Tips for Navigating the VR Process
Everyone who receives services from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation begins from a unique place with an individualized vision for his or her own success and level of basic information about how the system works.
Big Picture Information
What is the purpose of Vocational Rehabilitation?
The focus of the Vocational Rehabilitation service system is to increase the numbers of people with disabilities who are employed.
Is there a waiting list for services?
No.
What law established Vocational Rehabilitation and defines how it operates?
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, a federal law establishes Vocational Rehabilitation and how it operates.
Is having a disability the sole basis for qualifying to receive DVR services?
No. DVR provides services to a narrower group of people with disabilities who are deemed eligible. A Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor decides who is eligible for services. Some of the factors weighed by counselors in this decision making process include:
- Whether an applicant has a disability AND the disability creates barriers to employment;
- If the applicant would be likely to overcome the barriers to employment created by his or her disabilities by participating in the Vocational Rehabilitation process.
Is the purpose of DVR to provide services to people with disabilities over the course of a lifetime?
No. DVR provides services and supports for eligible customers seeking employment. Rather than offering services off a standardized menu without time limits, it serves those who want to work, who make an Individualized Plan for Employment, and who make progress toward achieving that plan. The customer’s case is closed when he or she achieves employment for a period of ninety days.
May I be served by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services more than once?
Yes.
Does DVR have a standard list of services it provides?
DVR provides a range of services that will support customers to become employed. There are common services provided by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, however the services are not standardized. The reason why the services are not standardized is because the Rehabilitation Act requires DVR to work with its customers to address their individual barriers to employment. Together the counselor and the customer develop what DVR calls an Individualized Plan for Employment.
How is DVR funded?
78.2% of funding for the Vocational Rehabilitation System comes from Congress which allocates a federal grant each year through the Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration which sends the funds to the respective states, including Washington. If Washington State wants to be eligible for this federal funding it must provide 21.8% of DVR’s funding.
Does the term “successful rehabilitation” mean that a customer no longer has a disability or a barrier to employment?
No. The Rehabilitation Act defines a “successful rehabilitation” as an instance when a DVR customer secures and retains employment for a period of 90 days.
What if I need longer term support to retain my employment?
Customers with a variety of disabilities need a range of practical, personalized supports and reasonable accommodations to retain employment. If you or someone you care about needs services including but not limited to job coaching and certain on the job supports DVR has a responsibility to assist you in identifying whether those supports are available and how you might cultivate them. Rather than a yes or no determination, a DVR counselor may work with you to determine options.
Without identified paid or unpaid long term supports customers with an interest in employment may not benefit from Vocational Rehabilitation Services. In such instances cases may be closed, however if circumstances change and a broader support network is developed reapplying for services is an option.
Why am I being asked to go through testing and assessment?
Depending on your experience of disability, you and your counselor may benefit from additional information about the medical impacts of your disability that you experience in your life in general and in a work environment. Customers and counselors are more successful at working together when they can plan strategies which thoroughly and realistically address the barriers the customer faces in a given job. The purpose of the assessment and testing is not to reinforce barriers but to plan for them so that they can be overcome.
What should I do if I am experiencing frustration, confusion, a general lack of progress in my case, or a conflict?
- Begin by addressing your concerns with your counselor;
- You may request to work with another counselor;
- You have a range of resources and rights associated with being a customer of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; visit our “Know Your Rights” tab for further information.
Is there just one Vocational Rehabilitation program in the State of Washington?
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is prepared to serve people with a variety of disabilities. Of the publicly funded Vocational Rehabilitation services in our state, it has the broadest range of customers and the most customers. Washington State has an additional resource for people seeking employment who are blind or who have low vision.
The Department of Services for the Blind operates a range of programs for people who were born blind or whose vision has decreased over a course of a lifetime. Among the programs they offer is a Vocational Rehabilitation program. The benefit to eligible low vision or blind customers is that they may receive VR services from either program or could be served by both programs at one time. Also, there are seven tribal Vocational Rehabilitation programs operating in the State of Washington. These programs provide culturally specific Vocational Rehabilitation services to eligible customers. Please consult with each of the tribal VR programs to learn more about who is eligible to receive their services (contact information available under the Vocational Rehabilitation Partners tab). If you have a disability and are a tribal member you may be eligible to receive services from a tribal Vocational Rehabilitation program or the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or both. Tribal members with low vision or blindness may be able to receive services from all three Vocational Rehabilitation service systems operating in the State of Washington. The benefit of working with more than one of the service systems is to maximize one’s access to resources and expertise.
UNDERSTANDING THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROCESS
Customer starts here
1. Submitting an Application for Services
Anyone has the right to submit an Application for DVR Services at any time. It may be useful to bring a record of any dates of work history, any medical information about your diagnoses, any award letters from other service systems, and contact information for other case workers.
2. Determining Eligibility
DVR has a legal obligation to determine whether an applicant is eligible for services within sixty days. During this timeframe while a customer is waiting, it’s a great time to learn as much as possible about how DVR works as a service system. Some ways of doing that include:
- Reviewing DVR publications(pdf) and Dvds;
- Visiting DVR’s website;
- Asking case workers in other systems for any observations or tips on how to succeed within DVR;
- Giving some initial thought to your motivation to work, concerns that you have about the prospect of working, your strengths.
3. Developing Individual Plan for Employment (IPE)
Once a person is determined eligible, the next step is to begin the process of developing an Individualized Plan for Employment. This is not the place to scrimp. Everything in the process from this point forward will revolve around the plan that is established. Within this process the customer and his or her counselor will collaborate to develop a job objective. In the process of developing this objective the customer will undergo a range of activities and assessments to determine what his or her barriers to employment are and what jobs are suited to his or her strengths, abilities, capabilities, and choices. He or she may even try out different work environments. Whatever services are paid for by DVR will relate to the job objective that is determined.
During this phase of the process it is especially helpful to draw relationships between short term goals and longer goals. For example, perhaps a customer wants to sharpen her computer skills or take a class, the key question to ask is How does acquiring a computer or taking a class relate to getting the job you are aiming for at the end of the process?
DVR has 120 days (DVR establishes the 120 day standard) to assist the customer in developing an Individual Plan for Employment.
4. Implementing Individual Plan for Employment
Once the plan is developed, then the hard work starts. This is where the customer’s motivation and follow through is key. If you built an Individualized Plan for Employment that you believe in now you and your counselor have to make the plan reality. It’s okay to ask for help or maybe even to revise the plan. In the end you’re the one who will get a job and your success depends greatly on you. The customer is required to demonstrate progress toward the specified employment goal according to the parameters of the plan. This is the stage in the process where most services are delivered.
5. Close Case
DVR cases are “closed successful” when the customer secures and maintains employment without interruption for a period of at least ninety days. Cases may also be closed for a range of reasons.
Job job job!
Job job job!
