Veterans with Disabilities
Employment and Education
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E) is administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program's purpose is to counsel and rehabilitate veterans, with an emphasis on employment and independent living. Eligible veterans can receive services, such as:
- educational, personal, psychological counseling and evaluation;
- vocational training;
- loans;
- monthly subsistence allowance and work study allowance;
- medical benefits;
- family support;
- case management services;
- travel and incidentals' allowance to defray costs of expenses incurred during rehabilitation, job seeking, and initial employment;
- special services related to blindness and deafness;
- placement and employment services; and
- post placement services to ensure satisfactory adjustment in employment.
The program has a Five-Track Service Delivery System. Veterans must choose a track to reach that matches their employment goals. The five tracks are: (1) Re-employment, (2) Rapid Access to Employment, (3) Self-Employment, (4) Employment through Long-Term Services, or (5) Independent Living Services.
The VR&E program also provides vocational-educational counseling, which is distinct from the Montgomery GI Bill, to active duty service members, veterans and veteran's dependents who are eligible for education benefits. The services are designed to help these individuals choose a vocational direction and the course necessary to achieve their goals. For veterans with disabilities, the VR&E pays the cost of tuition, fees, required books, supplies and equipment. Supportive services to attend school may also be provided, as well as a subsistence allowance.
Another initiative through the VR&E program is the Coming Home to Work Program, a program that helps with transition to VR&E services. This program provides rehabilitation services to VR&E eligible service members pending medical separation and to veterans receiving treatment at community-based health care organization and VA medical treatment facilities.
To learn more, including eligibility requirements and how to apply:
See also these other VA resources:
Additional Resources
The following are additional resources for employment and education services for veterans with disabilities.
Always a Soldier
Provides service-connected veterans with disabilities opportunities to seek employment, career advancement, job mobility, family economic well being and greater financial security. The program partners with existing Army programs (Disabled Soldier Services, Army Community Service), the Veterans Administration and Disabled American Veterans to provide services. For more information: Always a Soldier
America's Heroes at Work
Provides employers and the workforce development system with the tools needed to help returning service members who have a traumatic brain injury and/or post-traumatic stress disorder succeed in the workplace. This is a project of the US Department of Labor and is focused toward service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information: America's Heroes at Work
Career Center for Combat Wounded and Disabled Veterans
Provides information and resources to help veterans with disabilities prepare for job interviews and find jobs. For more information: Career Center for Combat Wounded and Disabled Veterans
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) Wounded Member Services Initiative
Provides support and accommodations during recovery and rehabilitation, transition, and employment for veterans with vision or hearing loss, dexterity impairments, upper-extremity amputees, communication and cognitive difficulties, and traumatic brain injury. For more information: CAP Wounded Service Members Initiative
Disabled Veterans: Opportunities to Use Your Abilities
Provides employment, education, and training opportunities for veterans with disabilities at the Department of Defense. For more information: Disabled Veterans: Opportunities to Use Your Abilities
Employment Services for Veterans (Ohio)
Provides information about employment services for veterans. This information is maintained by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. For more information: Veterans Services - Employment
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities
Provides free training in entrepreneurship and small business management, and support in growing a successful business from the business school faculties of several universities. This training is available to soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. For more information: Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Provides question-and-answer guides for technical assistance to employers and veterans on workplace issues affecting veterans with service-connected disabilities. The guides are:
GI Bill
Provides information about education benefits for veterans, including information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill. For more information: GI Bill
Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, Special Issue: Veterans with Disabilities
Provides information for people working in the disability services field about ensuring that veterans with disabilities receive access to the education they deserve and to promote the civil rights of all students with disabilities. For more information: Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, Special Issue: Veterans with Disabilities
Military.com - Education
Provides information about how to choose a school, where to find funding, steps on getting a degree. For more information: Military.com - Education
Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
Provides vocational rehabilitation services to Ohioans with disabilities through the following programs:
REALifelines - Recovery & Employment Assistance
Provides veterans and transitioning service members wounded and injured as a result of the War on Terrorism, and their family members, with the resources they need to successfully transition to a rewarding career. For more information: REALifelines - Recovery & Employment Assistance
Still Serving Veterans
Helps veterans re-integrate into the workforce and community by providing counseling, coaching, job transition, and assistance services. For more information: Still Serving Veterans
The Military Order of the Purple Heart
Provides information about veterans job fairs, business opportunities summits and links to employment resources. For more information: The Military Order of the Purple Heart
Veteran Education Benefits User's Guide
Helps veterans learn how to use their education benefits earned while in service. In addition to the GI Bill benefits, veterans may be eligible for state, federal, and private education programs, scholarships, and college funds. For more information: Veteran Education Benefits User's Guide
Veterans' Employment & Training Service
Provides veterans and transitioning service members with resources and services to become employed. VETS includes access to the Disabled Transition Assistance Program, which provides a comprehensive three-day workshop plus additional hours of individual instruction to help determine job readiness and address the special needs of veterans with disabilities. This is a program of the US Department of Labor. For more information: Veterans' Employment & Training Service and Transition Assistance Program and Hire Vets First
Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program
Provides free tuition from colleges and universities that join the program. Veterans who served at least 36 months of active duty after September 10, 2001, are entitled to full benefits. Also eligible are those who were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and who served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001. Dependents of veterans who qualify for a transfer of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are also eligible. Veterans attending college full-time may also be entitled to a monthly housing allowance and a yearly stipend to help cover the costs of books and other supplies. For more information: Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program
This page contains links to other resources that may be of assistance to people with disabilities. OLRS does not guarantee that the information provided within the destination link is accurate or right for the particular needs of the person. Once you follow a link away from the OLRS Web site, refer to that site's privacy policy and disclaimer statements.
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