Vocational Rehabilitation
Staying active and involved is important. Some of you will be able to continue in your present job with few changes. Others of you may have to find a new line of work. It may take some time or retraining but opportunities do exist for those willing and able to work. (Read related articles on vocational rehabilitation.)
To help individuals with disabilities find employment, state governments have established agencies, which can assist in identifying job skills, arrange training in new job skills, and assist in job placement. This process is called vocational rehabilitation. Ask your social worker about a referral to a Vocational Rehabilitation State Office.
And even those of you who are not able to work can find fun and fulfillment in volunteer and leisure activities. Find a new hobby, develop a new skill, join a club or just stay active.
Resources for Vocational Rehabilitation
Educational Materials
American Association of Kidney Patients
The American Association of Kidney Patients developed a booklet called A Kidney Patient's Guide to Working and Paying for Treatment . It discusses school options for students and provides information about going from school to work. http://www.lifeoptions.org/catalog/pdfs/booklets/employment.pdf
Employment: A Kidney Patient's Guide to Working and Paying for Treatment
http://www.lifeoptions.org/catalog/pdfs/booklets/employment.pdf
This 108-page updated primer now has information for people with kidney disease and people on dialysis or with transplants. Topics include employment and vocational rehabilitation; Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance; disability programs, including SSDI and SSI; and federal legislation affecting kidney patients. The booklet also includes a glossary of terms and a list of resources. For additional information and educational contact:
Life Options, 1-800- 468-7777 or visit www.lifeoptions.org
The National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation has a booklet called Definitely Yes! Going to School, Working and Traveling . It provides helpful tips for kidney patients who are students and lists grants and scholarships available. http://www.kidney.org/patients/pdf/6_DefinitelyYes!GoingtoSchool,.pdf
Work Programs
Ticket to Work Program The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The goal of the Ticket Program is to increase opportunities and choices for Social Security disability beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and other support services from public and private providers, employers, and other organizations. Contact the Ticket To Work Program for more information. 866-968-7842 http://www.yourtickettowork.com
Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) Social Security recipients can receive earned income toward predetermined vocational goals as part of the PASS program. PASS funds can be used for tuition, tools, and automobile to drive to work, or other work-related goals. Contact your renal social worker or the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
Scholarships for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
American Kidney Fund (AKF) Patient Scholarship Program The American Kidney Fund Patient Scholarship Program provides support for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to further their education or vocational training as part of an effort to initiate, maintain or resume employment and independent living. Scholarships will be awarded for education or training in nephrology related health professions such as medicine, nursing, dialysis technician, nutrition and social work. Contact AKF for more information about the scholarship program and process. 6110 Executive Blvd. Suite 1010 Rockville, MD 20852
866-300-2900 http://www.kidneyfund.org/fpr_scholarship.asp
Kidney Foundation of Indiana offers The Larry Smock Scholarship is awarded to kidney patients that reside in Indiana to assist and encourage them to continue their post-secondary education in an academic or monitored occupational setting. To qualify for scholarship funds a person must be on dialysis or have received a kidney transplant, be a resident of the State of Indiana, and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. If you are interested in more information and application deadlines, please call the NKFI office at 800-382-9971 or 317-722-5640 or e-mail the office at nkfi@myvine.com .
Kidney Foundation of Ohio The Kidney Foundation of Ohio offers a scholarship to kidney patients. A committee, consisting of members of the Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board, kidney patients and Kidney Foundation staff, carefully reviews each application. The program seeks to enhance the lives of individuals through education and personal success. If you are interested in learning more about the Foundation's scholarship program, please contact Kimberly M. McFarlin , LSW, Director of Programs and Community Partnerships. 2831 Prospect Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2606 216-771-2700 http://www.kfohio.org/html/patient_services.html
Kidney & Urology Foundation of America Scholarship Award The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America awards a kidney patient with a scholarship every year. This award is for college-bound patients (aged 17-25) with kidney or urologic disease whose academic career would benefit from financial assistance. Recipients can receive up to $2,000 per year (renewable for up to 4 years maximum). For more information contact Dalia Mechanic at Dmechanic@kidneyurology.org or call 1-800-633-6628.
New Day Education & Rehabilitation Award The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America also offers an award for patients 25 years or older attending or returning to school to complete a degree to obtain professional certification, learn a new job skill, change careers, or seek physical rehabilitation. Recipients can receive up to $1,500 per year to support their schooling (renewable for up to 4 years maximum). For more information contact Dalia Mechanic at Dmechanic@kidneyurology.org or call 1-800-633-6628 or visit http://www.kidneyurology.org/Patient_Resources/scholarships.php
Other Scholarships
Career One Stop Career One Stop provides patients who are students with a scholarship search link, information about financial aid advisors, and discusses the benefits of having an education. http://www.lifeoptions.org/links/links.php?sect=7
Information about Scholarships and Fellowships for Students with Disabilities
www.finaid.org/finaid/focus/disabled.html
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) PAF offers scholarships to provide support to individuals, under the age of 25, that are or have been diagnosed with cancer or a critical or life threatening disease. Applicants must apply via postal mail and submit all required information in its entirety when returning your application. 700 Thimble Shoals Blvd
Suite 200, Newport News, VA 23606, 800-532-5274, Fax: 757-873-8999 or visit http://www.patientadvocate.org/index.php?p=69
Selected Financial Aid References for Students with Disabilities
www.cec.sped.org/index.html
University/Education Disability Resources
www.makoa.org/education.htm
Last updated on: February 22, 2008