Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

Developing a Plan for Employment

First, you and the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) work together to:

Review your strengths, capabilities, work skills and interests.

Look at important factors in your decisions about work (such as where you live, what kind of transportation you use, family or medical issues, and your salary and/or benefit needs).

Gather and review information needed for you to select a job goal that meets your needs and interests

Decide what agency services you need to prepare for, reach, and maintain your job goal.

Then, you and the VRC compose an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE). This is a written agreement that records the decisions and commitments you and your VRC make about agency services and activities.

An IPE can include, but is not limited to:

Your job goal

Steps you agree to take to reach your job goal

Agency services you will use

Agreements or conditions that you and your VRC decide to include

Who will provide and pay for the services in your IPE

Although the VRC can provide counseling and guidance to assist you in making effective decisions about what to include on your IPE, you decide what services are needed to reach your job goal. These services must be consistent with your strengths, abilities, capabilities and interests; and are required for you to reach your job goal. You meet with your VRC as often as needed to review progress on your IPE. An IPE can be updated if there is a major change in your plan to go to work.