Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Supporting Families Through Life After High School

If you’re a parent or family member of a young person with a disability, you’ve probably heard that transition planning should begin by age 16. But for many families, that timeline feels rushed, and often, it’s already too late to explore all the options for college, vocational training, or meaningful employment.

At D. Reed Coaching, Consulting & Advocacy, LLC, we’re here to help you get ahead of the curve. We offer personalized support and guidance to help your child—and your family—navigate the next steps with confidence.

As an approved Vocational Rehabilitation Service Provider through the Texas Workforce Commission, we’re proud to walk alongside families across Texas as they plan for what’s next: whether that’s higher education, job readiness, independent living, or all of the above.

Let’s make sure your child’s next chapter starts with a strong foundation.

What is Vocational Rehabilitation?

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR or Voc-Rehab) is an individualized employment program. Participants may receive a variety of service funded by the State that include job training, job placement, and services to support job retention. Many applicants are referred by schools, hospitals, and other organizations, but you may apply directly for service. Vocational Rehabilitation serves all disability groups.

Who is Eligible for VR Services?

According to state and federal guidelines, individuals with disabilities are eligible for VR services if they meet two main criteria:

  • Have a physical or mental impairment that presents a substantial barrier to employment; and be able to benefit from VR services to achieve employment.

  • Need VR services to prepare for a job, or to get, keep, or regain a job.

People who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are considered eligible for VR.

See below for a listing and explanation of a few our contracted services for post-secondary transitions and schedule your meeting today!

  • Life Plans

    The person-centered plan outlines the individual’s goals and desired outcomes for their life beyond the PK-12th grade system. Driven by the individual themselves, the Life Plan outlines post-secondary goals for daily living, highlights strengths and preferences, identifies clinical and support needs, and outlines necessary safeguards including individual back-up plans and strategies for education, employment, and housing (individual, group, home, etc.)

  • Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

    Pre-employment transition services are designed to support students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. These services focus on essential skills needed for successful employment, including work-based learning experiences, job exploration, and the development of social and communication skills.

  • Career Planning Assessment

    The assessment helps individuals with disabilities work with a Service Provider to create an Individual Employment Plan and determine their education and training needs. It allows individuals to explore higher education options and occupations of interest.

  • Job Skills Training

    This service is designed to equip individuals with the necessary skills to obtain competitive integrated employment. Training includes resume writing, interview skills, active listening and effective communication skills, disclosure training, and more based on the individuals’ needs.

  • A group of four young people, two males and two females; one young African-American male with a short chin beard wearing a white and navy blue t-shirt looking on as a young White female in a yellow dress smiles

    Personal Social Adjustment Training

    Personal and Social Adjustment Training (PSAT) is a specialized training program that helps individuals develop or re-establish personal and social behaviors required for professional positions. It addresses specific barriers to employment and tailors training to individual needs.

  • Young Asian male wearing black wire-rimmed glasses wearing an dark read apron and yellow t-shirt standing in front of a gray counter in a coffee shop with a small black sign to his right that reads "Mana Food & Co Manual Coffee"

    Supported Employment

    Supported Employment is a service designed to assist individuals with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities and mental health issues, in obtaining and maintaining employment. This usually involves working with an Employment Specialist present during work shifts to provide necessary supports and guidance toward independent work.

  • Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT)

    Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT) is a work readiness service that prepares individuals with a variety of abilities for successful employment. It is designed to build interpersonal skills related to basic traits and attitudes that will lead to successful employment.

  • Blurred image of a gridline notebook on top of a blue and white striped fabric. The notebook page has small black outlined boxes forming a checklist and a person's hand holding a black writing pen in the foreground

    Vocational Evaluation

    Vocational evaluations examine an individual’s ability to earn income by working and includes a thorough review of specific work characteristics, including occupational interests, specific job skills, worker traits, general intelligence, temperaments, physical capacities, strength, range of motion, and other work-related functions and abilities.

  • Man with an olive complexion wearing a blue polo-style shirt and shorts stands with his left hand in his shorts pocket at the end of a grocery store aisle flanked by products on an endcap. Two ladies stand talking down the aisle behind the man

    Work Adjustment Training

    Work Adjustment Training is an on-the-job work training program that provides an opportunity for persons to learn universal skills that every employer looks for when hiring employees, such as reliability, responsibility, teamwork, problem-solving, customer service, and effective communication.

  • A man with a dark complexion and dark hair pulled back in a ponytail wears a white hard hat, long-sleeved black shirt, and reflective vest holding a long plank of wood capped with metal at the end and stacks of the same planks in front and behind him

    Work Experience Placement

    Work Experience Placement is a short-term work placement undertaken by students or people who are looking for employment in a specific field. Similar to an internship, the purpose of a work experience placement is to gain practical experience and find out what the work environment is like. 

Schedule Consultation

See below for a listing and explanation of our contracted services for post-secondary transitions.

  • Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

    Pre-employment transition services are designed to support students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. These services focus on essential skills needed for successful employment, including work-based learning experiences, job exploration, and the development of social and communication skills.

  • Career Planning Assessment

    The assessment helps individuals with disabilities work with a Service Provider to create an Individual Employment Plan and determine their education and training needs. It allows individuals to explore higher education options and occupations of interest.

  • Job Skills Training

    This service is designed to equip individuals with the necessary skills to obtain competitive integrated employment. Training includes resume writing, interview skills, active listening and effective communication skills, disclosure training, and more based on the individuals’ needs.

 FAQs

  • The first step in the process is to visit the Texas Workforce Commission website to connect with a VR Counselor. You can complete the online referral form or visit your location Workforce Solutions office in person.

    https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/vocational-rehabilitation/adults

  • If you already have a VR Counselor, you will need to contact them via phone or email and inform them that you would like a Service Authorization (SA) issued to D. Reed Coaching, Consulting & Advocacy, LLC. From there, the counselor will arrange a meeting to discuss the approved services and grant the Service Authorization.

  • D. Reed Coaching, Consulting & Advocacy, LLC is contracted to serve all counties in Texas; however, the primary counties served are Harris, Brazoria, Montgomery, Fort Bend, and Waller counties. We are able to serve others, but our current clients reside in these counties.

  • The timeframe varies based on VR Counselor responsiveness and availability; however, the Texas Workforce Commission website states that within 60 days or less from application, your VR counselor determines eligibility for services and grants the SA to the service provider you select.

  • The answer to that is a tricky one. You can send them an email with my copied (i.e., CC) letting them know that you want to select a Service Provider and you need them to contact you or me as soon as possible. You can also call your local office and ask to speak to a supervisor about your services and let them know about the challenges you have experienced getting in contact with your VR Counselor.

  • The short answer is no. While many of the services offered through VR do align with employment, there are also options to prepare students with educational opportunities for degrees or certifications. D. Reed Coaching, Consulting & Advocacy, LLC can assist you or your loved one with these options as well.

Let’s work together