Vocational RehabilitationVocational rehabilitation is the type of recovery
that addresses a person’s ability to work. It is called into action
when a person develops barriers to activities of daily living, such as
working. If a person develops impairments due to an injury at work
prior to 1/1/2004 California requires the Worker’s Compensation
insurance company to provide a vocational rehabilitation program.
Worker’s Compensation vocational
rehabilitation is a return-to-work program that is coordinated by a
vocational counselor and is to benefit the injured worker through
testing, vocational training, and job placement assistance. This
benefit allows an injured worker to use up to $16,000.00 to develop new
skills and seek new employment. The Worker’s Compensation insurance
company pays the cost of the vocational rehabilitation plan. This
program offers incentives for employers to hire injured workers and can
provide great support for work modification so that a person can return
to their field of expertise but with adjusted equipment, such as
voice-recognition software for computers, power tools, adjustable
workstation, etc. (http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/rehab.html)
Another aspect of vocational rehabilitation is
associated with the Veteran’s Administration. In the event an active
duty service person is injured in the course of conflict or develops a
life-changing impairment as a result of their military service there is
a program to assist in their assessment and retraining. The government,
within limits, covers the costs. (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/)
The State Department of Vocational
Rehabilitation provides services to individuals who develop physical or
emotional impairments because of a disease or mental condition that is
outside of work. A person is required to undergo an assessment and must
meet eligibility criteria in order to receive the counseling and
training services. The extent of support depends on the severity of the
impairment(s). (http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/ )
In each instance, vocational rehabilitation is
a pragmatic and expeditious program that is geared to help someone with
an impairment who is facing a career change as a result of injury or
medical/psychological conditions
The Remas Group has been providing vocational
rehabilitation services since 1984 and has a professional staff
consisting of Mark Remas, Nelly Katsell, and Larry Gonzales. The Remas
Group has specialized in all phases of vocational testing through
placement and can quickly address the needs of any party going through
a vocational rehabilitation program.