Re: VR

[Guest guest]

DK Moulton said the following on 3/24/2011 3:30 PM:

> Hi Rick,

>

> Any idea of VR varies state to state or is what they allow for expenditures

for training/retraining federally mandated?

>

>

As I understand it, VR is a federal program delegated to the states. I

am sure there are some standard guidelines as well as programs

specifically for an individual state. I searched for Vocational

Rehabilitation on Bing (dislike Google) and came up with a bunch of

individual state VR agencies. Looking through them I find a lot of

similarities. As I recall you now live in NC, here is the NC site:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/index.htm

For me, back in 2000, I made an appointment, they did an assessment, we

made a 'plan' with specific goals. They paid for what ever was necessary

for me to reach my goals. There is no list such as this is covered, this

is not covered. I think you can find a contact person on the NC website

and get your questions answered.

Rick

[Guest guest]

Thanks Rick. Your memory is terrific - northerner by birth; southerner by

choice (my mantra - I LOVE it here!)

I'll look it up. If you don't mind, one more question: Did your disability plan

give you a hard time regarding not using your degree and returning to some type

of employment? (Lied, one more question ;-) What about Voc. Rehab. - did they

say anything?

The good news is I found a field that I didn't even know I was qualified to do.

I've been doing ed. and what is considered informal ability tests for years,

it's always been part of my job (the psych ability tests I use are normed, but

for qualification purposes before IDEA was redone, it was only the psychological

ability exam that could be used to help qualify students for services).

Anyway - now with the IDEA rewritten, I can now do all the testing and the

states are hiring special ed. teachers to administer these to students that are

either too young for public school or are in separate setting private schools,

but paid for by the state. I love this area and am going to contact the state

to find out the ins and outs of the job! Way too excited!

Kathy

Re: VR

DK Moulton said the following on 3/24/2011 3:30 PM:

> Hi Rick,

>

> Any idea of VR varies state to state or is what they allow for expenditures

for training/retraining federally mandated?

>

>

As I understand it, VR is a federal program delegated to the states. I

am sure there are some standard guidelines as well as programs

specifically for an individual state. I searched for Vocational

Rehabilitation on Bing (dislike Google) and came up with a bunch of

individual state VR agencies. Looking through them I find a lot of

similarities. As I recall you now live in NC, here is the NC site:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/index.htm

For me, back in 2000, I made an appointment, they did an assessment, we

made a 'plan' with specific goals. They paid for what ever was necessary

for me to reach my goals. There is no list such as this is covered, this

is not covered. I think you can find a contact person on the NC website

and get your questions answered.

Rick

[Guest guest]

Excellent news Kathy!  

Subject: Re: VR

To: tetheredspinalcord

Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 4:25 PM

 

Thanks Rick. Your memory is terrific - northerner by birth; southerner by choice

(my mantra - I LOVE it here!)

I'll look it up. If you don't mind, one more question: Did your disability plan

give you a hard time regarding not using your degree and returning to some type

of employment? (Lied, one more question ;-) What about Voc. Rehab. - did they

say anything?

The good news is I found a field that I didn't even know I was qualified to do.

I've been doing ed. and what is considered informal ability tests for years,

it's always been part of my job (the psych ability tests I use are normed, but

for qualification purposes before IDEA was redone, it was only the psychological

ability exam that could be used to help qualify students for services).

Anyway - now with the IDEA rewritten, I can now do all the testing and the

states are hiring special ed. teachers to administer these to students that are

either too young for public school or are in separate setting private schools,

but paid for by the state. I love this area and am going to contact the state to

find out the ins and outs of the job! Way too excited!

Kathy

Re: VR

DK Moulton said the following on 3/24/2011 3:30 PM:

> Hi Rick,

>

> Any idea of VR varies state to state or is what they allow for expenditures

for training/retraining federally mandated?

>

>

As I understand it, VR is a federal program delegated to the states. I

am sure there are some standard guidelines as well as programs

specifically for an individual state. I searched for Vocational

Rehabilitation on Bing (dislike Google) and came up with a bunch of

individual state VR agencies. Looking through them I find a lot of

similarities. As I recall you now live in NC, here is the NC site:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/index.htm

For me, back in 2000, I made an appointment, they did an assessment, we

made a 'plan' with specific goals. They paid for what ever was necessary

for me to reach my goals. There is no list such as this is covered, this

is not covered. I think you can find a contact person on the NC website

and get your questions answered.

Rick

[Guest guest]

DK Moulton said the following on 3/25/2011 3:25 PM:

> Thanks Rick. Your memory is terrific - northerner by birth; southerner by

choice (my mantra - I LOVE it here!)

>

What horrible humidity :-(

Typical summer day here is sunny, no wind, 85 degrees and 5-20% humidity.

> I'll look it up. If you don't mind, one more question: Did your disability

plan give you a hard time regarding not using your degree and returning to some

type of employment?

