Vocational Rehab Institute Courses

Vocational Rehabilitation Training

These courses are only for employees of Washington’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Services for the Blind and Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation.

Vocational Rehab Institute, or VRI, is a learning program hosted by the University of Washington’s Center for Continuing Education and Research. CCER's 2025 calendar features half-day trainings on our customers' most common disabilities and barriers to employment, discussing both medical and vocational rehab aspects.

  • There are no prerequisites for any course. 
  • No forms to fill out, no fees. We do ask you to enroll only in classes you intend to join. 
  • Each topic is trained several times to give you more chances to attend.
  • The primary audience is counselors and case managers, but any vocational rehabilitation staff is welcome to attend.

Course descriptions are beneath the 2025 summary schedule. 

Register for classes by emailing dvrtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Email disability accommodations to dvrtraining@dshs.wa.gov

2025 Summary Schedule

Please note: For many topics, the medical and vocational rehab portions are on different days, so you won't be in training all day if you want to attend both sessions. 

Date

Medical Aspects (9 a.m.-noon)

Applied Vocational Considerations (1-4 p.m.)

1/8/25

Depressive & Other Mood Disorders 

Substance Use Disorder 

1/15/25

Physical Disorders - Neuromuscular 

Physical Disorders Neuromuscular 

1/22/25

Anxiety Disorders 

Depressive & Other Mood Disorders 

1/29/25

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain 

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain 

2/5/25

Traumatic Brain Injury 

Anxiety Disorders 

2/12/25

Specific Learning Disability 

Traumatic Brain Injury 

2/19/25

Physical Disorders-Spinal Cord Injuries 

Physical Disorders - Spinal Cord Injuries 

2/26/25

Personality Disorder B 

Specific Learning Disability 

3/5/25

Substance Use Disorder 

Personality Disorder B 

3/12/25

Personality Disorder C 

Substance Use Disorder 

3/19/25

Blindness & Low Vision 

Personality Disorder C 

3/26/25

Intellectual Disabilities 

Intellectual Disabilities 

4/2/25

Physical Conditions - Neuromuscular

Physical Conditions - Neuromuscular

4/9/25

Autism Spectrum

Blindness and Low Vision

4/16/25

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain

4/23/25

Depressive & Other Mood Disorders

Autism Spectrum

4/30/25

Substance Use Disorder

Depressive & Other Mood Disorders

5/7/25

Attention Deficit Disorders

Attention Deficit Disorders

5/14/25

Physical Condition - Spinal Cord Injury

Physical Condition - Spinal Cord Injury

5/21/25

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

5/28/25

Personality Disorder A

Personality Disorder A

6/4/25

Personality Disorder B

Personality Disorder B

6/11/25

Personality Disorder C

Personality Disorder C

6/18/25

Physical Disorders - Neuromuscular

Physical Disorders - Neuromuscular

6/25/25

Specific Learning Disabilities

Specific Learning Disabilities

7/2/25

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain

7/9/25

Autism Spectrum

Autism Spectrum

7/16/25

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury

7/23/25

Physical Condition - Spinal Cord Injury

Physical Condition - Spinal Cord Injury

7/30/25

Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual Disabilities

8/6/25

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury

8/13/25

Depressive & Other Mood Disorders

Depressive & Other Mood Disorders

8/20/25

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders

8/27/25

Substance Use Disorders

Substance Use Disorders

9/3/25

Physical Disorder - Neuromuscular

Physical Disorders - Neuromuscular

9/10/25

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

9/17/25

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain

Physical Disorder - Chronic Pain

9/24/25

Personality Disorder A

Personality Disorder A

10/1/25

Personality Disorder B

Personality Disorder B

10/8/25

Physical Condition - Spinal Cord Injury

Physical Condition - Spinal Cord Injury

10/15/25

Personality Disorder C

Personality Disorder C

10/22/25

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

10/29/25

Seizure Disorders

Blindness & Low Vision

11/5/25

Personality Disorder A

Personality Disorder A

11/12/25

Seizure Disorders

TBD
Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Anxiety Disorders

An overview of the medical aspects of anxiety disorders, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, prognosis and treatment. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of anxiety disorders.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to anxiety disorders that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by individuals with anxiety disorders.

Dates: 3/13; 6/19; 10/9

Time: 9 a.m.-noon

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Attention Deficit Disorders

An overview of the medical aspects of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria and prognosis. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of ADHD.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to ADHD that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people with ADHD.

Dates: 5/22; 9/11

Time: 9 a.m.-noon 

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Autism Spectrum

An overview of the medical aspects of autism spectrum, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria and prognosis. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of autism spectrum.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to autism spectrum that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people on the autism spectrum.

Dates: 5/15; 9/4

Time: 9 a.m.-noon 

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Blindness and Low Vision

An overview of the medical aspects of blindness and low vision, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria and prognosis. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of blindness.
  • Understand the medical aspects of low vision.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to blindness and low vision that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people with blindness and low vision.

Dates: 6/26

Time: 9 a.m.-noon 

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Pain

An overview of the medical aspects of chronic pain, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, prognosis and treatment. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of chronic pain.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to chronic pain that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people with chronic pain.

Dates: 4/17; 8/14

Time: 9 a.m.-noon 

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Depressive and Other Mood Disorders

An overview of the medical aspects of major depressive disorder and other mood disorders, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, prognosis and treatment. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of major depressive disorder.
  • Understand the medical aspects of other selected mood disorders.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to major depressive disorder and other mood disorders that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people with major depressive disorder and other mood disorders.

Dates: 5/29; 9/18

Time: 9 a.m.-noon

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Epilepsy & Seizure Disorders

An overview of the medical aspects of seizure disorders, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, prognosis and treatment. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of seizure disorders.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to seizure disorders that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people with seizure disorders.

Dates: 6/5; 9/25

Time: 9 a.m.-noon 

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Intellectual Disability

An overview of the medical aspects of intellectual disability, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria and prognosis. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of intellectual disability.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to intellectual disability that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by people with intellectual disability.

Dates: 6/12; 10/2

Time: 9 a.m.-noon 

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov

Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Neuromuscular Disorders

An overview of the medical aspects of neuromuscular disorders, including the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, prognosis and treatment. Incorporates the individual and social impacts related to the disorder that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participants should be able to:

  • Understand the medical aspects of neuromuscular disorders.
  • Understand and demonstrate the individual and social factors related to neuromuscular disorders that may impede or enhance the rehabilitation counseling process.
  • Understand the diversity of experiences reported by individuals with neuromuscular disorders.

Dates: 3/6; 7/31; 10/23

Time: 9 a.m.-noon

To register: DVRtraining@dshs.wa.gov