Nebraska VR Where your future begins

There are 4 parts to the eligibility criteria in the federal regulations:

• You must have a physical or mental impairment,
• The impairment must constitute or result for you in a substantial barrier to employment,
• You must be able to benefit in terms of an employment outcome from the provision of VR services, and
• You must require VR services to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment.

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits due to a disability, you meet the eligibility criteria.

You should not try to guess or determine for yourself if you will be eligible. Instead, if you think you could benefit from services, contact your local Nebraska VR office for an appointment.

It is important to note that people who are blind and visually impaired receive VR services through the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI) http://www.ncbvi.ne.gov/.

There is no cost to apply for VR services or to find out if you are eligible. Depending upon your financial resources, you may be asked to help pay for some of your services. If your planned services include post-secondary training (such as a community college or a university) you will be required to apply for federal financial aid. Regardless of your financial situation, if you are determined eligible for VR, you may receive the following services at no cost:

• Assessments to determine VR needs
• Vocational counseling and guidance
• Referral for other services

The best way to get started is to call your local office to arrange an appointment to meet with a VR counselor. During the first meeting, you and your VR counselor will have the opportunity to discuss your present situation and your employment interests, concerns, and goals. If you decide to apply for services, the counselor may ask your permission to get medical and other information about you from other sources you agree to in order to determine if you are eligible for services. Your counselor will want to determine your eligibility for services within 60 days of your application if not sooner.

If documentation of your disability is not available, or is out of date, then Nebraska VR will arrange and pay for you to have an assessment by a medical professional, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other appropriate entity.

You and your counselor will work together to figure out what services you will need to reach your goals. Typically, you and your counselor will:

• Explore your interests, skills, experiences and support needs
• Decide on your employment goals
• Develop an Individual Plan for Employment to help you reach your goals

Each person is unique and therefore requires an individualized approach to reach their employment goal. You and your counselor will work together to establish your goal and identify the services that are necessary for you to achieve your goal. You may choose from a variety of different services and different ways the services can be provided. The following is a list of many of the services, but not all, that you might receive during the employment planning stage:

• Vocational counseling and guidance
• Job placement assistance
• College or vocational training
• Supported employment services
• Skills training
• Job coaching
• Transportation
• Interpreter services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Services to assist students with disabilities in their transition from school to work
• Assistive and rehabilitation technology services
• Referral services
• Support, advocacy, and follow-up services for at least 90 days following job placement

Services may be provided directly by your Nebraska VR counselor, coordinated with other services, or purchased by Nebraska VR on your behalf. Purchasing services means Nebraska VR pays another agency or organization to provide you with services. For example, Nebraska VR may pay for skills training or for on-the-job training.

Yes! Take your Individualized Plan for Employment seriously. The IPE is your map for meeting your employment goal. You and your counselor will want to develop your IPE within 90 days following your determination of eligibility if not sooner. Together you and your counselor will agree to the services and supports needed to achieve your employment goal. Frequently it takes time to meet your goals. If it takes longer than a year to achieve your employment goal, you and your counselor will review your IPE a least annually. Your IPE may need to be revised to reflect any changes in your services or employment goal. You and your counselor should be in regular contact throughout your VR program.

You should expect respect for your choices and support in making decisions. You should also expect individualized services that are tailored to your specific goals. You can expect VR staff to:

• be fair
• treat you with respect and dignity. care about you and your situation.
• be honest with you about our services.
• be quick to meet your needs.
• return your calls right away.
• be on time for your appointments.
• let you know if they cannot keep an appointment or will be late for it.
• keep in touch with you.
• take the time to explain things to you.
• complete agreed on assignments on time.
• do what they say they will do.
• help you get the services and supports you need.

There are many things that you can do to work effectively with your Nebraska VR counselor.

• Become familiar with the range of services Nebraska VR offers.
• Understand that participating in VR services involves going through multiple steps. Work with your counselor to identify the steps you will need to take and what will happen at each step in the process.
• Be as clear as possible about what help or tools you think you need to reach your goals.
• Participate actively in creating your IPE.
• Ask questions, and listen to the answers.
• Stay in contact with your counselor throughout the process.

Each time you meet with your VR counselor, you should:

• Be prepared with updates and questions. You are your own best advocate. It is good practice to tell your counselor the things you are doing on your own, including both challenges and successes. Also ask for ideas on how to build on all your experience.
• Be prepared to talk openly with your counselor about your employment goal, and listen to suggestions. Providing information about your employment history and goals will help your counselor provide you with services that are right for you.
• Set goals at each meeting that you can accomplish by the next one.
• Prepare yourself for each meeting as if you were going to meet with a potential employer. The more you practice these skills, the easier they will become.
• Keep appointments and be punctual. If you need to cancel, give as much notice as possible. If you are late, understand that your counselor may have another meeting after yours, so you will get less time.
• Dress nicely for the meeting. Be clean and neat.
• Bring with you any materials you are working on, such as a resume, job postings, school application, or cover letter.
• Bring a pen and notepaper, and a calendar if possible.
• Bring a list of questions and/or requests you may have.

Your counselor will follow up with you several time for at least the first 90 days on your job to ensure that you are successfully performing the job . On or after the first 90 days, you and your counselor will decide that you are successfully employed and inactivate you case. Because Nebraska VR is interested in your longterm success, you will receive a follow up contacted at intervals of 90days, 180 days and one year after the inactivation. If you were a social security beneficiary due to a disability, you will also be contacted at 270 days after the inactivation. Should any issues surface from this follow up that jeopardizes your continued employment, short term post employment services may be available.

Nebraska VR and other programs frequently collaborate together on services for the same individual. By letting your VR counselor know what other programs you are working with, the programs involved will work together to ensure the services you are receiving complement each other and focused on the same goals.

You can find the location of the nearest office at www.vr.nebraska.gov/offices/index.html.

Remember, people who are blind and visually impaired receive VR services through the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI) http://www.ncbvi.ne.gov/.

While VR offices are generally assigned to serve people in specific cities and towns, you can use whichever office is most convenient and accessible for you.

If you are dissatisfied with services, you should let your counselor know about your dissatisfaction. If talking with your counselor does to resolve the dissatisfaction, then ask to speak with the supervisor or the office director. Start with honest communication and request what you want and need. If, after trying to work the issues out with your specialist and the office director, and you still disagree, you can contact the Client Assistance Program. You can also contact the Client Assistance Program before sharing your concern with the specialist or office director.

CAP provides advocacy and information for individuals applying for or being served by VR. If you are having problems with VR that you have not been able to work out or have questions about VR policies and procedure, CAP may be help to you. To find out more about CAP call 800-742-7594 or http://www.cap.nebraska.gov/