The first step for anyone interested in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program is to fill out our referral form or contact their local Division of Rehabilitative Services office.
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Here’s what to expect once you reach out:
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Initial Meeting
Your local office for rehabilitative services will help you set up a meeting with your assigned counselor. Depending on availability, this first meeting can usually happen within two weeks.
At the meeting, your counselor will explain department policies and your rights and responsibilities. They will work to understand your job goals, disability, education, and work history. Your counselor wants to get to know you!
Your counselor will guide you through the application process. They may request records to help verify eligibility and ask you to sign a release to allow them to access necessary records.
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Determining Eligibility
The goal of this step is for your assigned counselor to fully understand your disability, how it affects your work capabilities, and whether the vocational rehabilitation services will help you become employed.
This process may include medical and psychological evaluations, as well as assessments for assistive technology.
The process can take about 60 days, and you can help it move quickly by:
- Making sure your counselor has access to requested records
- Keeping and being on time to any appointments
- Following through on any requests made by your counselor
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Evaluating Your Service Needs
Once eligibility is confirmed, your counselor will work with you to answer two primary questions.
- What job is right for you?
- What services do you need to get and keep that job?
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Writing Your Individualized Employment Plan
Your counselor will work with you to create a written Individualized Employment Plan. The plan will include jointly-made decisions between you and your counselor including: your job goal, approved services, service providers, estimated costs, funding sources, and progress review dates.
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Preparing for Employment
In this stage, your counselor readies you (and your family or caregivers) for your employment. You and your counselor will follow the steps laid out in your Individualized Employment Plan. Services are comprehensive and vary widely based on need.
It’s important to get to know the people working with you to prepare you for your job. You should also get comfortable using and taking care of any assistive equipment or tools.
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Job Search & Employment
Now you begin searching for a job. Your counselor will assist with job leads and provide job search skills training as needed. Some offices have “job clubs” to enhance your networking and speaking skills. Your counselor can also assist you with discussing your disability with a potential employer.
“I am in a very scary field of being a freelance artist. So the business really started taking off again, and I got a glimpse of maybe I could catch lightning in a bottle here and begin really pursuing self-employment full-time.”
Closing your case
After you have been employed for 90 days, your counselor will ensure both you and your employer are satisfied. Typically, if all is well, they will close the case at this point. Cases can also be closed when eligibility status changes or when an individual does not meet their responsibilities.
Reopening your case
If you think you need additional vocational rehabilitation services, you can contact your counselor to reopen your case. This is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Supported Employment
In some cases, your VR counselor will recommend that services continue beyond 90 days. DARS offers follow-along support, which continues to provide support after initial employment to ensure job retention and career advancement.
This program is managed by the Division of Rehabilitative Services.