What does a vocational rehabilitation assistant do?

I'm looking into vocational rehabilitation roles, and I'm curious about what a vocational rehabilitation assistant does. What are their main duties, and what skills could I develop in high school to prepare myself for this career?

A vocational rehabilitation assistant performs a variety of tasks, generally aimed at supporting vocational rehabilitation counselors and clients. Their duties typically involve administrative tasks, maintaining and updating client files, and arranging meetings or appointments.

One of their primary responsibilities is often interacting directly with clients, coordinating resources, and setting up supportive services such as vocational training, job placement, and post-employment services. They ensure that the individual's rehabilitation program is being effectively carried out and keep track of progress.

In some cases, they may assist the counselor in the assessment process to determine the client's ability, skills, interests, and needs. This could involve conducting interviews or administering standardized tests.

As for skills that you could begin to develop in high school, develop strong communication abilities. Being a vocational rehabilitation assistant involves a lot of interaction with clients, vocational training institutions, and employers. Therefore, being able to communicate effectively and empathetically with a diverse range of people is very important.

Moreover, organization and multitasking skills are essential since you'll likely be juggling a variety of tasks at once. Developing strong computer and administrative skills will also be helpful as these roles often involve maintaining electronic client records and using various digital tools.

Volunteering and gaining work experience in human services, such as in disabled services or career counseling, could also be valuable. These experiences would help you better understand the field and its demands and could make you a more compelling candidate when applying for jobs in the future.

Finally, it would also be useful to develop a solid understanding of the world of work and various career paths. This would enable you to provide more useful support to clients as they navigate their career journey.