Vocational Rehabilitation Department

mst

I feel very hopeful after my intake appt. that I'll get the help and support I need to finally work despite my disabilities.

Rebekah Hunter

Three years and no job. I finally got DRO involved and it seems like that might be helping. I have had several vr counselors and they all tended to avoid answering emails and never allowed me to have an employment plan. Avoid Penny, Albert, John, and Lori if at all possible. I've also encountered a lot of ableism, including vr counselors who argue that disability discrimination in the workplace is okay. I have had my file closed without warning or explanation (even though I was eligible for services and no employment plan was made). I have also had a vr counselor who refused to allow me to have an advocate with me during meetings (she kicked me out of her office because I had my advocate with me). I have spoken with the branch manager about the discrimination I experienced but I have no indication as to whether or not my experiences were taken seriously or whether any measures will be done to prevent these sorts of things from happening to others. I have also seen that many of the vr counselors tend to have very stereotyped ideas about disability and a overall lack of understanding of the nuances of disability justice. I have been told that I can't pursue the sort of work that I am interested in because the vr counselor considered it inappropriate for people with certain disabilities. And they had very specific ideas about what sort of work disabled people could do. These sorts of practices are very harmful and vr could do so much better if they would educate their vr counselors around the nuances of disability justice and the importance of listening to clients and treating them as people. I have a lot of trauma from my interactions with this agency and I know so many others who do as well. Disabled people deserve respect and to be able to pursue jobs like everyone else. I wish VR understood that.

Natasha Young (G30 Productions)

A state agency that put disabled people back a productive working society. Which provides another chance in life

Edward Morris

Nobody's perfect, but I would be LOST without these folks. Three cheers.