Free tool · Special education · Grades 6 to 12

Vocational rehabilitation: help for work and training

Every state has a vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency that helps eligible people with disabilities prepare for work. Students can start with pre-employment transition services, often from age 14 to 16 depending on the state.

Your progress

Learn

Find your state's vocational rehabilitation agency
Ask about pre-employment transition services: job exploration, work-based learning, workplace readiness, self-advocacy and counseling on college and training
Ask whether VR can help pay for college, training, assistive technology or job coaching later on

Apply

Ask the IEP team or 504 coordinator to invite VR to a transition meeting
Gather the IEP or 504 plan and recent evaluations
Complete the application with your student; students are often seen at school

Follow through

Write VR goals into the IEP transition plan
Put a check-in with the VR counselor on the calendar each semester

General information from Caveat Academic Services, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules vary by state, school and college; confirm with each one.

Want help with this part? Your Caveat advisor can connect VR, the IEP transition plan and the college or training plan into one timeline.

Book a free 20-minute call See the Caveat shop

This tool is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Each college decides admission, aid and how credit counts, and requirements change; check each college's own pages. Examples are examples, not promises. Caveat Academic Services is an independent college preparation company. Students do all of their own work.