VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

The following is excerpted from the Connecticut Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) web site and brochures.

WHAT IS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION?

Department of Rehabilitation Services provides vocational services to people with disabilities to help them prepare for, find, and keep employment. Services may include:

• Vocational counseling
• Job search assistance
• Benefits counseling
• School-to-work transition services
• On the job training in business and industry
• Skills training
• Assistive technology services
• Vehicle and home modifications
• Supported employment services
• Services to assist in restoring or improving a physical or mental condition
• Services to support an employment plan, such as transportation.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

People whose physical or mental conditions have a significant impact on their ability to find or keep employment AND who need vocational rehabilitation in order to be employed, with a priority on employment in a paid job in the competitive labor force.

WHAT IS "ORDER OF SELECTION"?

Services through DORS are provided first to people with the most significant disabilities. It is possible that a person may not receive services, even though he/she is eligible. People denied services have the right to a written explanation for the denial and the right to an Administrative Review.

WHAT AGENCIES PROVIDE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES?

Department of Rehabilitation Services,  provides needs assessments and payment for vocational rehabilitation services for adults with all disabilities except legal blindness. Board of Education and Services for the Blind provides vocational rehabilitation and other services for people who are legally blind.

Some community based agencies also provide voc rehab services.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name Vocational Rehabilitation

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SOURCES: Connnecticut DORS web site and brochures
PREPARED BY: 211/tb
CONTENT LAST MODIFIED: October2012