“What Happens After I Apply?” Ravi Lipman: A Vocational Rehabilitation Story

Editor’s Note: Ravi responded in written narrative form to the same questions we asked Cristina about the TN START program. (See previous article in this issue.) Enjoy his VR story!

I did not know much about the vocational rehabilitation program before I applied to it. I did know that the program could help me with school costs and finding gainful employment. I knew that I would be assigned to a support coordinator that would oversee my case and we would come up with an individualized plan for me to reach my employment goals. I applied for the program when I was in high school. My mother was the person who helped me apply. We learned of vocational rehabilitation from other disabled people that we knew, who used the program in Tennessee and similar programs in other states.

When applying and in the intake process, we needed to have paperwork documenting my disability. That included medical forms and educational records like my Individualized Education Program (IEP) from school. The best strategy for gathering the required documentation is to keep detailed records of your disability in a secure and reliable place. Any time we receive any official documentation from doctors’ offices and from testing services and school, we gather them into a file so that they are easily accessible at a later date.

I wish I had known of all the services that vocational rehabilitation offers, so that I could have fully utilized the program. I especially wish I knew about the independent living services. I still live with my parents, which I do not mind. But I wish I had taken the opportunity to use the independent living services to learn the skills necessary to be able to live more independently. My biggest advice to other families who are considering applying is to use all the services. Stay informed by asking your care coordinator what else Vocational Rehab can assist you or your loved one who has a disability with.

My plan included services to help me through high school, college, and now law school. The biggest source of assistance I received was that vocational rehab helped me pay some tuition and covered the cost of textbooks throughout my schooling.

Throughout my time enrolled in vocational rehab, I have had a few different support coordinators that each had their own unique style of helping coordinate services.

I have had a few that were more helpful and better at communicating than others. We mostly correspond by email. If I need additional services to assist me to obtain my career goals, I let my coordinator know and we work together to modify my IPE.

For me, what has made the service most worthwhile is that through vocational rehab, last year I was able to get a modified wheelchair van with accommodations that enable me to drive. I had never been able to drive before then. It is mainly due to vocational rehab that I was able to realize this dream that I did not think was possible. This van has opened up so much more independence for me because one of the biggest hurdles I have had to employment is reliable transportation. Before I was able to drive on my own, I was dependent on other people to drive me or public transportation. Now that I have a van, reliable transportation is no longer an issue for me.

I am now about to graduate from law school, which was made possible partly from the assistance that I received from vocational rehabilitation. I hope to also gain employment soon as a lawyer, which vocational rehab can assist me to do, as well. I would recommend this service to all disabled people who would like to better themselves and to live a life full of purpose, meaning, and dignity by obtaining employment in whatever capacity they are able.