My first appt. with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation - anyone done it?

I've done the intake already. My first appointment is coming up in 2 days, and my DVR counselor is going to want to discuss what I want, why I'm there, and what I expect the DVR to do for me. I am mostly unprepared for this. I have no idea what kind of job I want, but my preference is training in a career of some sort. For the record, I am currently on SSI (disability) indefinitely, and that may factor into things. My goal is to get off disability and work a career.

I was sent a booklet in the mail, and read through it and it seems that the DVR is very flexible about helping people get through college (financial aid will be my responsibility, I think) if college is a part of their career goal.

I would like any information you can give me about your experience with the DVR - positive or negative. And sharing your personal story would be a big plus!

I am beginning to note my preferences/likes/dislikes/abilities in a journal to help give my counselor a better idea of who I am and what I may do best at.

Thanks for any responses, I need all the information I can get. Very nervous and wanting to be as helpful as possible.

Good luck, that sounds like a really great opportunity to try something new!

I would try not to worry about being unprepared. The program is set up to help you try things out and explore what you might want to do. Your journal is a great idea. One of my friends has been working with a program like that on and off for a few years. He's in school now and his classes are all paid for - and I don't think he even has decided what he wants to do for sure. He's tried out a few different things and actually got a part time job completely outside the program.

That is what my sister is telling me, to stop worrying, that the whole point of this is that the counselor and I discuss who I am and what I want.

I like that your friend was able to get a part time job outside of working in a similar program. It sounds like he was given a lot of time to complete his plan, years even?

Well, it's tomorrow at 11:00AM. All I can do is write a few things down so I have something to speak off of if I forget what I'm looking for out of the program.

Thanks for the support, really and truly.

Hi Gdorfus,

Good for you! I assume that you are going through the Ticket to Work program?

I was on SSDI for 10 years for depression. I had been a software engineer - but the computer industry was too stressful for me so I needed to change careers. I signed up for Ticket to Work and they sent me to VR. They gave me a battery of tests. Not like school tests really, they were looking for other things like dexterity and spatial awareness (not my best quality!!). They put all my results into a vocational analyzer and came up with a list of careers that I should consider. Some (even at the very top) were ridiculous, but some were possible. All in all, it gives you a list to start from. When I went in I already knew that I wanted to be a librarian. I already had a masters in computer science, and you need a masters in library science for jobs like library director (which was my goal). VR actually paid for my degree (My understanding is that they don't usually pay for college degrees - they might have paid for mine because I already had a masters. Perhaps they won't pay for a level of education beyond where you are, but they will match where you are). I did get a job as a library director, and I've been working for 7 years now.

Some important things about Ticket to Work: For me, it was important to know that people had faith in me and would help me; that support really made a difference. They suspend your medical reviews while you are working towards your goal, which means that you can allow yourself to get better without worrying about being kicked off and losing your benefits (this only holds as long as you are making progress towards your goal).

It took me 3 years to complete my degree and get a job.

The VR process is interesting. It is not judgmental. They want to know what your talents and interests are so they can help you find a career or job that will work well for you. So my advice is to be open and honest so they can best help you.

Let me know how it goes!

How inspiring! I congratulate you on achieving your dream. I love the library system and becoming a library technician is on my growing list of ideas I am jotting down, to help my counselor and I narrow down my interests. The library is like a second home to me.

I am going through the DVR program at DSHS. I am unsure if this is the Ticket to Work program, those words were never used during my intake, and I have no paperwork from the DVR that mentions this. I approached the DVR on my own and not through Social Security. I assumed that the DVR and Social Security would communicate what I was doing during the month it took to qualify me. I may need to call and inform SS, or ask my counselor if the Ticket to Work program is something separate or more beneficial to me. It worries me that this program exists, but I was not informed about it. It's good that you brought this up because now I can ask. Thank you.

I do hope that I will be given the opportunity to take the tests you describe because I'm uncertain my own abilities, given my lack of world experience. I am on SSI for agoraphobia and Major Depressive Disorder and have never had a job, or finished school past the 8th grade.

Passing my GED and attending community college is my wish, and that is what I am going to ask for. My DVR booklet talks of an I.E.P. - an Individualized Plan for Employment. I assume that's what I'm going to work on tomorrow. Is an I.E.P. something you did during your Ticket to Work program?

My feeling is that everything the D.V.R. will do for me is all depending on what I want and how much initiative I show in creating and pursuing goals, so I've got to show them I am worth the investment.

