Finding the right career path can come with added challenges for people with disabilities, but the right resources, accommodations and support can help turn employment goals into lasting careers.
In this episode of the Workforce Solutions Podcast, Gulf Coast Workforce Board Executive Director Juliet Stipeche speaks with Fernando Rivera, MBA-ITM, Senior Business Relations Coordinator with the Texas Workforce Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation Division, about the role vocational rehabilitation plays in connecting Texans with disabilities to meaningful employment.
Texas Workforce Solutions–Vocational Rehabilitation Services helps eligible individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, retain and advance in competitive employment. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, services are designed around each participant’s individual needs, abilities and career goals. Support can include career planning and counseling, skills development, education and training, job placement assistance, workplace accommodations and assistive technology.
Vocational rehabilitation can also support people at different stages of their career journey. For students and young adults with disabilities, services can include career exploration, work-based learning, preparation for postsecondary education and workplace-readiness training. For adults, the program can help address barriers that may make it more difficult to enter the workforce, return to work or remain successfully employed.
The work extends beyond supporting individual job seekers. Vocational Rehabilitation also partners with employers to help create more accessible and inclusive workplaces. Businesses can receive assistance with recruiting and retaining employees with disabilities, identifying workplace accommodations, assessing potential barriers and building greater understanding around disability inclusion.
Ultimately, vocational rehabilitation is about creating pathways to greater independence and economic opportunity. By connecting people with personalized resources and employers with the tools to build inclusive workplaces, Workforce Solutions and the Texas Workforce Commission are helping ensure that disability does not have to stand between an individual and a meaningful career.
For individuals who want to learn more or determine whether they may qualify for services, Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast offers connections to Vocational Rehabilitation resources through its career offices and online services.
Watch the full episode here:
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