Vocational Rehabilitation - Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Designed to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, maintain or advance in employment. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services strives to create opportunities that enable individuals with significant disabilities to. Vocational Rehabilitation assists persons with disabilities to achieve their employment goals. Vocational Rehabilitation is a joint State/Federal program that seeks to empower people to make informed choices, build viable careers, and live more independently in the community. For more information, visit the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. DHS Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) assists individuals with disabilities to get and keep a job that matches their skills, interests and abilities. VR staff work in partnership with the community and businesses to provide services that are individualized to help each eligible person receive services that are essential to their employment success.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Division
• Va Vocational Rehabilitation Offices

What is the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program? The Vocational Rehabilitation program provides a variety of services to persons with disabilities, with the ultimate goal. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) helps people with disabilities achieve their goals for employment and independence. If you have a disability that prevents you from achieving career success or independence in the community of your choice, DVRS can connect you to services and resources to help you meet your goals.

Vocational Rehabilitation Program

Vocational Rehabilitation, the flagship program of Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, is a one-stop career development program that offers individuals with disabilities a wide range of services designed to provide them with the skills, resources, attitudes, and expectations needed to compete in the interview process, get the job, keep the job, and develop a lifetime career.

LRS' Vocational Rehabilitation Program provides comprehensive rehabilitation services that go far beyond those found in routine job training programs. This frequently includes work evaluation and job readiness services; assessment for and provision of assistive technology, such as customized computer interfaces for persons with physical or sensory disabilities; job counseling services, and medical and therapeutic services.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program increases revenues for all levels of government and decreases the burden of income maintenance programs. As individuals with disabilities achieve gainful employment and independence, they become taxpaying citizens and more than 'pay back' the costs of the program. For a brief orientation about Vocational Rehabilitation services, please view this YouTube video.

Vocational Rehabilitation Division

How do I qualify for services?

Eligibility is determined upon an individual with a disability benefiting from vocational rehabilitation services in terms of achieving employment, including supported employment. Therefore, applications for services are accepted at the time an individual with a disability reaches or nears the minimum age of legal employability.

To be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services, the individual must:

• Have a physical or mental disability which for the individual constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment; and
• Be able to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services in terms of employment; and
• Require vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment.

Since 1988, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services has been providing vocational rehabilitation services under an Order of Selection. This has resulted in priority for services to citizens in Louisiana with the most significant disabilities.

Where do I apply for services?

Contact the nearest LRS Regional Office. You can locate this information through the Regional Office Directory.

What services are available?

Vocational rehabilitation services are delivered on the basis of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) that must be developed by both the professional Rehabilitation Counselor and the client. This IPE combines the Counselor’s professional expertise with the needs and choices of the client. It is developed after a thorough assessment and evaluation of the individual’s rehabilitation potential. It is within the scope of federal regulations for LRS to provide the following services:

• Vocational guidance and career counseling
• Evaluation of rehabilitation potential
• Restoration (physical/mental)
• Vocational and other training services
• Rehabilitation technology, including assistive technology services, assistive technology devices, and rehabilitation engineering
• Occupational tools and equipment
• Job Placement into suitable employment
• Maintenance to cover additional costs incurred during the period of vocational rehabilitation
• Personal Assistance services, such as personal care attendant, scribe, reader, and interpreter
• Transition from School to Work
• Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise

Frequently Asked Questions about Vocational Rehabilitation

Publications

• Brochures

Related Links

What Is Vocational Rehabilitation?

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, also known as 'VR,' is a Department of Labor program that helps people who have disabilities to find and keep a job. VR helps people who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.

Who Is Eligible For VR Services?

To be eligible for VR, you must apply for services. To be eligible you must:

• have a disability that keeps you from getting or keeping a job; and
• need VR services to find or keep a job.

Eligibility must be determined in 60 days, but it is usually done in a much shorter period of time.

How Do I Apply?

To apply for Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Word)

What About My Employment Goals?

Your VR counselor will work with you to help make informed choices about jobs and careers.

Va Vocational Rehabilitation Offices

Good planning includes:

• skills and abilities you have;
• the types of jobs you want to consider;
• where you are willing to work and live; and
• what transportation is available.

The more flexible you can be, the more likely you are to find a job. You and your VR counselor need to work together to develop a plan that will lead to a job.

What Services Does VR Provide?

Every person’s rehabilitation plan is different because every person’s vocational needs are different. VR will consider any service you need to achieve the agreed upon vocational goal.

VR will help you explore different career opportunities by finding out your interests and aptitudes. As you identify careers, VR can provide information about the skills and training you need.

VR has labor market information to help you see what type of work is available. If you need training, VR can locate or develop specific training programs with special accommodations for you.

VR may buy tools, uniforms or basic equipment needed to start a job. VR may buy a lot of job-related things you may need to find or keep a job. VR can also help with re-training or education needed to get a new job. Sometimes VR can assist with payment for some medical/psychological services.

Some people use a Job Developer in looking for work; others may get a Job Coach who gives close supervision and support on the job until the person learns all the job skills.

Generally services end 90 days after a person gets a job.

How Much Will This Cost?

It does not cost you anything to apply for services. There is no charge for diagnostic services, vocational evaluation, counseling, or job placement assistance. If you are eligible for services, your counselor will ask you about your income and expenses. Depending upon your income, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of VR services. VR cannot pay for any services you received before you applied to VR.

VR Consumer Handbook

The VR Consumer Handbook provides a plain language explanation of the General VR Program for consumers.

What About VR Services for Students In High School?

For a description of VR services for students, please Youth and Transition Services.

If you have suggestions for improving this website or have difficulty accessing any of its content, please contact: Webmaster.BRS@Maine.gov