Vocational Rehabilitation is a process that involves application
for services, eligibility determination, vocational counseling and the development of
an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) to provide services leading to employment.
There are three ways you can access services in the VESID Hempstead District Office.
You can be referred by your treating physician, program or
treatment center, you can apply yourself, or, if you are a high school student, your high school liaison can refer you.
The Hempstead District Office has a group orientation
session one day per week on an alternating Monday or Wednesday.
Please call (516) 483-6510 or e-mail Rita Kneller at rkneller@mail.nysed.gov
to request an appointment.
During the orientation you will learn about VESID services and what you
need to do to apply for services. If you decide that you want to apply, you will complete
an application and other required forms. You will be asked to send us medical information
regarding your disability. If you cannot obtain medical information, VESID will help you
to obtain the information at no cost to you.
Treating physician or treatment center
The Hempstead District Office has a liaison relationship with many treatment programs
in Nassau County. If you want to be referred for VESID services through you treatment
program, you can ask your therapist, doctor, social worker, psychiatrist or other health
care professional to send us a referral. They should include as much information about you
as they can, especially your diagnosis or disability and how your disability affects your
ability to work. If our office has a liaison counselor assigned to your treatment program,
you will be assigned directly to a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor here at VESID who
works with your program, once we receive a complete referral packet from your treatment
program. If your program does not have a VESID liaison counselor, you will receive an
appointment to come to our office for a group orientation.
High School Student
Most high schools in Nassau have an assigned VESID Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
who receives referral of high school students nearing graduation. The liaison at the high
school, usually the guidance counselor, with the student’s permission sends the VESID
counselor information about the student. Appointments are arranged for the student to meet
the VESID counselor before graduation to begin vocational planning. If you have a
disability and are not sure that your school will refer you, you can either ask your
guidance counselor to refer you or apply yourself. For complete information about school
transition click here Services for High School Students.
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