I am babbling, I am very nervous. I have piles of papers around me where I've jotted down notes for two days, revising my interests and goals and characteristics (things the booklet told me to be ready to speak up about).

I would like to get an Associate's degree at the very least, if I can get into the community college. Some of my higher career goals include jobs like Occupational Therapist or Special Education Teacher, which I know taken even higher degrees and years of work.

I will report back tomorrow about how it goes. You've been a great help to me. I will be myself and relax now.

It's 11:00 here and I'm thinking of you at your meeting.

I'm not sure we called it an IEP, but yes, I did have a plan for how I was going to reach my employment goal, with steps along the way.

Your attitude is great. You have dreams and initiative and determination. These will carry you far.

I'm looking forward to hearing how your meeting went.

P.S. Libraries are always looking for volunteers for various projects. Volunteering is a great way to ease into the working world, and your "boss" will always be thrilled to see you which is great for your self-esteem.

I just now saw your post. Looking forward to hearing how things went for you.

I'm happy your thoughts were with me, thank you, truly. I have even given thought to volunteering at my library, since they know me.

Thank you as well, Cat. :-]

All my nervous concerns and hasty notes were for nothing. The meeting was about 20 minutes long and very positive. Me and my counselor are friendly together, and she supported my long term goal as a Special Ed Teacher, or an Occupational Therapist for children. As a shy recluse, that kind of trust and rapport is so important to me. You were right about these people, they are all for helping me and there is no judgment. I feel very safe and comfortable.

Currently, I've been set up with a Community Based Assessment, which means that I will trial (and be paid for my time) at three different job sites for about 3 hours a piece. I'll be shadowed by someone who makes notes of my dis/abilities in a workplace, like remembering instructions and following through, showing up on time, and more. They're looking for strengths, 'barriers', and work ethics.

I chose cataloging old items in the basement of our local museum as my first, since it sounds interesting. This will happen sometime in the near future.

Tomorrow I take a career assessment test, it sounds similar to the test you took, Fallsfall - spatial form, organization, abstraction, subjectivity, dominance, self-control. On and on. It sounds fascinating.

I'm also set up for a psych evaluation at a later date, my counselor said it was more like IQ, not mental health related.

The GED is something I must pursue on my own, and once I have my certificate, the DVR will support me through college. I checked with the community college, and on Friday I will pay 25 bucks to take a prep test to see where I need tutoring to pass.

To sum this long post up: I am going to have a real job before I am able to enter college, I am in the middle of being tested for what would work best for me. As I work, I will study for my GED, pass it, and then enter into college with the support of the DVR. I am on my way toward preparing for my GED, but there is still a lot of work to do with the DVR.

Thanks for all the support, it meant a lot to me that I got to come home and tell you guys about what happened.

Peace to you all,

Gdorfus

That sounds great! I am glad it went so well and that you landed a good counselor. Cataloging items from a local museum sounds like a lot of fun

My friend has been working with a VR program for at least five years now. He's had to take a few breaks, but he has been able to go back each time. Like the poster above said, they really want to work with you and make sure they set you up for long term success.

Good for you!

Thanks, guys!

Sounds like your appointment was a great start. I hope you find the testing interesting. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses. They will be looking for your strengths so you can utilize them and build on them.

The museum job sounds like a good first try.

Please let us know how it all goes.

I will. On Monday I will meet with the counselor and a woman from an agency who sets me up with the museum. I'll let you guys know.

I am proud of you for taking this step and I look forward to hearing how things go!

My experience with DVR wasn't all that positive. They referred me to some private job search company who then required me to search for x number of jobs per week even if they didn't seem to match my needs, and I wound up with a less than ideal job, and they weren't exactly willing to help with any education or job training either.

I think they wanted me to find a job quick because I have applied for SSDI.

I think it may be different for those already on ssdi as we are eligible for ticket to work programs, PASS, etc. That is there is more incentive for them to help us out.

Yours sounds encouraging that they are already sending you materials. The guy that was actually my caseworker at the one I went to was a lazy bum who didn't do anything for me. He talked about going over my resume and tweaking it with me, but he never did it.
Now, there was another lady there and she was more helpful at sending me jobs when they became available. The job I ended up getting was one I got on my own though. I called and told her because I respected her for her help, but I didn't let him know because I didn't feel like I owed him anything. I guess she told him, though, because he called me at work to congratulate me on the job "they" helped me get. He so better be glad my parents raised me with manners.
But they never sent me anything in the mail so yours already sounds much better. Sounds like they're already on the ball.