Career Renewal
Department Information
Career Renewal Program or Vocational Rehabilitation is an
eligibility-based program as opposed to an entitlement program. Career
Renewal or VR is an employment program for people with disabilities.
It is funded under the Department of Education, Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, under Section 121, Title
I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1978, as amended.
Disabilities that are apparent may be: para/quadraplegia,
blind or visual impairments, missing limbs, mobility or coordination challenges,
lupus, rheumatoid arthritis. Some that may not be apparent such as: heart
disease, mental illness, hearing impairments, cancer, respiratory diseases,
traumatic brain injury, substance or alcohol addiction and Alzheimer’s
disease. Some others may include: ADD, ADDH, Bipolar disorder, cerebral
palsy, chronic pain fatigue, carpel tunnel, diabetes, fibromyalgia, hepatitis,
learning disabilities, migraine headaches, mental retardation, MS, muscular
dystrophy, graves disease, Parkinson’s, PTSD, asthma, sleeping disorders,
and the list keeps going.
For one to become eligible for the Career Renewal Program,
you must be a member of a tribe and have an physical or mental impairment
which for the individual constitutes or results in a substantial barrier
to employment; and can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from
vocational rehabilitation services provided; and requires vocational rehabilitation
services to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment.
Services provided are Assessments, Counseling and guidance,
referral to other providers for needed services, Vocational and other
training, Education, Corrective Surgery, Prosthetics and orthotic devices,
eyeglasses or other visual services, special services, transportation,
on the job training, occupational tools, licenses, equipment, initial
stocks and supplies and many other services.
Vocational Rehabilitation
IMPAIRMENTS + IMPEDIMENTS = DISABILITIES
SENSORY/COMMUNICATIVE IMPAIRMENTS:
- Blindness
- Other Visual Impairments
- Deafness
- Hearing loss
- Other Hearing Impairments
- Deaf-Blindness
- Communicative Impairments
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS:
- Mobility Orthopedic/Neurological Impairments
- Manipulation/Dexterity Orthopedic/Neurological Impairments
- Other Orthopedic Impairments (e.g. range of motion)
- Respiratory Impairments
- General Physical Debilitation (fatigue, weakness, pain, etc)
- Other Physical Impairments
MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS:
- Cognitive Impairments (learning, thinking)
- Psychosocial Impairments (Interpersonal, behavioral, coping)
- Other Mental Impairments
CAUSE/SOURCES OF IMPAIRMENTS:
- Accident/Injury
- Alcohol Abuse or Dependence
- Amputations
- Anxiety Disorders
- Arthritis and Rheumatism
- Asthma and other Allergies
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism
- Blood Disorders
- Cancer
- Cardiac and other Conditions of the Circulatory System
- Cerebral Palsy
- Congenital Condition or Birth Injury
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Digestive
- Drug Abuse or Dependence other than Alcohol
- Eating Disorders (anorexia, bulimia, overeating)
- End Stage Renal Disease, Other Genitourinary System Disorders
- Epilepsy
- HIV and AIDS
- Other immune deficiencies
- Mental Illness
- Mental Retardation
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Other Physical Disorders
- Polio
- Other Respiratory Disorders
- Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Unknown
AREAS OF LIMITED FUNCTIONAL CAPACITIES THAT OFTEN
CAUSE SERIOUS IMPEDIMENTS TO EMPLOYMENT
- Mobility
- Communications
- Self-Care
- Self-Direction
- Interpersonal Skills
- Work Tolerance
- Work Skills
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