I have had no contact with SSDI, as far as I know they do not know I

have a degree. My physiatrist fills out the paper work every 5 years.

> (Lied, one more question ;-) What about Voc. Rehab. - did they say anything?

>

I am disappointed in VR, I had to give them regular updates, grades,

in-person meetings, etc. After I informed them I graduated I have not

heard from them since. They were supposed to help me obtain employment.

I never contacted them either. My SSDI is just under $2K/mo and I have

full health coverage with Medicare and Medicaid (no complaints either)

so I would have to find a job that pays more than $2K/mo + full health

coverage.

> The good news is I found a field that I didn't even know I was qualified to

do. I've been doing ed. and what is considered informal ability tests for

years, it's always been part of my job (the psych ability tests I use are

normed, but for qualification purposes before IDEA was redone, it was only the

psychological ability exam that could be used to help qualify students for

services).

>

> Anyway - now with the IDEA rewritten, I can now do all the testing and the

states are hiring special ed. teachers to administer these to students that are

either too young for public school or are in separate setting private schools,

but paid for by the state. I love this area and am going to contact the state

to find out the ins and outs of the job! Way too excited!

>

That is great for you. :-)

One of my professors/advisors suggested I look into writing tech manuals

or teaching.

I like my freedom now and my bills are paid. :-)

Rick

[Guest guest]

Rick,

VR was a major downer for me as well. They gave me all kinds of grief

because of a 5 min talk I had with my counselor. They had my hand controls

installed in my car very quickly (that was the only thing they did quickly).

When we were doing the test drive, my counselor asked me what I wanted to do

in life. I said that ultimately, I wanted to get my PhD. Somehow, she

translated that to - I was not planning on returning to work once I

graduated with my MPH (that I was working on when I started getting SSDI).

Um, no. She asked me what my goals in life were, not my short term plans.

So, they put off remodeling my bathroom for almost 2 years bc she said I

didn't plan to go to work when I finished my degree. I finally had to go to

a supervisor and request a new counselor. Then my house finally got

remodeled (they did a sh*t job and took forever to do that lousy work, but

still it was done and not something I could have afforded to do on my own).

I never did get a CO for the remodel and they made me sign a paper when they

started construction saying I would not use it until I had a CO - but the

counselor refused to call me back and provide it for me. Oh well. Nothing I

could do.

They were also supposed to help me find employment, which never happened.

About 3 years ago, I had a supervisor call me and ask if I still needed VR

services - he was trying to close out open cases that had not had contact in

a long time. I said that yes, I was about to finish my degree and I needed

them to provide me with a Schedule A letter. He said he would let my

counselor know and to give her a call. I can't tell you how many messages I

left for that lady and she never called me back and never sent me a schedule

A letter. I'm still waiting for it. Not holding my breath.

I totally get what you mean about enjoying your freedom and being able to

pay your bills. I made very good money right before I was paralyzed. But - I

worked very hard for my degree and I would really love to use it. I know I

can't work full time (even if I wanted to). But I would love to get a PT job

using it. Jobs are in short supply now, and PT jobs (at least in public

health) are even harder to come by. Especially if you're not willing to

relocate to where the job is (I'm not) and I just can't seem to find one

here.

I do have to agree with Kathy - northerner by birth, southerner by choice.

The summers can get warm (but i'm only outside for a short time in the

summer going from one place with AC to another), but you can't beat the

winters - with an average high in the 50s and low in the 30s. As much as I

would like to move north, I just can't handle the cold. It makes my

neuropathy and back pain go through the roof. Not to mention, how does one

handle snow in a chair??? We had 8 inches this winter (rarity - and shut

the city down for a full week) and I just went out on my balcony and had

snow caked between the hand rim and tire; and the side guard and tire. I

left a big trail of melted snow in my path when I came inside (at least my

floors are all concrete, so it didn't matter). But there is just no way I

could handle the winters up north. And you can't beat our beautiful spring

right now - highs in the mid-70s and BEAUTIFUL!

Jenn

>

>

> DK Moulton said the following on 3/25/2011 3:25 PM:

>

>

> > I'll look it up. If you don't mind, one more question: Did your

> disability plan give you a hard time regarding not using your degree and

> returning to some type of employment?

>

> I have had no contact with SSDI, as far as I know they do not know I

> have a degree. My physiatrist fills out the paper work every 5 years.

>

> > (Lied, one more question ;-) What about Voc. Rehab. - did they say

> anything?

> >

>

> I am disappointed in VR, I had to give them regular updates, grades,

> in-person meetings, etc. After I informed them I graduated I have not

> heard from them since. They were supposed to help me obtain employment.

> I never contacted them either. My SSDI is just under $2K/mo and I have

> full health coverage with Medicare and Medicaid (no complaints either)

> so I would have to find a job that pays more than $2K/mo + full health

> coverage.

>

> I like my freedom now and my bills are paid. :-)

>

> Rick

>

> _

>