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 2024-2025 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 2024 summary schedule. 

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

Email disability accommodations to dvrtraining@dshs.wa.gov

2024 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.)

4/10/24

Traumatic Brain Injury 

 

4/17/24

Physical Disorders-Chronic Pain 

Physical Disorders-Chronic Pain 

5/1/24

Specific Learning Disabilities 

Traumatic Brain Injury 

5/8/24

 

Specific Learning Disabilities 

5/15/24

Autism Spectrum 

 

5/22/24

Attention Deficit Disorders 

 

5/22/24

Personality Disorder B 

Personality Disorder B 

5/29/24

 

Attention Deficit Disorders

6/5/24

Epilepsy & other seizure disorders 

 

6/12/24

 

Blindness & Low Vision 

6/26/24

Intellectual Disabilities 

Intellectual Disabilities

7/3/24

Traumatic Brain Injury 

Traumatic Brain Injury 

7/10/24

Physical Condition-Spinal Cord Injury 

Physical Condition-Spinal Cord Injury 

7/10/24

Anxiety Disorders 

Autism Spectrum 

7/17/24

Substance/Alcohol Use Disorder 

Anxiety Disorder 

7/24/24

Personality Disorder A 

Substance/Alcohol Use Disorder 

7/31/24

Physical Disorders Neuromuscular 

Physical Disorders-Neuromuscular 

8/7/24

Personality Disorder B 

Personality Disorder A 

8/14/24

Physical Disorders-Chronic Pain 

Physical Disorder-Chronic Pain 

8/21/24

Specific Learning Disabilities 

Personality Disorder B 

8/28/24

Personality Disorder C 

Specific Learning Disabilities 

9/4/24

Autism Spectrum 

Personality Disorder C 

9/11/24

Attention Deficit Disorders 

Autism Spectrum 

9/18/24

Depressive & other Mood Disorders 

Attention Deficit Disorders 

9/25/24

Epilepsy & other seizure disorders 

Depressive & other Mood Disorders 

10/2/24

Intellectual Disabilities 

Intellectual Disabilities 

10/9/24

Anxiety Disorders 

Blindness & Low Vision 

10/16/24

Substance Use Disorder 

Anxiety Disorders 

10/23/24

Physical Disorders-Neuromuscular 

Substance Use Disorder 

10/30/24

Personality Disorder A 

Physical Disorders-Neuromuscular 

11/6/24

Physical Condition-Spinal Cord Injury 

Personality Disorder A 

11/13/24

Substance/Alcohol Use Disorder 

Physical Condition-Spinal Cord Injury 
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

Vocational Considerations of Anxiety Disorders

An overview of the vocational implications of anxiety disorders. Includes consideration of barriers to employment and potential accommodations.

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

  • Understand the vocational implications of anxiety disorders.
  • Understand and demonstrate the barriers to employment related to anxiety disorders.
  • Understand and demonstrate the potential accommodations for people with anxiety disorders.

Dates: 3/13; 7/17; 10/16

Time: 1-4 p.m. 

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

Vocational Considerations of Attention Deficit Disorders

An overview of the vocational implications of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Includes consideration of barriers to employment and potential accommodations.

Learning Objectives:

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

  • Understand the vocational implications of ADHD.
  • Understand and demonstrate the barriers to employment related to ADHD.
  • Understand and demonstrate the potential accommodations for people with ADHD.

Dates: 5/29; 9/18

Time: 1-4 p.m.

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

Vocational Considerations of Autism Spectrum

An overview of the vocational implications of autism spectrum. Includes consideration of barriers to employment and potential accommodations.

Learning Objectives:

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

  • Understand the vocational implications of autism spectrum.
  • Understand and demonstrate the barriers to employment related to autism spectrum.
  • Understand and demonstrate the potential accommodations for people with autism spectrum.

Dates:  5/22; 9/11

Time: 1-4 p.m.

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

Vocational Considerations of Blindness and Low Vision

An overview of the vocational implications of blindness and low vision. Includes consideration of barriers to employment and potential accommodations.

Learning Objectives:

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

  • Understand the vocational implications of blindness.
  • Understand the vocational implications of low vision.
  • Understand and demonstrate the barriers to employment related to blindness and low vision.
  • Understand and demonstrate the potential accommodations for people with blindness and low vision.

Dates: 3/20; 6/12; 10/9

Time: 1-4 p.m.

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