Vocational Rehabilitation A Message from The Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation Vocational rehabilitation is critical for adults

who have suffered a tr aumatic brain injury. Since one s job is often an important source of self-worth, th ose who cannot work due to a traumatic brain injury may suffer feelings of low s elf-worth, anxiety and depression. Many brain injuries make it difficult or imp ossible for a person to work without specialized training in the coping mechanis ms that will accommodate his or her injury. Vocational rehabilitation helps indi viduals suffering neurologic impairment acquire and sustain gainful employment. Vocational rehabilitation is one of the most important kinds of traumati c brain injury rehabilitation. Vocational rehabilitation has two goals: to teac h the person how to tell whether they re suited for a particular job, and to teach t he person the skills to deal with his or her brain injury while on the job. In a ddition, many vocational rehabilitation programs, such as those at the Florida I nstitute for Neurologic Rehabilitation, include rehabilitation for functional im provement in all areas of life. Many Florida traumatic brain injury rehabilitation services are availabl e. Typically, a client is evaluated based on his strengths and weaknesses and pl aced into a pre-vocational program that teaches appropriate job behavior and fun ctional skills. Some brain injury victims need help finding a job that suits th eir abilities or training that will empower them to take control of their own jo b search. Still others need on-the job training and observation that will tell t hem 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 eas e the client into working life. Vocational rehabilitation programs may take place on-campus or off-campu s, depending on the abilities of the patient and the resources of the organizati on. Most vocational rehabilitation programs are intended for patients with sub-a cute brain injuries who have developed some coping mechanisms to deal with every day life. While vocational rehabilitation is an important part of traumatic brai n injury rehabilitation, it is a later step in therapy for the majority of patie nts and serves to integrate the patient into daily life.