Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services

What MDRS Does

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) is the state agency responsible for helping individuals with disabilities achieve employment and independence. It operates three core divisions: the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Office of Disability Determination Services (which handles SSI and SSDI medical evaluations for the Social Security Administration), and administrative oversight of the Mississippi ABLE program.

For families transitioning a young adult with an intellectual or developmental disability into the adult system, MDRS is one of the primary bridges between school-based services and adult employment support. The agency's vocational rehabilitation program is funded through a combination of federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) grants and state matching funds. Cost participation can apply to some services based on financial ability.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

MDRS vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors work with individuals who have a physical, mental, or emotional disability that creates a substantial barrier to employment. The program is an individualized service—each person works with a counselor to develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) based on their specific skills, interests, and support needs.

Services available through VR include:

• Vocational assessment and career counseling to identify employment goals that match the individual's abilities
• Job placement assistance including resume development, interview coaching, and direct employer connections
• Supported employment through contracted job coaches who provide on-the-job training and ongoing support in integrated community settings
• Assistive technology evaluation and procurement—devices, software, and equipment that enable the individual to perform job tasks
• Training and education funding for vocational programs, community college courses, or certification programs aligned with the IPE
• Transportation assistance to get to work or training sites when lack of transportation is the barrier
• Personal adjustment training to build daily living skills that support employment readiness

How to Apply for MDRS Vocational Rehabilitation

The application process starts with a referral. Families can contact their local MDRS office directly, or a school transition coordinator, case manager, or medical provider can initiate a referral. MDRS maintains field offices throughout Mississippi—the central office is in Jackson, and regional and satellite offices serve communities across the state.

After the referral, a VR counselor evaluates the individual's eligibility. The two criteria are:

1. The individual has a documented physical, mental, or emotional disability
2. The disability creates a substantial impediment to employment

For individuals who already receive SSI or SSDI, the SSA's disability determination is presumptive evidence of eligibility, which streamlines the intake process.

Once found eligible, the counselor and the individual (with family support as needed) develop the IPE collaboratively. The plan outlines the employment goal, the services MDRS will provide, the individual's responsibilities, and the timeline. Services begin after the IPE is signed.

Order of Selection: When demand exceeds available funding, MDRS operates under an Order of Selection, prioritizing individuals with the most significant disabilities first. This means that individuals with less severe disabilities may be placed on a waiting list for services. For young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who require extensive support, the Order of Selection typically works in their favor—they are usually classified in the highest priority category.

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), MDRS provides Pre-Employment Transition Services to students with disabilities ages 14 through 21 who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services. Pre-ETS is designed to begin the employment preparation process while the student is still in school, creating continuity between education and adult services.

The five required Pre-ETS activities are:

1. Job exploration counseling — exposure to career options, labor market information, and workplace expectations
2. Work-based learning experiences — including job shadowing, internships, and community-based work experiences
3. Counseling on postsecondary education — exploring training programs, community colleges, and certification paths
4. Workplace readiness training — soft skills like communication, time management, and workplace behavior
5. Self-advocacy instruction — helping students understand their rights, request accommodations, and communicate their needs

Pre-ETS can be delivered individually or in group settings, often in coordination with the school district's transition program. The IEP team should include MDRS Pre-ETS coordination as part of the student's secondary transition plan starting at age 14.

Project SEARCH

MDRS partners with employers across Mississippi to operate Project SEARCH sites—a national model that embeds young adults with disabilities in workplace internships for a full school year. Mississippi has approximately 28 Project SEARCH sites, including a program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson.

Participants rotate through three different department internships during the program year, working alongside employees with job coaching support. The goal is competitive integrated employment at the host site or a similar employer upon completion. Project SEARCH is available to students in their final year of school eligibility who are at least 18 years old and have an IEP.

The Mississippi ABLE Program

MDRS administers Mississippi's ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program through the National ABLE Alliance. ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities whose onset occurred before age 46 to save up to $20,000 per year in a tax-advantaged account without affecting SSI eligibility (the first $100,000 is excluded from SSI's $2,000 resource limit).

Mississippi ABLE accounts are opened online at SaveWithABLE.com/ms. The annual maintenance fee is approximately $56, reducible to about $31 with electronic delivery and an additional $5 discount for Mississippi residents. Qualified disability expenses—including housing, transportation, education, health care, and employment training—can be paid from the account tax-free.

MDRS and the Transition Coordination Gap

MDRS services fill a specific niche in the adult disability landscape: employment and vocational support. The agency does not administer Medicaid, does not handle SSI applications (though its Disability Determination Services division adjudicates SSI medical eligibility on behalf of the SSA), and does not provide residential or long-term community support services (those fall under the Department of Mental Health's ID/DD Waiver and 1915(i) programs).

The coordination challenge for Mississippi families is that no single agency manages the entire transition. MDRS handles employment. DMH handles community living supports and the ID/DD Waiver. The SSA handles cash benefits and disability determination. The Division of Medicaid handles health coverage. Each agency operates under its own eligibility rules, application process, and timeline.

Our Mississippi SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide maps how MDRS services connect with SSI, Medicaid, and the DMH waiver system so families can coordinate applications across all four agencies simultaneously, preventing the service gaps that occur when each system is navigated in isolation.

See more Mississippi guides →