Learning Disabilities and Vocational Rehabilitation

Abstract

Students with learning disabilities have received services in special education programs for many years. Unfortunately, many of these students continue to need services after they exit high schools. Vocational rehabilitation has begun to provide services for young adults with learning disabilities; however, there continues to be a discrepancy between the number of adults with learning disabilities who need vocational rehabilitation services and those who are receiving them. This article describes the definitions and eligibility criteria used by vocational rehabilitation agencies to serve adults with learning disabilities. By understanding the vocational rehabilitation system, teachers, it is hoped, will be better able to access these services for their students with learning disabilities.

Predicting vocational rehabilitation outcomes of young adults with specific learning disabilities: Transitioning from school to work

“…This is disconcerting, as an estimated 2.8 million students with specific learning disabilities received special education during the 2006-2007 school year [26]. Dowdy et al [7] stated that not every person with a specific learning disability needs to be served by vocational rehabilitation agencies. Nevertheless, a discrepancy between the number of adults who have specific learning disabilities and the number who receive vocational rehabilitation services may suggest that many adults who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services are not receiving them.…”

“…Although students with specific learning disabilities have been served in special educa-tion programs for many years, they were not afforded the same opportunity for reception of vocational rehabilitation services until 1981, when the Rehabilitation Services Administration accepted learning disability as a condition eligible for vocational rehabilitation services [21]. Furthermore, although the numbers of students in special education with specific learning disabilities have risen over the past several years, adults with specific learning disabilities still make up only a small percentage of individuals receiving services from state and federal vocational rehabilitation agencies [7]. To illustrate, an estimated 2.8 million students with specific learning disabilities received special education during the 2006-2007 school year [27].…”

Facilitating Student Involvement in Transition Assessment

“…For example, within this sample, students with learning disabilities differed significantly from students with other disabilities on the statement, "I have heard of Vocational Rehabilitation," with many of these students indicating the lowest level of agreement. This is not surprising, given that only a small percentage of students with learning disabilities receive Vocational Rehabilitation services (Dowdy, Smith, & Nowell, 1992;Gonzalez, Rosenthal, & Kim, 2011). Although they are less likely to receive Vocational Rehabilitation services than their peers with other disabilities, individuals with learning disabilities do encounter challenges related to finding and maintaining employment, and to earning higher wages.…”

Mental Retardation and Learning Disabilities: Conceptual and Applied Issues

“…Until recently, virtually no postsecondary educational settings provided assistance to this group. Even to this day, confusion surrounds the issue of eligibility of individuals with learning disabilities for certain services, such as vocational rehabilitation (Dowdy, Smith, & Nowell, 1992).…”