Nebraska VR Where your future begins

Welcome Job Seekers

We can help you prepare for, find, and keep a job.

If you have a disability and want to work, you are in the right place. Nebraska VR is an eligibility program that helps people with physical, mental, intellectual, emotional, and learning disabilities to identify their strengths and abilities in order to find success in the world of work. We offer customized and individualized services that are tailored to your specific needs and job goal. We can provide training and the supports necessary to help you succeed.

When you are ready to look for work, we will together identify employers and job openings that match your interests and skills; and as needed by you, help with resumes, cover letters, applying and interviewing.

Who We Serve

Nebraska VR is an employment program for people who experience a disability. Everything Nebraska VR does and all of the services we provide are for the purpose of helping people with disabilities prepare for, find and/or keep a job. The program is voluntary and the services provided will be specific to your needs. We will work with you as long as you need us to help you find a job.

To qualify you must have the following:

  • Impairment: You must have a diagnosed impairment. Another word for this is disability. This could be some type of physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.
  • Impediment to employment: We must be able to show that the impairment has caused you some problems in past employment, current employment or would cause some problems preparing for and getting employment in the future.
  • Benefit: We must be able to show that VR services would help you obtain or keep successful employment.
  • Require services: We must show that VR services are needed for you to reach successful employment.

Order of Selection

At the current time and into the foreseeable future, Nebraska VR, due to limited funds, is unable to serve all eligible individuals. Therefore, you will be assigned a Priority Group based on how significantly your disability impacts your ability to work. This is called an Order of Selection.

There are three Priority Groups that provide the order in which clients are served as funding allows.

Priority Groups 1, 2, and 3 are currently closed and individuals in these groups are placed on a waiting list for services.

Priority Groups

Clients are served in the following order as funding allows:

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Priority Group 1
Persons with the most significant disabilities.

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Priority Group 2
Persons with significant disabilities.

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Priority Group 3
All other eligible persons.

Persons within each group are served in order of application date.

Significance of disability and Priority Group are determined after reviewing your medical records, assessment reports, and determining your ability to complete work related tasks.

These work-related tasks are categorized into 7 functional capacity areas:

  • Communication
  • Mobility
  • Self-direction
  • Work tolerance
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Self-care
  • Work skills

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements are applied without regard to gender, race, age, color, or national origin.

Age Limit

There is no upper or lower age limit for any person who otherwise meets the basic eligibility criteria.

Present in Nebraska

You must be present in the State of Nebraska and have the legal right to work in the United States.

What is Next?

Once eligibility has been determined, your counselor will help you determine an appropriate job goal and plan to reach that goal. Together you will explore your work interests, work values, work preferences, work considerations, training, job skills, job history and support network.

Ready to Get Started?

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How to apply: To begin the Nebraska VR process you start with a referral.

We have partner relationships with many state agencies, community action agencies, schools, and employers that may begin the referral process with you. In this case you may be asked to fill out a short form with your name, address, and basic information that would be shared with us.

If you receive Social Security Disability, you may have received information about Nebraska VR, through Social Security's Ticket to Work program.

Most of the clients we serve start the referral process by calling one of our eleven services office locations across the state. Others simply stop in to a service office. Many of these clients have learned about our disability employment services from a family or friend.

Once we receive your referral information or talk to you directly, we encourage you to watch our orientation video online. We can also schedule an individual orientation meeting with a Nebraska VR Employment Specialist.

The application is typically completed after orientation during your first visit to the office.

What Happens at the Our First Meeting?

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Our First Meeting

Your first meeting with a Nebraska VR counselor can encompass a lot.

It will begin with a discussion that will help you determine if you are in the right place and if you are ready for employment. In the meeting you will have the opportunity to tell your counselor why you are seeking VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) services. Your counselor will ask questions to get get to know you better. This will help determine your eligibility and allow you and your counselor to begin thinking about your job goal and service needs.

Be sure to bring any existing documentation of your disability to your first Nebraska VR appointment.

If you receive Social Security benefits due to a disability, bring your most recent benefit letter from the Social Security Administration. If you don't have this documentation, VR may be able to request it on your behalf at no cost. Individuals may be referred to other resources like independent living center, the American Job Center or other community resources.

This information will help us know that you are eligible for Nebraska VR services, and with your career planning. Once you have been determined eligible for Nebraska VR services your counselor will help you develop an individualized plan for employment or IPE.

Want to know more about IPEs?

Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)

Once you have been determined eligible for VR services your counselor will help you develop an individualized plan for employment or IPE.

The IPE includes:

  • Your job goal.
  • When you expect to reach it.
  • All the services you need to reach your job goal and who will provide those services.
  • Who will pay. For example, you may be asked to participate in the cost of some services if you are able.

Please know that we encourage and expect your involvement in the planning process. We want to help you make informed decisions about your goals and the best way for you to achieve them. Regular communication with Nebraska VR staff members, keeping appointments, and follow through with your responsibilities is also important. This will help us both to stay on track to help you find or keep a job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything job seekers need to know about Nebraska VR.

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Helping you to get and keep a job is Nebraska VR's ultimate goal. There are many different services available to help you in reaching this goal. The services offered during each step in the process vary and depend upon your employment needs and interests. Your services may include:

  • Eligibility determination to figure out if you qualify for services
  • Assessment of vocational needs to learn more about your interests, skills, and the services and support you might need
  • Development of an Individualized Plan for Employment(IPE) that outlines your goals and the services you will receive
  • Coordination of services to reach your goal of employment
  • Post-employment services to help you keep your job once you are employed

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/

Watch Pathway to Employment Video Series

The Pathway to Employment Video Series is designed to de-mystify the many services provided to clients and businesses while highlighting the innovation that is the culture of Nebraska VR. While certainly each story is either one of progress towards an employment goal or a client's employment goal success, they are also stories about the important role played by staff members, businesses, ATP, Easter Seals, Project SEARCH, and others. Go to: vr.nebraska.gov/videos/

Our Mission

We help people with disabilities, prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment while helping businesses recruit, train, and retain employees with disabilities.

Contact Us

Nebraska VR
Nebraska Department of Education
Address: P.O. Box 94987, Lincoln, NE 68510
Telephone: 402-471-3644
Toll Free: 877-637-3422 or 877-NE-REHAB
FAX: 402-471-0788
E-mail: