Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

January/February 2001

Letter to the Editor

November 17, 2000

National Association of Disability Examiners,

Re: VR Referrals

I would like to discuss the importance of the VR referral. It can be a life changing experience. In 1995, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained serious injuries. I was working for a state agency in Missouri and was told that I would not be able to return to that particular occupation. While receiving long term disability from my past job, I was required to file for Social Security Disability. I did qualify for Social Security Disability and began receiving benefits. At some point in that process a DDS Counselor marked a “little box” that changed my life. I received a letter from the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation that told me that Social Security believed I could benefit from their program, and was I interested. I responded to that letter and told them, yes I was interested in their program. Thanks to the DDS counselor and the folks at Missouri VR, I have earned an Associate in Science, my BA in Criminal Justice with minors in sociology and psychology. I finished up my degree program in May 2000 and in July 2000 I began a TWP. I am currently in my fifth month of a TWP at Missouri DDS, in the Jefferson City office.

So remember the next time that you go to mark that “little box,” you could be changing someone’s life. I cannot end this letter without saying thanks to the unknown DDS counselor who marked that VR box and to the great folks at the Rolla MO VR office. Thank you all and God bless you.

Ellvan D. Markley Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Section of Disability Determinations