Having chronic kidney disease may raise questions about finding, keeping, or changing jobs. It is important to know that many people with kidney failure do still work full- or part-time, go to school, volunteer, or take care of their homes and families.
Vocational Rehabilitation is a federal-state program that helps people who have physical or medical disabilities to achieve their goals for employment and independence. These service providers coordinate and provide appropriate services to help eligible beneficiaries find and maintain employment. Appropriate services may include training, career counseling, vocational rehabilitation, job placement and ongoing support services necessary to achieve a work goal.
The Rehabilitation Program of the ESRD Network of Texas (Network 14) is designed to work with both professionals and patients to ensure that new and established dialysis patients are informed of benefits of continuing to work. The program is aimed at ensuring that rehabilitative opportunities are presented. The ESRD Network of Texas works with the Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services as a referral source.
If you are interested in returning to work or remaining in the work force in a different type job and need to know your options, you should contact (or have your social worker contact) your area Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.
Vocational Rehabilitation Resources
Texas Workforce Commission
- Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Centers in Texas
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Vocational Rehabilitation Webinar
- Webinar Recording - Requires Windows Media Player - 2011
- Presentation by DARS and the ESRD Network of Texas - PowerPoint Slides
Social Security Department
Social Security introduces Ticket to Work program. It is a free voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work, get a job that may lead to a career, and become financially independent, all while they keep their Medicare or Medicaid. Individuals who receive Social Security benefits because of a disability and are age 18 through 64 probably already qualify for the program.
Click here to visit Ticket to Work
Patient flyers in English and Spanish are available to print
Your Ticket to Work Brochure [icon type]
Related Information
- Kidney Patient Job Retention: The Next Rehab Frontier by Dori Schatell, MS - PowerPoint Slides
- Vocational Rehabilitation Status (VRS) for Patients 18-54
- Volunteering - English - Spanish