What is Vocational Rehabilitation?

Vocational rehabilitation is made up of a series of services that are designed to facilitate the entrance into or return to work by people with disabilities or by people who have recently acquired an injury or disability. Some of these services include vocational assessment and evaluation, training, upgrading of general skills, refresher courses, on-the-job training, career counseling, employment searches, and consulting with potential or existing employers for job accommodations and modification. These services may also vary depending on the needs of the individual.

There are various resources availbale if you are in need of vocational rehabilitation:

• Check your state's vocational rehabilitation office to see what services are available in your area. You can visit the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) to find your state's vocational rehabilitation offices/services.
   
• You can also check the website of the Department of Labor's One-Stop Career Centers, which offer career resources and workforce information to students, businesses, job seekers, and workforce professionals. You can also call them at 877/889-5627.
   
• If you are a veteran with service connected disabilities, please visit the Department of Veteran Affair's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. They'll be able to tell you what services they provide, who is eligible for their services, and how to apply. You can also visit VetSuccess.gov which helps Veterans, Services Members, and eligible family members build meaningful careers by linking them with employers interested in hiring them.
   
• If you are a college student or recent graduate, check out the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP). You can learn more about the program through the National Employer Technical Assistance Center. And you can visit our blog post on the WRP to learn more about what you need to do to prepare for your WRP interview.