Welcome back to the Vocational Rehabilitation Series, where we are exploring various Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs around the country to talk about how they work, make the process a little less opaque, and offer some advice on how to navigate the program to meet your own needs. 

In Part 1, we went over who runs VR programs and what they do, while in Part 2, we talked about the application process. In Part 3, we are looking at some of the types of services on offer for program participants across various VR agencies.

As we have noted in the first two parts of this series, VR programs are primarily run by states, even if some funding associated with VR might come from the Federal government. As such, services and intensity of focus may vary from state to state depending on funding, local politics, and what is logistically accessible to you. Let’s take a closer look at some of the categories under which these services fall and how they might help you!

Taking a closer look at the Massachusetts page, you might notice services on offer like counseling and guidance, interest and aptitude testing, and college and vocational training. 

Many offer a version of these services for younger people as well, such as in North Carolina, where Youth and Student Services can start during high school. Job training is likely to focus either on skills associated with a specific job or on more generalized skills to help with picking up the duties of a new job quickly. 

Career consultation might focus more on helping you determine both what work you might like to do and what work is a good match for your needs and skillset. This is also an area where you might receive counseling on the potential benefits you can use so you can make an informed decision on which preliminary service feels best. If you are not even sure what type of job you would want to do or what job you qualify for, these services are a great starting point!

Job matching is the bread and butter of VR programs and likely what most people think of when they hear about a job assistance program. Job matching in a VR program is more involved than a simple search on a job website - the person assisting you will be seeking to find work that is a good and sustainable fit with your skill set that also accounts for any needs you may have stemming from a disability. 

State agencies have the connections to and partnerships with potential employers that a solitary job applicant does not, and can help cut right to the chase in cases where you might go through a whole interview process before realizing a particular job is not a good fit. 

Job matching can be a huge help for anyone who knows what they want but is having a hard time finding the space that is right for them. Keep an eye out for the specific placement programs your state offers, as some states divide such programs into smaller pieces to focus on specific types of needs.

State agencies don’t just help you find a job; they want to put you in a work situation that is sustainable and practical. For many VR programs, such as the one in Massachusetts, such services are front and center, whereas other states, like Missouri, don’t make clear mention of it, and you might need to be more specific with your contact about your desire for accommodation assistance so they can determine if they have the power or authority to help with it. 

Last but not least, and sometimes overlooked among VR programs, is independent living, which often gets folded in with other VR programs with the idea that part of the goal of these work programs is to offer people with disabilities a path to independent living. 

Like some of our other categories, independent living services are not front and center on every agency website, and it may be important to consult with a contact at your agency about what is offered through the VR program specifically. 

That said, many states specifically include independent living on their Vocational Rehabilitation pages and clearly intend it to be part of the program. So if you are interested in working on independent living skills, make sure to make it clear to your contact and check out what your state might already have on offer!

We hope this post has offered a basic glimpse of the types of services you might receive as part of a Vocational Rehabilitation program. 

It is important to note that in seeking out these services, you may sometimes need to advocate strongly for yourself, as many of them require the participation of the VR agency for you to get the resources you need. If you would like to share your own experience accessing VR services, then we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line at hello@autismgrownup.com, and we will be back for Part 4 to go more in-depth about self-advocacy as you navigate the Vocational Rehabilitation system!