Learn About Vocational Rehabilitation

If vision loss makes employment hard for you, you may qualify for services to help you get or keep a job.

How Vocational Rehabilitation Works

Vocational rehabilitation is a service that helps people with disabilities start or continue working. If you are blind, deaf-blind, or have low vision, we offer the following services to help you achieve your career goals.

Career Planning and Counseling

We help you to create a career plan based on your skills, abilities, and interests. Your plan will include clear steps for achieving your employment goals. As you complete the milestones in your plan, our team will help you determine when you are ready for the next step in your career journey.

Skills and Technology Training

We teach adaptive skills to help you succeed in the workplace. This may include training on how to use a white cane, magnifiers, or assistive technology.

If you need more intensive training, our training center for blindness skills might be right for you. Located in Seattle, the Orientation and Training Center (OTC) provides daily, on-site classes that teach skills to help you in the workplace.

Workplace Accessibility

We can determine how accessible your current or future workplace is. Based on our review, we will explain which accommodations you may need for your job.

Help with Finding Jobs that Match your Abilities

As you consider career options, we will assess whether you have the skills and physical abilities to do certain jobs.

Referrals to Other Services

We can refer you to other resources and programs to help you gain the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goals.

Types of careers for people with visual disabilities

People who are blind, deaf-blind, or have low vision can find success in any work. A few examples are:

  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Assembly and production
  • Cooking
  • Computers and information technology (IT)
  • Customer service
  • Managing people and programs
  • Medical work
  • Mental health counseling
  • Office work
  • Sales
  • Self-employment
  • Teaching and training

By participating in our independent living program, you can gain the skills to have a fulfilling career.

Apply for vocational rehabilitation

If you are interested in working or returning to work, the next step is to apply for vocational rehabilitation services. Learn how to start the vocational rehabilitation process with the help of one of our counselors.

Contact us

For more information about vocational rehabilitation, contact us using one of the methods below:

Federal guidelines for this program

Our vocational rehabilitation process follows the guidelines from the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

Federal funding for this program

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program receives 78.7% of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For the Federal Fiscal Year 2023, the program received $13,166,788 in federal grant funds. State and non-Federal sources paid the other 21.3% of the costs ($3,563,565).