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Vocational Rehab Jobs for Neurodivergent Individuals

Finding work you’re good at is hard enough. Finding work that also fits your brain, energy, and

sensory needs can feel impossible. Vocational Rehabilitation (often called “VR”) exists to close

that gap. If you’re autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or otherwise neurodivergent and your neurology

creates barriers to getting or keeping a job, your state VR agency can help you move from

“qualified but overlooked” to employed and supported. This guide explains what VR is, what

kinds of vocational rehab jobs you can pursue with their support, and how to combine VR with

Mentra’s neuroinclusive platform to get further, faster.



What is vocational rehabilitation?


Vocational Rehabilitation is a publicly funded program that helps people with disabilities prepare for, get, and keep employment. Every U.S. state and territory runs a VR agency. Services can include career counseling, skills training, help paying for certifications or short courses, assistive technology, job coaching, interview preparation, workplace accommodations, and follow-along support once you start a role. You work with a VR counselor to create an Individualized Plan for Employment (an “IPE”) that spells out your goal job and the services VR will provide on the way there.


Details vary by state and by your situation. If you’re starting from scratch, search for “[your state] vocational rehabilitation” to find the right office and application steps.



Who qualifies and how to get started


You qualify if you have a documented disability that substantially impacts employment and you would benefit from VR services to achieve or maintain work. For many neurodivergent people, that means autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s, epilepsy, or brain injury, and how those conditions affect executive function, communication, stamina, or sensory regulation on the job. If you don’t have recent documentation, ask the agency how evaluation works in your state.


The process is simple in structure, even if it takes time. You apply. The agency determines eligibility. If you’re eligible, you meet with a counselor to set a realistic goal and write your IPE. That document is your roadmap. It should be specific about the role you want, the skills you need to build, the support you’ll use, and the timeline.



What kinds of “vocational rehab jobs” can VR help you land?


VR is not a single job or program. It’s a set of supports that can point you toward the right job for your strengths and then help you qualify and interview well. For neurodivergent candidates in tech and adjacent fields, common paths include IT support, data center technician roles, QA and testing, software support engineering, cybersecurity analyst internships, help desk or desktop support, and junior business or data analyst roles. Outside tech, VR frequently supports skilled trades, healthcare and lab support, logistics, customer support in quieter environments, and many office roles with flexible routines.


The thread that ties these together is fit. VR can fund a CompTIA A+ or Network+ course if you’re aiming for IT, help you complete a Salesforce or cloud certificate if you’re moving toward admin roles, or connect you to on-the-job training or apprenticeship if you learn best by doing. If your goal is more advanced, like software engineering, VR can still play a role by covering short targeted courses, providing assistive tech, and helping you get work-based learning that turns into portfolio projects.



How to make VR work for your brain


Your counselor is your collaborator. Share what helps you thrive: clear written instructions, weekly check-ins, quiet spaces, flexible start times, visual schedules, or timeboxing tools. Ask for supports that target real friction, like executive function coaching while you learn a new workflow, mock interviews that focus on pacing and clarity, or a job trial so you can test fit before committing. If sensory overload derails you, ask about noise-reducing gear or remote options. If anxiety spikes in group settings, ask to meet 1:1 or to attend smaller workshops. The more concrete you are, the easier it is for VR to match services to your needs.



Funding, tools, and coaching you can request


VR can provide help paying for short, job-relevant training and certifications. Many agencies routinely fund entry-level IT and cybersecurity certs, cloud fundamentals, and accessible office or design tools when they map to your IPE. They can purchase assistive technology such as noise-canceling headphones, ergonomic setups, screen readers, dictation tools, and organizational software. They can also fund job coaching at the start of a new role so you ramp with less stress, and transportation supports when that’s the barrier. Ask how these work in your state and what documentation is required.



Timelines and expectations


Eligibility decisions can take weeks. Services start after your IPE is approved. Training programs run on their own schedules. None of this is instant. That said, momentum is possible when you treat VR like a project. Keep appointments. Ask for next steps in writing. Break big goals into weekly actions. If your plan isn’t working, request a check-in and revise it. You’re allowed to adjust.



Where Mentra fits alongside VR


VR is broad. It serves many disabilities and many industries. Mentra is focused on neurodivergent professionals and the jobs that fit them. If you’re building toward tech, data, cybersecurity, UX, or data center roles, you can use both. VR can help with training and supports. Mentra can help you showcase your strengths, match with roles, and connect to employers investing in neuroinclusion.


