Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) at 3602 Kutztown Road in Laureldale, Pennsylvania, is a district office of a statewide public agency that helps people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment. OVR operates under the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and is administered through the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, with a companion bureau, the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, serving individuals who are blind or have significant vision loss. The Laureldale location functions as the local point of contact for Berks County and neighboring communities in the greater Reading area, giving residents a physical office where they can meet with counselors, submit documentation, and begin the eligibility process in person.

Vocational rehabilitation in the United States is funded through a partnership between the federal government and the states, authorized under the Rehabilitation Act and reauthorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. That structure means OVR is not a private staffing agency or a job board. It is a counseling based public program in which an assigned vocational rehabilitation counselor works with each participant to identify an employment goal and then arranges the specific services needed to reach it.

Services Provided

OVR services are individualized, so no two cases look exactly alike. The range of assistance commonly available through a district office includes:

• Vocational counseling and guidance, including help identifying realistic career directions based on interests, aptitudes, and functional limitations
• Diagnostic evaluations and vocational assessments used to document disability and clarify work capacity
• Vocational and technical training, including tuition assistance for approved postsecondary programs, trade schools, certificate programs, and college coursework tied to an employment goal
• On the job training and work based learning experiences with participating employers
• Job seeking skills instruction, résumé development, interview preparation, and job placement assistance
• Assistive technology evaluations and devices, such as adaptive computer equipment, screen reading software, hearing aids, and workplace modifications
• Restoration services, which can include medical treatment or equipment when it is necessary to reduce or remove a barrier to employment
• Supported employment and job coaching for individuals who need ongoing assistance to sustain competitive work
• Transportation assistance, occupational tools and equipment, uniforms, and other support services connected to a training or placement plan
• Self employment and small business planning support in appropriate cases

Pennsylvania also operates the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown, a comprehensive rehabilitation and training facility with vocational programs, academic coursework through Commonwealth Technical Institute, and rehabilitation services. Counselors at district offices such as the Laureldale location can discuss whether that facility fits a participant's plan.

Eligibility and the Application Process

To qualify for OVR services, an applicant generally must have a physical or mental impairment that creates a substantial impediment to employment, and must require vocational rehabilitation services in order to prepare for, secure, retain, or advance in employment. There is also a determination that the individual can benefit from services in terms of an employment outcome. People who receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income based on disability are presumed eligible, provided they intend to work.

The process usually begins with a phone call or referral, followed by an intake appointment with a counselor. Applicants are asked to bring or provide documentation of their disability, such as medical records, psychological evaluations, school records, or an Individualized Education Program. After eligibility is determined, the participant and counselor jointly develop an Individualized Plan for Employment, a written document that states the employment goal, the services OVR will provide, the responsibilities of each party, and how progress will be measured.

Like many state vocational rehabilitation agencies, Pennsylvania has at times operated under an order of selection, a federally recognized process in which individuals with the most significant disabilities are served first and others are placed on a waiting list. Applicants who encounter a wait are still able to receive information and referral assistance, and the office can explain where a case stands in the queue.

Services for Students and Young Adults

A significant portion of OVR's work involves secondary students with disabilities who are planning for life after high school. Pre-employment transition services, often shortened to Pre-ETS, are available to eligible and potentially eligible students and typically cover job exploration counseling, work based learning experiences, counseling on postsecondary education options, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self advocacy. OVR's Early Reach Initiative provides outreach and information to younger students, families, and school staff so that planning can start well before graduation. Families in Berks County school districts frequently connect with the Laureldale office during transition planning meetings, and counselors coordinate with special education teams when appropriate.

Costs and Financial Considerations

Many OVR services are provided at no cost to the participant. Counseling and guidance, assessment, job placement assistance, and information and referral are examples of services that are not subject to a financial contribution. Certain other services, such as training costs, equipment, and restoration, may be subject to a financial need test that considers household income and size, along with the use of comparable benefits such as financial aid, insurance, or Medical Assistance. Participants who receive SSI or SSDI are generally exempt from the financial need test. A counselor reviews these details during plan development so that expectations are clear before services begin.

Location, Access, and Contact

The office sits along Kutztown Road in Laureldale, just north of the city of Reading and convenient to Muhlenberg Township, Temple, Reading, Fleetwood, and surrounding Berks County communities. The site offers a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot, which matters to a clientele that includes people using mobility devices. Because the office serves a broad geographic area and staffing assignments can vary, callers are encouraged to confirm which district office covers their municipality.

The office can be reached at +1 610-621-5800, and general program information for Pennsylvania disability services is published on the Department of Labor and Industry website. Appointments are recommended rather than walk in visits, particularly for intake, since meetings with a vocational rehabilitation counselor are scheduled in advance and require supporting documentation. Anyone dropping off paperwork, requesting forms, or asking about the status of an application can do so by phone or at the front desk during standard weekday business hours.