Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation
Did You Know?
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and subsequent amendments authorize the State formula grant programs of vocational rehabilitation (VR), supported employment, independent living, and client assistance for individuals with disabilities. The Smith-Fess Act of 1920 is considered the beginning of the public rehabilitation program for persons with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration administers grants to States or their subdivisions based on a distribution formula prescribed by law or administrative regulation. The VR program provides a wide range of services and job training to people with disabilities who want to work. To be eligible for services from a State VR agency, a person must have a physical or mental impairment that is a substantial impediment to employment; be able to benefit from VR services in terms of employment; and require VR services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain employment.
The State VR agency provides comprehensive rehabilitation services that go beyond those found in routine job training programs. Rehabilitation services include work evaluation services, assessment for and provision of assistive technology, job counseling services, and medical and therapeutic services.
State VR agencies may contract with community rehabilitation programs to provide directly or facilitate the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. These services may include:
- medical, psychiatric, psychological, social, and vocational services that are provided under one management;
- testing, fitting, or training in the use of prosthetic and orthotic devices;
- recreational therapy;
- physical and occupational therapy;
- speech, language, and hearing
- therapy;
- psychiatric, psychological, and social services, including positive behavior management;
- assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs;
- rehabilitation technology;
- job development, placement, and retention services;
- evaluation or control of specific disabilities;
- orientation and mobility services for individuals who are blind;
- extended employment;
- psychosocial rehabilitation services;
- supported employment services and extended services;
- services to family members when necessary to the vocational rehabilitation of the individual; and
- personal assistance services.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and subsequent amendments also authorize funding for the Supported Employment Program, the Client Assistance Program (CAP), the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) Program, and Independent Living Grants. The Supported Employment Program assists States in developing collaborative programs with appropriate public and private nonprofit organizations to provide supported employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities. Supported employment refers to both individuals in competitive work and individuals working in an integrated setting toward competitive work. Individuals in competitive employment must earn at least the minimum wage. Supported employment placements are achieved by augmenting short-term VR services (supported employment services) with ongoing support provided by other public or nonprofit agencies or organizations (extended services). State VR agencies provide time-limited services for a period not to exceed 18 months, unless a longer period to achieve job stabilization has been established in the individualized plan for employment. Once this period has ended, the State VR agency must arrange for “extended services” provided by other appropriate State Agencies, private nonprofit organizations or other sources for the duration of that employment.
Click here to order a copy of our latest “Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services” to learn more about vocational rehabilitation and other State systems components.
Products
Traumatic Brain Injury Facts: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services
Hechos sobre el Trauma Cerebral: Servicios de Rehabilitacion y de Empleo
(Spanish: Traumatic Brain Injury Facts: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services)-
Using a Team Approach to Employment of People with TBI Web Cast
Resources
MSSM's Vocational Rehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Power of Networking
- GAO's Vocational Rehabilitation: Improved Information and Practices May Enhance State Agency Earnings Outcomes for SSA Beneficiaries [PDF 1.6 MB]