Create a Mentra profile, upload your resume, and note the skills you’re building with VR. Explore our resource hubs and workshops. When you’re ready, apply to roles from neuroinclusive employers and let our team know you’re working with VR so we can coordinate around your timeline.



A simple starter plan for this week


Pick a target. “Entry-level IT support in my city,” or “Data center technician within 3 months,” or “Junior data analyst with SQL and spreadsheets.” Call or email your state VR office to start eligibility. Write a short strengths statement and a short barriers statement you can reuse with your counselor. If you want extra structure, join the Mentra Discord and ask for the VR channel to swap tips with peers who are already in the system.



FAQs


Is VR only for people on SSI or SSDI?

No. VR serves many people who are not on benefits. Benefits can speed up eligibility in some cases, but they aren’t required.

Will VR tell employers about my diagnosis?

Your disability information is confidential. You choose what to disclose to an employer and when. VR can help you request accommodations without oversharing.

Can VR pay for college or bootcamps?

Sometimes. Agencies generally fund training that is necessary and cost-effective for your goal job. Ask your counselor what options fit your plan and state policy.

I’m late diagnosed and not sure what to ask for. Can VR still help?

Yes. Start with the job you want and the barriers you experience at work. Your counselor can help translate those into services and supports.

How is Mentra different from VR?

VR is a public program that funds services and supports. Mentra is a private platform designed for neurodivergent talent and the employers who want to hire them. Use VR to build skills and accommodations, and Mentra to find roles where those strengths are valued.

If you’re ready to begin, find your state’s VR office, start the eligibility steps, and set a first goal. When you want a community that understands how your brain works, join us.


Create your Mentra profile: Get matched to roles designed with neurodivergent strengths in mind.



Below are a few resources that you can access if you are based out of New York, but feel free to check for your local state too!


  1. NYS ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation)


A publicly funded program offering free vocational rehabilitation to individuals with disabilities, including neurodiverse conditions. Services include vocational counseling, assessments, job development, coaching, training, assistive tech, and more—even college prep and tuition in some cases. Services are typically free, though financial contributions may apply if income is high.(acces.nysed.gov)


Eligibility is based on having a disability that creates a substantial impediment to employment and the potential to benefit from services.


  1. New York State Department of Labor – Career Centers & Disability Resource Coordinators


Career Centers across NYS (including NYC) offer free career counseling, resume help, workshops, computer access, and job placement services to all job seekers, including disabled individuals.

Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) are available to assist with linking to VR services and guiding job support, especially for those receiving SSI or SSDI through the Ticket to Work program.


  1. Federal-Level Supports


  • Ticket to Work (SSA): A free program helping Social Security disability recipients (ages 18–64) prepare for and find employment, while retaining benefits.

  • CareerOneStop – Workers with Disabilities: A Department of Labor portal offering guidance, job listings, and tools for persons with disabilities.

  • Job Accommodation Network (JAN): Offers confidential, expert help for job accommodations and disability employment questions—all for free.

  • Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP): Connects students or recent grads with disabilities to federal and private sector employers.

  • Neurodiversity Career Connector (NDCC): A job & internship marketplace linking neurodivergent candidates with companies committed to inclusive hiring.


Nonprofit & Local NYC-Based Organizations


  1. The Arc New York

A nonprofit serving over 60,000 people with developmental disabilities via 55 chapters statewide. Offers a broad suite of services, including pre-vocational, vocational, and employment supports.


  1. YAI: Seeing Beyond Disability

Based in NYC, YAI provides employment services tailored to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities—including job skills training, resume help, interview prep, intensive job coaching, and ongoing support.


  1. Fedcap Rehabilitation Services

A Manhattan-based nonprofit offering thorough vocational evaluations, training in areas like office skills and hospitality, job placement, and on-the-job support. They also operate a licensed vocational trade school and serve job-seekers in NY, NJ, and DC.


  1. Urban Resource Institute (URI) – Urban Center for the Developmentally Disabled

Serving adults who have aged out of special education in NYC, URI offers one-on-one job counseling, training, placement, and job-site coaching, plus supported employment programs.


Check out:


Uniquely Abled Project – JobTIPS: A free, autism-friendly program helping individuals explore career interests and secure employment. (uniquelyabledproject.org)

 
 
 

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