I have worked with Vocational Rehabilitation in two states now. Vocational Rehabilitation paid for 3 masters degrees in seminary, and equipment as well in Louisiana. The counselor was proactive in getting me help to finish school. I was able to do 3 degrees because of how I took my classes, working on all of them at the same time, while waiting for some that I needed to be offered again. As it came up, I didn't have work until the end of the semester when I received my Master of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling. In the next semester I took classes that allowed me to also graduate with a MACE (Master of Arts in Christian Education - emphasis in social work) and a MAMFC (Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling). Vocational Rehabilitation will bend rules if it sees a good reason. This made me more qualified, though I had almost no job experience other than volunteer and internships. The primary reason for their willingness was that since I would be working for 3 months at least, the case could be successfully closed. Unless the client successfully holds a job for 3 months the federal government doesn't reimburse the state for the money that they spent on that client. That little known/mentioned fact is a big motivator for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. If the client doesn't  hold that job for at least 3 months as a result of vocational rehabilitation's efforts, they are not reimbursed.

That is true in Alabama as well, and in other states where my counselor has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. When I got the ticket to work papers from SSDI, and the urging to call the number on the paper, I felt a little uneasy. Because I was used to working through Vocational Rehabilitation, the contrast between the number they urged me to call to get work, and the tag "or call Vocational Rehabilitation for an appointment" set off a warning bell for me. I called my counselor, and did have to wait for him to call me back. He asked me if I had called the number that SSDI sent on the form, I told him honestly that I don't trust the government after working with them so long. I wanted to talk to him before doing anything. It turns out that those firms are private businesses trying to find you a handicapped job. You might find the job quicker, and regardless, if you need equipment and services, they will call vocational rehab to foot the bill. As Vocational Rehab has state employees responsible for finding you a handicapped job, they do not get credit for successfully placing you in a job and do not get the funds back from the federal government. As is mentioned in the segment about SSDI, that is a federal program. As such, they try to keep the money in their hands. Depending on how things play out, it is still possible for Vocational Rehab to get some of their money IF due to our changing disability they spend money so that we may continue in the job.

For this reason I strongly urge people to go through Vocational Rehab. Each time the state department spends money and the federal government doesn't reimburse them, they have less money to help us out. It may be someone else affected because of lesser funds available, or it might be you after you get that job. If your disability changes and you need more help to keep the job; the money might not be available. I've been researching this since 1993 when I first got the help. I'm blessed with a counselor who would help no matter the circumstances; but people getting jobs without going through Vocational Rehab limit the funds that he can get approved. He still gets paid; but Les gets steamed about the ones who he cannot help due to government smoke and mirrors.