10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Work with Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federally funded program administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration to help eligible individuals with disabilities find and keep employment. Each state manages their own VR program, and may be part of the Department of Labor, Education or Human Services in your state government. VR is a voluntary program, and requires you to be an active participant in the process. You can get the most out of your work with VR by following some simple guidelines.

1) Understand the Process; Every VR program is similar, but each state functions slightly differently. Find out what the process is in your state; Do they have an orientation? Is there a wait list? How often do you meet?What are the expectations on you? On the counselor?

2) Take responsibility; VR is a voluntary program and they are there to assist you with finding employment, not do it for you.

3) Do your homework: Research jobs you would like to do. Evaluate the tasks, educational requirements, pay, and job market for that job in your area. They are all things that the counselor will need to know before agreeing to a plan.

4) Understand your strengths; An old cliche, but very important when looking for work. It can be helpful in identifying the right job for you as well as selling that potential employer in an interview.

5) Understand your disability and needs; It is important to understand the functional limitations of your disability, how it impacts your ability to carry out certain tasks. This will be important when looking at how your skills match to a particular job as well as when considering accommodations or assistive technology.

6) Ask for help; Avoiding meetings or putting off completing tasks can look like you don't want to work. Ask for any support you may need, whether its how to get certain information or anxiety about taking a particular step. That's what they're there for.

7) Ask questions; If you don't understand an expectation, task or decision or just have a question about your disability, ask. VR counselors are extensively trained in disability, assessment, evaluation, employment and placement and can be a great resource for information or connect you to a person who does know.

8) Be clear about your goals; Before meeting with your VR counselor think about what your employment goals are; Is it to work full time or part time? Do you want any job or are you looking for a career? Are you willing to work weekends / nights/ early mornings? What do you want to earn for a salary? When you meet with your counselor, talk about these. It will help narrow the potential jobs for you, and give them a clear picture of what you're wanting from the process.

9) Initiate contact; Don't wait for your VR counselor to call you, call them. Ask to meet, even better, schedule your next one before you leave to avoid phone tag or delays due to difficulty scheduling.

10) Resolve disagreements amicably; If you have a disagreement with your counselor, talk with them. Frequently disagreements are a misunderstanding or different ideas about the feasibility of a goal or direction of a plan. If you've followed the previous steps, and can not come to agreement with the counselor, talk to the supervisor or engage your state's Client Assistance Program (CAP). Every state is required to have a CAP program available to VR clients at no charge, and they can assist you with understanding your rights and helping you in the appeal process.
Remember, the process is about you achieving your vocational goal. VR counselors are there to help you do just that. Work with the counselor to help identify what that is, and reach it. Good luck and happy job hunting.