Vocational Rehabilitation

A Message from The Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation Vocational rehabilitation is critical for adults who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Since one’s job is often an important source of self-worth, those who cannot work due to a traumatic brain injury may suffer feelings of low self-worth, anxiety and depression. Many brain injuries make it difficult or impossible for a person to work without specialized training in the coping mechanisms that will accommodate his or her injury. Vocational rehabilitation helps individuals suffering neurologic impairment acquire and sustain gainful employment. Vocational rehabilitation is one of the most important kinds of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Vocational rehabilitation has two goals: to teach the person how to tell whether they’re suited for a particular job, and to teach the person the skills to deal with his or her brain injury while on the job. In addition, many vocational rehabilitation programs, such as those at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation, include rehabilitation for functional improvement in all areas of life. Many Florida traumatic brain injury rehabilitation services are available. Typically, a client is evaluated based on his strengths and weaknesses and placed into a pre-vocational program that teaches appropriate job behavior and functional skills. Some brain injury victims need help finding a job that suits their abilities or training that will empower them to take control of their own job search. Still others need on-the job training and observation that will tell them where they need improvement and how to reach their vocational goals. Through this process, therapists and other professionals can target the training to the client’s needs. Some programs provide temporary on-campus work opportunities to ease the client into working life. Vocational rehabilitation programs may take place on-campus or off-campus, depending on the abilities of the patient and the resources of the organization. Most vocational rehabilitation programs are intended for patients with sub-acute brain injuries who have developed some coping mechanisms to deal with everyday life. While vocational rehabilitation is an important part of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, it is a later step in therapy for the majority of patients and serves to integrate the patient into daily life.