Supporting Your Own Success
The commitment of each customer to the Vocational Rehabilitation process and the plan he or she develops will largely determine the success of the process. There are many things a customer can do to contribute to the success of the process.
Basics
- Save all the documentation you receive from or provide to DVR;
- Learn as much as possible about the purpose of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, how the process works;
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions;
- Make sure you know when your next appointment is and what the purpose of the appointment is;
- If no specific purpose is stated, name a specific goal that you want to achieve by the end of the appointment;
- If possible make a note to yourself summarizing what happened at your appointment
- Whenever possible, focus on goals or issues rather than personalities.
Are You Ready?
- Do you understand what DVR does?
- Are you interested in getting a job?
- Have you thought about the information, and help you may need to follow through on the plan you are developing? Your counselor can assist you to find information and to plan for success.
- Have you identified people in your life available to assist you and celebrate your successes?
- What are the realities you want to plan around (for example: transportation, scheduling, needing to learn new skills, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, stress management, assistive technology)? You can bring these concerns to your counselor and incorporate them into your planning process.
Understand Your Rights
- Do you know about the Client Assistance Program?
- Do you know that DVR has a customer relations manager?
- Do you know that you have the right to give input in developing the plan that will help you go to work?
- If your counselor suggests that you work with a Community Rehabilitation Program or other vendor do you know that you have some choice about who you work with?
You can visit the Know Your Rights tab for more information.
Maximize Your Investment
- This is YOUR process and its hard work.
- Take the time to establish a vision for your future and to communicate it to your counselor.
- Use tools such as benefits planning to help you understand how much you will need to earn to live;
- Don’t sell yourself short. The difference between a dream and a plan are the action steps.
- Ask yourself what you do to put the plan into action.
- Don’t forget to celebrate your own effort and success
