A Tip of the Hat from CAP 

 

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a federally-designated advocacy program 
where vocational rehabilitation (VR) clients can go to receive more information on 
VR or advocacy intervention on their behalf. Oklahoma and all other states and 
federal territories have local CAPs to handle client concerns. 

The Director of the Office of Disability Concerns (ODC) approached me about 
eight years ago to write tips on the ODC website. These insights into the VR 
program can help clients navigate the complex policy and practice of VR. 

I heard it again just this morning. “But I was waiting for . . . “ You fill in the 
blank. I was waiting for my DRS counselor to get back to me. I was waiting until 
my next Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) meeting. I was waiting for a call 
from my job coach. You get the idea. 

Waiting for someone else or waiting for some arbitrary deadline may allow you to 
focus on other things in your life, but waiting never gets your needs met in VR. 
Let me give a couple examples. 

Yeah, my counselor sent me the enrollment packet to get my college paid, but I 
thought she’d follow up with a phone call. If you don’t understand something in 
that enrollment packet, contact your counselor immediately. No contact may result 
in VR’s refusal to pay for your tuition that semester. Ouch. 

And then there’s the case of the job coach missing in action. You don’t have to 
wait six months only to find your job coach resigned way back last winter. Call 
the vendor agency to report lack of contact. If that vendor agency never bothered 
to tell you your job coach resigned, you might consider choosing a different 
agency which offers better customer service. 

I know I’m on the waiting list for VR services. I figure they’ll call me when my 
number comes up. Yes, eventually VR will call you, but why all the suspense? 
Call to find out what number you are on the waiting list. Ask what movement has 
occurred the last month. That’ll give you some idea on how long that wait is going 
to be. 

Waiting for information never serves your interest. Not only does it not serve your 
interest, but it may also result in real harm. Remember that guy who didn’t get 


enrollment information in? They closed his VR case, and that was a legitimate 
adverse action based on “failure to cooperate”. 

Nobody likes to read “failure to cooperate” on a closure letter. It looks bad. 
Right? Maybe that’s because it is bad. Sure, you can re-apply for another VR 
case, but do you realize how long that may be before you again get those services 
and supports you need to go to work? Life is too short to wait . . . and wait . . . and 
wait. 

So take the bull by the horns. If you don’t know the deadline to get that enrollment 
packet in, call to find out. If your counselor does not return your call in a 
reasonable time, email them. The bottom line—communicate until you get the 
information you need to make your VR case work for you. 

It’s so simple. You don’t have to wait. Call or email your VR counselor. Call me 
at the Client Assistance Program: 

William Ginn 

CAP 

405-522-6702 

William.Ginn@odc.ok.gov 

 

I want to hear from you.