Employment After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Employment After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
After an SCI, you may wonder if you’ll be able to find a job or work again. In fact, people with spinal cord injuries can and do return to work. You may be able to keep the job you had before. Or you may need to consider other options. This includes changing fields, getting more education or job training, or learning new skills. No matter what your situation is, there are options for you. Read on to learn more.
Consider your options
When thinking about your job options, consider doing the following:
If you currently have a job, meet with your employer
Are there minor changes that can help you return to work?
Are there other positions in your company that are a good match for your skills and experience?
Reevaluate your strengths
Previous work experience
Education
Skills and abilities
Research education and training opportunities
College
Trade school
Look at alternatives
Changing careers
Volunteer work
Get support
Vocational rehabilitation counselor
Employment counselor
Peer counselor
Friends and family
Religious, social or community groups
Use vocational rehabilitation programs
Vocational rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with SCI or other disabilities find work. A trained counselor can:
Assess your skills, interests, and pabilities
Help you set realistic job goals
Help you with job training, education, job placement, and changes at your workplace
Ask your healthcare team to help you learn more about the services in your area. Or, contact local or state services. Look online or in a phone book to find a program near you.
Other ways to find work
You can also try other ways to find a job. These include:
Telling family and friends that you’re looking for a job
Looking at job listings in the newspaper or on the Internet
Getting help through local job agencies
Using resources at your public library
Disability benefits
If you can’t work, you may qualify for disability benefits. Even if you start working, you may be eligible for some benefits. Assistance from other federal or state programs may also be options. Ask your healthcare team to tell you more about this.
Know your rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a law that helps protect your job rights. It makes it illegal for an employer to deny you a job based on your disability. It also allows you to ask for reasonable changes to be made in your workplace to support you in doing your job. To learn more about the ADA, visit the website www.ada.gov.
Resources
Visit these websites to learn more about finding a job after SCI:
VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab
Benefits for People with Disabilities, Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov/disability
Alternatives Unlimited alternativesnet.org
For more general information about SCI, go to:
United Spinal Association www.spinalcord.org
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation www.christopherreeve.org
Paralyzed Veterans of America www.pva.org
Updated:  
February 20, 2018
Reviewed By:  
Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN,Images Reviewed by Staywell medical art team.,Jasmin, Luc, MD