Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational 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.