Has anyone worked with Vocational Rehab?

I'm thinking about checking with them to see if they can help me with finding a new job or retraining for a different kind, maybe nursing informatics or utilization review. I looked at their official website and found out that to be eligible for their assistance, you have to a) have a disability and b) want to work.

I qualify on both counts. I want and need to work---I'm getting bored to tears being at home now, and financially stressed from going five weeks without a paycheck. And now my BP has crossed the line from being a pain in the @$$ to a "long-term disability" as the Employment Division calls it, even though I'm not disabled.

So, have any of you ever worked with Voc Rehab? What was the process like, and were they helpful to you? The problem with me isn't that I lack education or skills; the problem is that the economy is still crappy, and I'm closing in on 55 and mentally ill to boot.

Most employers won't want to invest time and money in someone who can't give them 25 or 30 years of service. (Not that anyone stays with one employer that long anymore, but it's a nice thought in theory.) And there's just no way that I can hide my illness forever; companies are so intrusive these days, they often ask for health histories and even med lists, and no one with half a brain could look at mine and NOT know that I am being treated for bipolar disorder.

That's why I'm interested in y'all's experiences with this agency. I need SOMEBODY'S help to find a job that's ADA-friendly, where my BP won't be held against me in hiring or used as ammunition to blast me to the curb. Thanks.

I know someone who works as a vocational rehab counselor or advisor or something to that effect. Ill ask her What state are you in?

Follow up to my last post... Some tips...

*Gather med records for review.
*MHIDD (mental health and intellectual disabilities, formerly MHMR) could possibly help with treatment costs.
*There are employer incentives that the vr counselor could offer.
*Call OVR office and ask how to apply. Some mail applications, some are done in person.
*Working is likely to affect ltd, so be careful. Check with the ltd company to know the rules.

Thank you for your help so far. I'm in Oregon.

I'm not on disability (SSDI), I only have a disability (the BP). I'm collecting unemployment benefits at this point, which would also be affected by any earnings, but I'd much rather work than collect benefits. I hate being dependent on the government for anything! But I had only a few hundred bucks in savings, and burned through it weeks ago.....not much of a choice but to apply for UI.

My pdoc and I have had a discussion about SSDI, and we both agree that I'm not bad off enough for that---in fact, he out-and-out refuses to sign off on anyone who's capable of some kind of work, because they tend to get worse without having something constructive to do. There are plenty of people on SSDI who absolutely deserve their benefits; nobody questions that. But for someone like me, whose MI is serious but not the end of the world, it wouldn't be appropriate.

I'm sort of in a no-man's land---I have medical restrictions on the kind of work I can do, and nursing is NOTHING if not stressful. That's why I'm looking into VR---I need a much lower-stress job and may need to be trained for one, or integrate my nursing knowledge and experience with some other kind of work. In the meantime, it would be great if they can help with treatment costs, as I no longer have health insurance and my expenses are outrageous.

Thanks for the tips so far.

I am currently in vocational rehab. Its a long process, as they have to make sure you are disabled, and then you develop a plan for employment, etc. I applied for disability last fall, and was denied, even though my pdoc thought i had a good case. I dont want to be on disabilty anyway. I know how you feel about having too much time on ur hands and wanting to work!

In Arizona they have 3 levels of disability and you do an interview so they can categorize you into one of those three classes. If you're in A, you're automatically qualified and they will start help immediately. If you're in B you may have to wait, but you will still get the services. C basically means you don't qualify for the program despite your disability. Since the state is tight on money they often award to the most severe cases.

Often times if you go to the community mental health care center they provide sliding scale treatments based on income. That would be something to look into.

Got ya... Maybe i can throw some non-bedside ideas out there... Speaking of insurance, have you looked into insurance nursing? Many companies let you work from home & I believe they pay well. School nursing, employee health, infection control, case management or MDS (could still be stressful, I think), research as you mentioned before, radiology nursing.

Ahhh .. My husband is working through Voc Rehab after he lost his job due to a workers comp injury and the company no longer had a position for him due to the impairment left after bilateral shoulder surgery.

Voc Rehab here (TN) is just about matching you with employment that will work.
Here it has absolutly nothing to do about a disabilty or goverment benefits , Its Job placement assistance.

Voc Rehab usually gets job listings that aren't open to the general public.

Something definatly worth looking into

I got my current job through Voc Rehab. I am in MO and the laws are different in each state determining if you qualify or not. I had to be willing to work and have a MI. I do not remember if I had to be disabled or not. I was denied SSDI, but approved for Adult Disability Medicaid. It definately won't hurt to look into Voc Rehab and see if they can help you. The worst they can say is that you don't qualify for services.

Another thing you can look into is Peer Support Specialist positions. Some are paid, some are strickly volunteer. That is what I do. I work with young people 16-25. My position is paid. I hope you find something to fill your time.

I went down to Voc Rehab today, and they seem to think they can help me. I have an appointment with a counselor on the 11th.

They were really nice and totally nonjudgmental about my 'disability'. Of course they're supposed to be, but you know how some folks are about mental illness. The intake lady didn't even blink when I told her my diagnosis and usual occupation; it's hard for me to admit that sometimes, because nurses do have the public's trust and NOBODY wants a "crazy" one working on them. But she was very kind and made me feel warm and welcomed, and I'm sure the fact that I'm also an older woman didn't hurt matters any.

Anyway, we shall see if they can do anything with me or not. It's worth a shot, and I appreciate all y'all's perspectives.

Sounds Great !!!!