Vocational Rehabilitation

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.