You may feel disheartened to learn from your medical provider that you will not recover enough to return to your former job. Figuring out your life from here may feel overwhelming and seem impossible.

There are, however, resources to help you assess the skills you do still have so you can identify potential job opportunities. Vocational rehabilitation provides a variety of services designed to help you prepare to reenter the workforce, even if not in the same capacity as you worked before.

Job unavailability

One reason you may consider vocational rehabilitation is if there is a shortage of work opportunities when you recover enough to return to work. Even if your injuries did not cause permanent disability, the amount of time you had to take away from work may have jeopardized your job.

Vocational rehabilitation can help you find promising work opportunities based on your skills and experience. You may also utilize the services to find opportunities that can accommodate any special needs you may have as a result of your injury.

Physical limitations

Perhaps the most obvious reason to participate in vocational rehabilitative services is when you can no longer perform the responsibilities you did prior to your injury. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, vocational rehabilitation can help you reconstruct your resume based on the transferable skills you have.

Upon reviewing your interests, physical restrictions and former work experience, they can direct you toward potential jobs. They may also be able to work with your employer to modify your former job to make it doable and safe for you despite your disabilities.