The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program provides vocational and rehabilitative services to individuals with disabilities to help them prepare for, secure, regain or retain employment. Persons with disabilities face some challenges in today’s modern workplace. We believe that people with disabilities, given the right opportunities can work and be fully integrated into mainstream society and the work place. Vocational rehabilitation services can reduce or remove barriers to employment.
Eligibility
To be eligible for VR services, 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. Priority is given to those individuals
who have the most significant disabilities.
Once eligibility is established, a VR counselor assists the person to develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). The IPE identifies the vocational goal and the services that will be provided in order to achieve that goal. To help people with disabilities obtain employment, RSA provides comprehensive rehabilitation services, which may include: information and referral, assessment services, counseling and guidance, physical restoration, vocational training or other post-secondary education, job search, job placement and job coaching, supported employment.
RSA assists persons with disabilities to locate employment by developing and maintaining close relationships with local businesses. Furthermore, they assist persons served to become tax paying citizens and to reduce their reliance on entitlement programs.
Informed Choice
DDS RSA will assure you (or your representative) are provided information and support services to assist you in exercising informed choice. Your counselor will inform you through appropriate modes of communication about the availability of and the opportunities to exercise informed choice.
Informed choice begins when you first contact the agency to apply for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, and continues throughout the rehabilitation process. As an applicant or an individual eligible to receive VR services, you have the right to exercise informed choice in decisions related to the provision of VR services including: the provision of assessment services; choices among the methods used to procure VR services; the selection of an employment outcome; the specific services needed to achieve the employment outcome; and the entities that will provide the services to help you achieve your employment outcome. The information provided by your counselor will consider your unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and interest that are needed to help you achieve your employment outcome.
Right To Appeal
If you disagree with the eligibility decision, you have the right to appeal the decision in accordance with 34 C.F.R. 361.57 and 29 DCMR 135 and 136.
To review the current plans, see VR State Plan, and VR State Plan 2015 Vocational Rehabilitation Services includes:
For additional information about vocational rehabilitation services, see the Vocational Rehabilitation Contact List.