Personal Narrative: My Experience With Vocational Rehabilitation

The key experience that I chose to focus on for this journal was an experience that I had accompanying an individual to a meeting with Vocational Rehabilitation. This individual was struggling between going to work at the sheltered workshop and seeking more competitive employment through engaging in Vocational Rehabilitation.

This individual has been out of the work force for some time and has been contemplating her ability to hold down a job. Since she last worked she has dealt with debilitating anxiety, which has led her to many hospital visits to help relieve these symptoms. A change in medications has seemed to decrease the number of emergency room visits, and has allowed her to become more social and able to interact with others. This change has led her to feel that she is in a good enough place to begin the process of starting to seek employment.

I had met with this individual and helped her explore her options for employment. The two most obvious choices for employment for her was a Sheltered Workshop, which was originally intended for those with developmental …show more content…
Having someone to go to the appointment with the individual accomplished several things. The stress and anxiety level for the individual decreased, there was a second set of ears there to absorb all the information provided as well as someone who knew the individual well enough to help them ask the appropriate questions for their situation. Though this process this individual learned that Vocational Rehabilitation would help with all aspects of obtaining a job from the training, to the uniforms, any supplies that might be needed, transportation and various other costs. The part that surprised the individual the most was that Vocational Rehabilitation would also pay for school or vocational