Do people know about Vocational Rehab? If you're USAmerican they have this in every state.
It's a program that helps disabled folks access education, training, and employment. For FREE.
You only have to be disabled to qualify (autism, ADHD, mental illness, physical illness, etc) and they cover very broad categories of disability. You do NOT have to be officially diagnosed yet when you walk in - they will even help pay for your diagnosis if you are struggling w disability.
I applied with my suspected autism and fibromyalgia, and they paid for 100% of my formal autism assessment.
Once your disability is established they will give you career counseling to learn about your interests and skills, and depending on the plan you create with your caseworker they will then help with school or finding employment. They paid for 100% of my college tuition and books, and even provided a laptop for me to use.
You do not have to pay anything for this program. If you make above a certain income, you will have to contribute to educational costs but will still receive assistance.
They will also help with the cost of things like mental health counseling while you work towards your goals, clothing for interviews, etc.
They cannot discriminate based on your race, gender, or sexual orientation.
They won't make you do excessive meetings.
They will allow you to do meetings with your caseworker remotely.
They will not drug test you.
They want you to succeed.
I'm sure that individual experiences vary but my caseworker was exceptionally easy to work with and very kind.
Vocational Rehab is a phenomenal resource every disabled person should be aware of. Here is the list of offices in every state:
I work with my state's Vocational Rehab very closely in one of my specialty clinics, and they've paid for of thousands of dollars' worth of devices for disabled students and adults over the years. Usually, they cover 100% of all devices; I just have to submit some paperwork attesting to the patients' needs and certify some medical records. Their caseworkers are often aware of many public services available to people with various disabilities as well, including the blind, hard of hearing, etc.
I've only had them refuse to cover a single person in the hundreds of cases I've sent them, and that was a patient who was being paid under the table by a family member for what I think was illegal activity (not sure exactly what kind). All the Voc Rehab caseworker needed was basically token lip service that he would attempt to get some kind of legal employment--even something like fast food or sweeping floors at a movie theater--but he refused. I even tried to talk him into it (the assistive devices he wanted were upwards of $2k), but he said he'd rather stay away from the government & just pay in cash.
Voc Rehab is an incredible service paid for by taxpayers and I wish more people were aware of it.
