Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR)

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR) is a state-federal partnership program. Services are provided for transition aged students through adulthood. The purpose of VR is to assist eligible individuals with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment. A major focus of the VR program is to ensure that the individual is the driving force behind his/her rehabilitation program.

We believe all eligible individuals have the right to participate in making meaningful and informed choices leading to suitable employment. These choices include the employment outcome, specific services needed to achieve the outcome, the service provider(s) and the methods for obtaining services. Your counselor will provide you with information and referral services as well as counseling and guidance to help you with career planning. VR may also provide any assistive technology required for employment, after reasonable accommodations have been made by the employer. Your counselor will assist you in obtaining and coordinating the delivery of services to ensure that they are provided in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

Additionally, Pre-ETS is a separate program funded by VR. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and requires Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies to set aside federal funds for the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to "students with disabilities who are eligible or potentially eligible for VR services." This is a great opportunity to ensure students have access to meaningful career planning in order to help with the seamless movement from high school to employment or post-secondary training. A student with a disability is an individual with a disability in a secondary, postsecondary, or other recognized education program who: is between the ages of 14 and 22 years old; and is eligible for, and receiving, special education or related services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IEP, 504 plan.) Services include: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, counseling on postsecondary opportunities, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self—advocacy.