Considering Vocational Rehab
Every state offers vocational rehabilitation services for disabled individuals. Contact numbers for Vocational Rehabilitation Services can be found in the government pages of the phone book or on your state's Web page (www. your state's name.gov). Initially, these programs were developed for the visually impaired, deaf, a person with a prosthetic, and war veterans. Their services have been expanded to include a more comprehensive group. Although the structure and location of the program varies state to state, the fundamental purpose and goals of the programs are the same.
Cancer survivors must prove their eligibility for services. First, a current disabling condition must be documented. It may not be enough to have a history of cancer treatment. Similar to Social Security qualifications, a survivor must prove that his condition poses functional limitations. A person is eligible for services when his disability--physical, emotional or mental--interferes with obtaining or maintaining employment.
Although state vocational-rehabilitation offices work primarily toward getting people employed, these offices are also essential in the college-application process.
If you qualify for vocational rehabilitation, your vocational rehabilitation counselor will review your educational plans in terms of job potential. This will help guarantee that the field that you are choosing is a match for your talents and strengths. If you qualify for vocational rehabilitation, under the amended Rehabilitation Act, you must apply for educational financial aid.
Working with your college's financial aid office and the vocational rehabilitation office makes this a lengthy and time-consuming process. Contact both offices early in your college-application process.
Vocational Rehabilitation can provide funding to help with:
- Tuition expenses.
- Room and board.
- Transportation/commuting expenses.
- Books and supplies.
- Out-of-class reader services for people who are blind or have learning disabilities; interpreter services for people who are hearing impaired; and/or individually prescribed aids and devices.
- Telecommunications, sensory and other technological aids and devices.
- Other goods and services that help an individual with a disability become employed.
