Having a job is often a staple of a person’s everyday life, with regular paychecks being required for housing, food and bills. But there’s more to a job than just money. Employment gives people the opportunity to find a passion and connect with others, learn valuable skills and gain independence. Even though having a disability can make employment a challenge, vocational rehabilitation can play a significant role in helping people with disabilities earn a living.
Vocational rehabilitation can help people with disabilities not only find employment but also thrive in their jobs to the best of their ability. Many types of disabilities can qualify for vocational rehabilitation. In this blog post, we’re going to focus specifically on the physical and developmental disabilities that are eligible for the process.
Read on to learn about six physical and intellectual disabilities that can qualify for vocational rehabilitation, as well as how to get started on the process by working with Ability KC. We’ll also discuss other Ability KC employment and community independence programs that can help people with disabilities reach their full potential in the workforce.
6 disabilities that qualify for vocational rehabilitation
The goals of vocational rehabilitation include helping people with disabilities:
- Develop the skills that will prepare them for a job
- Find fitting employment
- Receive the training they need to succeed
It works to knock down barriers that people with disabilities often encounter when trying to find a job, such as lack of accessibility and miscommunication.
Vocational rehabilitation can help people who are born with disabilities and want to enter the workforce. The process can also benefit people who have developed a disability and want to start or return to the workforce.
If you or a loved one is interested in vocational rehabilitation, here are six disabilities that can qualify:
- Intellectual disabilities
There are many conditions and injuries that can impact a person’s intellectual abilities. Brain injuries, infections, and genetic conditions like Down syndrome are just a few examples. While having an intellectual or developmental disability can affect a person’s ability to carry out everyday functions, vocational rehab can help them do the following:
- Communicate with their employer and co-workers
- Learn time management
- Understand and follow instructions
- Complete job-specific tasks, such as counting money
- Spinal cord injury
A person who has sustained a spinal cord injury can experience mobility challenges that can interfere with their ability to be transported to a job as well as efficiently move around the workplace. They can also experience issues with memory, concentration and solving problems, all of which are important for most jobs.
Vocational rehabilitation can help people who have sustained a spinal cord injury gain independence and solve roadblocks that are interfering with employment through the following:
- Learning adaptive technology for job tasks, such as augmentative communication devices
- Worksite accommodations for mobility devices, such as wheelchairs
- Cognitive skill improvement
- Amputation
An amputation of any kind can impact a person’s everyday routines. That routine often includes carrying out job responsibilities. Upper limb amputation can make it challenging to use a computer or carry equipment. Lower limb amputation can affect a person’s ability to easily move around a work environment.
Further, an amputation can impact a person’s emotional and mental well-being. It can potentially lead to anxiety, depression and difficulty adapting to a work environment.
Vocational rehabilitation can help address mental, physical and emotional challenges that can be brought on by an amputation to lead the way for job success, including:
- Prosthetic training for job-specific tasks
- Assistive technology training, such as positioning devices
- Counseling to mentally and emotionally prepare for the workforce
- Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders. It can affect a person’s movement and balance, both of which are essential for many jobs. While mobility difficulties are prominent in people with CP, many can still find a sense of independence with employment.
Vocational rehabilitation can help people with cerebral palsy find and maintain employment by:
- Finding opportunities based on physical capabilities
- Equipment recommendations
- Computer applications training
- Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency that can range from mild (called a transient ischemic attack) to fatal. The condition can lead to long-term behavioral, physical, emotional and cognitive impacts that can interfere with employment. While the specific statistics can vary, research shows that a significant number of people who have had a stroke end up returning to work.
Vocational rehabilitation can help people recovering from a stroke who want to return to the workforce by:
- Providing emotional support to work through new work challenges
- Helping to adapt to their limitations, such as reduced grip strength
- Managing fatigue throughout recovery
- Sensory impairments
Vision or hearing impairments can be present at birth. They can also develop over time, or they can be the symptom of another issue, such as trauma. Blindness, vision loss, deafness and hearing difficulties can impact the safety and efficiency of a person in the workplace. However, proper accommodations from vocational rehabilitation can help people with sensory impairments find and keep employment, including:
- Training with screen readers, braille and assistive listening devices
- Adapting required tools and equipment for sensory sensitivities
- Teaching coping strategies for potential sensory triggers, such as bright lights
Many of the vocational rehabilitation benefits for one type of disability will overlap with others. For instance, mental health support and adaptive devices can help all disabilities. The severity of the disability also plays a role in the types of jobs that you or your loved one may be eligible for.
Ability KC can provide vocational rehabilitation support for people with qualifying disabilities in Missouri and Kansas
Whether you or your loved one needs employment for regular paychecks or you’re looking for a way to gain a sense of community and independence, vocational rehabilitation can help get you there. Although it can differ from state to state, the process typically involves:
- Orientation
- Meeting with a counselor
- Skill assessments
- Job application assistance
- Interview coaching
- On-the-job training
Ability KC works with external vocational rehabilitation offices to help people with disabilities find job placement and support. Our disability employment services help individuals navigate the state-run vocational rehab process. We work closely with the Missouri and Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation Offices.
Along with vocational rehabilitation assistance, Ability KC employment and community independence programs include:
- Returning to work support — Return-to-Work Navigators can provide support for Ability KC medical rehabilitation patients as they go back to work. They can help remove employment barriers, identify resources and complete post-care services. They help the patient physically, mentally and emotionally prepare to return to employment.
- Summer work experience — We work with the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide paid work experience for students in 34 school districts. High school-age youth with disabilities can learn job-specific skills as well as soft skills that will help them integrate into the workforce. It’s a six-week initiative that involves 20 hours of work each week.
- Ability KC employment — We provide employment opportunities through Ability KC Industries. With training and professional supervision, people with disabilities can work at local companies to help complete production tasks, such as envelope stuffing, assembly and special packaging.
Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). We also have a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. You can fill out our Build Your Plan questions designed to help our team better understand your needs and assist you in figuring out your next steps with us.