Last year I wrote about his need to make application to
DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) when he turned 18. I also described my experience telling him
about this federally funded program that assists individuals with disabilities to
determine their career goals and then offering training and placement to make
their vocational dream a reality. At the time his response was immediate and
indicated he was proud and didn’t need any handout. I think his exact sentence was “I don’t need
no stinkin' handout”. He was incredulous
at the thought that throughout his whole life he had fought to not make his
disability a way to gain advantage or favor and now his Dad was suggesting he
take something for free.
Well, we did make an appointment in the fall with DVR. And Andrew went to a program orientation meeting.
As a member of the Governor-appointed Washington State
Rehabilitation Council (WSRC) I had the opportunity to relate Andrew's experience
with DVR to the other members. It was
interesting that I have been to 2 DVR orientations - one recently with Andrew
and another with our daughter, Megan, a few years ago. Megan's orientation was a group meeting and
Andrew's orientation was with just the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
(VRC). As I told the WSRC members, in my
opinion the individual orientation is much better than the group. Andrew came away from the meeting with much
more information since he could ask questions and the VRC could respond
directly and take the time necessary for him to understand what she was saying
about the vocational rehabilitation program.
The VRC was very supportive and told Andrew to come back in the late
winter or early spring before he graduates if he was still interested. In comparison, following Megan's group orientation
meeting I asked her about the particulars of the program. She didn’t have any idea what the process really
was or how the program could assist her.
I knew the lack of information wasn't because Megan had not understood
the information presented since she had attended running start at SPSCC (South
Puget Sound Community College) and received her AA and high school diploma with
honors at the same time. By contrast Andrew
could explain the program and the goal of DVR to me very clearly. It was the presentation format that made the
difference. Individual meetings provided
better information than group.
In March I told Andrew to contact this counselor so he could
apply for services. He did but getting
information from him about his appointment was challenging at best. He is a man who shares little with his
parents (how strange huh?). I knew he
had an application form to fill out in preparation for his meeting with the VRC. Andrew was recalcitrant. When I urged him to work on this during his
spring break his response was “Dad, I am taking a break, that means no work, no
appointments”.
Well, Andrew did indeed go back and complete the
necessary paperwork. About 3 weeks later
I noticed a letter on the couch in our living room, not a normal place to put
paperwork in our house. Low and behold
it was a letter from DVR indicating he was eligible for services and that
Andrew should make an appointment to begin writing the plan. I asked Andrew why he didn’t tell me. I guess it wasn’t my business because he said
that it’s his DVR, his program. So I
asked when he was going to make the appointment. His response was “Not now Dad, I am getting
ready for prom”.
I give up!
