Supported Decision-Making in Vocational Rehabilitation
Supported Decision-Making in Vocational Rehabilitation
Supported Decision-Making in Vocational Rehabilitation
RESOURCE TYPE
Information
LANGUAGE
English
AUDIENCE
Individuals with disabilities | Interprofessional | Advocates | Family members | Caregivers
Resource Description
Introduction: This guide explains how the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program helps people with disabilities get jobs and make their own choices. It shows how VR works with Supported Decision-Making (SDM) to help people live on their own and avoid guardianship. The guide was created by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center to help families and people with disabilities understand these services.
Resource Summary
Content Summary: When someone uses Supported Decision-Making, they pick trusted people to help them understand their choices and think through options. Unlike guardianship, where someone else makes choices for you, SDM lets you keep the right to make your own choices. For example, Jenny Hatch, a woman with Down syndrome, won a court case that let her use SDM instead of having a guardian. Her case helped other states recognize SDM as a good option. The VR program helps people with disabilities learn job skills and find work. In Virginia, two state agencies run the program. To get VR help, you must have a disability, want to work, and need help with work because of your disability. You get to choose your work goals and pick which services will help you best. VR can help with many things besides just finding a job. They can help you learn how to make good choices, manage your time, and live on your own. They can also help you get job training, learn how to use special equipment, get to work, and learn job rules. A job counselor works with you to make a plan that lists your goals and what help you need. VR helps people become more independent by teaching them skills to make their own choices. This means they might not need someone else to make choices for them through guardianship. By using VR services and SDM together, people with disabilities can take charge of their lives and their futures. To get started with VR, you need to apply and meet with a counselor. They will look at your disability, talk about what kind of work you want to do, and help you make a plan. Everything in your plan should help you reach your work goals. The plan can change if your needs or goals change.