Vocational Rehabilitation

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As the only hospital-affiliated Vocational Rehabilitation program in Illinois — and one of only a few in the country — we assist people with physical disabilities in identifying their employment goals. We help working-age individuals pursue job options that best match their interests, abilities and skills, and our staff has placed hundreds of individuals into jobs where they find success.

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We conduct comprehensive interviews with our clients to review pertinent medical, educational and employment information. Then, we work with them to develop a personalized vocational rehabilitation service plan that meets their needs and goals.

Here are the services we offer to help our clients get back on the job:

• Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation: We assess transferable work skills, achievement level, aptitudes and interests, and summarize the information in a report that outlines the client’s employment abilities and placement potential.
• Work Trial Assessment: We offer placement into unpaid, short-term work experiences that help us evaluate a client’s job skills, work style and endurance level. This also can provide clients with an opportunity to apply their skills in a real business setting, gain experience and develop new competencies.
• Job Placement: For those who are currently unemployed or looking for a career change, we assist in developing short- and long-term career goals; identifying areas of employment interest; writing and editing résumés and cover letters; and facilitating mock interviews. We encourage clients to attend biweekly job lab sessions to become proficient in conducting independent job searches. Independent counseling sessions also are available.
• Return-to-Work Evaluations: For those who were working at the time of an illness or injury, we consult with employers to determine if the individual can resume previous or alternative job duties. We evaluate worksite accessibility and work with employers to help determine any necessary accommodations.

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Our Vocational Rehabilitation program — including assessments, counseling, return-to-work assistance and job placement services — are available to inpatients and outpatients throughout our continuum of care at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. We also accept outpatient referrals for services from individuals outside of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab community, including physicians, case managers, patients and family members, other allied health professionals, and community/state agencies.

We provide comprehensive support and services to patients and community members, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Learn more about how to support our mission and vision.