Professional Rehabilitation Counselors provide guidance and deliver services that allow consumers to select occupations of their own choosing. The counselor and consumer jointly develop a plan that will result in employment. SBVI can pay for training and employment preparation costs that lead to meaningful employment in a broad range of careers for blind citizens.

Services are available to individuals who have a visual disability that interferes with obtaining or retaining employment. The individual must be able to benefit from services in terms of an employment outcome and must require vocational rehabilitation services to achieve that outcome.

All services must be part of an Individualized Plan for Employment and must be jointly agreed to by the consumer and counselor. Services may include, but are not limited to:

• Vocational Counseling


Throughout the process, a skilled counselor, knowledgeable about disability issues, will assist you in planning for the future and help you resolve problems along the way.


• Work Skills


In order for people to become employed they must have vocational skills needed by employers. If lacking such skills, training may be provided on-the-job, through supported employment, at a vocational technical school, or at a college or university.


• Skills of Blindness Training


SBVI staff are trained to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the areas of orientation and mobility (independent travel), communications (Braille, money identification, writing guides), computers and home making (cooking, cleaning).


• Job Site Accommodations


For some individuals, special equipment or changing the way the job is done will be necessary in order to meet the work requirements of an employer. This may involve purchasing special equipment or redesigning a work area for an employer.


• Medical Services


Medical services such as laser treatment or corrective surgery may be needed for an individual to obtain work or maintain employment.


• Job Placement


The focus of all services is to enable you to get or keep a quality job. You and your counselor will develop a placement plan that will help you to find a job in the work force.


• Employer Services


Many employers have questions about how best to accommodate the needs of a worker with a disability. Free technical assistance is available to employers in our state.