Rhode Island § 42-12-8 - Department of Human Services

§ 42-12-8. Vocational rehabilitation services provided by department.

The state department of human services is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and their return to civil employment. If any person, by reason of disability, whether congenital or acquired by accident, injury, or disease, including those persons suffering from acquired traumatic brain damage, is or may be expected to be totally or partly incapacitated for remunerative employment, the state department of human services may, if the person is a suitable subject for rehabilitation, assist in rendering the person fit to engage in remunerative occupation by providing directly or through public or private instrumentalities, any service found by the department of human services to be necessary to compensate a person who is disabled for the person’s employment barrier; such services including but not limited to, medical and vocational diagnosis, vocational guidance, counseling and placement, rehabilitation training, physical restoration including prosthetic appliances, transportation, occupational licenses, customary tools and equipment, maintenance and training books and materials, and neuropsychological evaluation and cognitive retraining. Provided however, with respect to those persons suffering from acquired traumatic brain damage, the department of human services shall not have any jurisdiction over the housing of said persons.