Getting Started with Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational rehabilitation services help people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment.

In Pennsylvania, vocational rehabilitation is through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). In New Jersey, vocational rehabilitation is through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS). These programs have a benefits counselor who can help you learn how you can work without affecting your benefits.

Pennsylvania

• For general information about the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in PA, go to the PA OVR website. Search “PA Disability Services DLI OVR”
• Find the contact information for your local county office in the OVR directory or search “PA DLI OVR directory.”
• Philadelphia County Office: 215-560-1900
• Central office for Pennsylvania: 800-442-6351
• Review the application guide.

New Jersey

• For general information about the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) in NJ, go to the NJ DVRS website. Or search “NJ DVRS.”
• Find the contact information for your local county office by using the tab “NJ DVRS Field Office Locations.”
• New Jersey central office at 609-292-5987 (or 1-866-871-7867)
• Review the application process.

If you’ve worked with vocational rehabilitation before:

• Call your local county vocational rehabilitation office and ask if you have an open case.
• If your case is not open, ask if you can reopen your case.

If you are new to vocational rehabilitation:

Before beginning the process, there are a few important pieces of information and paperwork you should have:

• Your most recent cognitive testing or Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test
• Your most recent medical summary from your provider that lists all your diagnoses
• If it applies to you: documentation of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid (managed care organization like Keystone First or Aetna Better Health)

Think about how you feel on your best and worst days. Write down, in your own words, your capabilities and limitations on these days. It is important to let Vocational Rehabilitation know how you feel on these days so that they can help you to find the best path forward.

When working with vocational rehabilitation services it is important to be polite, persistent and confident! Sometimes the person you speak to may not know the answers to your questions or they may need to call you back with an answer.

In some cases, these programs can pay for a a portion of continuing education like college or technical school.