-443-1000 or see below.

What is PROM?
PROM is a public awareness campaign created by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services in 2018 in partnership with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The campaign encourages prom-bound students to understand the “full-circle” of consequences when choosing to drink and drive, text and drive and/or not buckle up.

PROM stands for Please Return on Monday. The full PROM message is: Please Return on Monday -in the same condition you left. YOUR choices today impact YOUR tomorrow.

Are you a school in Mississippi Interested in scheduling a PROM program?
To see about scheduling a PROM program in your school, please contact the Office of Communication at PROM​@mdrs.ms.gov or call 1-800-443-1000. Click here for the required PROM school form.

Learn more about our PROM clients click here

Interested in starting a PROM program in your state?
Click here for more information.

Interested in using the PROM logo?
Please feel free to use the PROM logo in accordance with the set guidelines outlined here.

PROM Resources
• PROM: Mississippi School Resource Video (long video)
• PROM: Please Return on Monday (short intro)
• PROM: How do you want to wear it (video)
• MHP Website and Resources
• MDRS Website and Resources