The Neurological Vocational Services Unit (NVSU) at Harborview Medical Center was started in 1976 under NIH grant funding for Epilepsy Center Services. Since that time, vocational rehabilitation services have expanded to those individuals with other disabilities to include traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke. and other neurological disabilities. In addition to fee-for-service support from the Washington State Division of Vocational Services (DVR), partial support is also currently received from the TBI Model Systems, MS Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MSRRTC), and Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (NIDRR) grants, and the Center for Disease Control. Neurological Vocational Services (NVS), our supporting non-profit foundation otherwise supports needed client services for which there is no funding.
Client Services - These include vocational evaluations, community based assessments, job placement and job retention stabilization services for up to 400 clients annually. The majority of referrals come from the greater Seattle area, with new clients being accepted every Tuesday morning at 10:30 AM.
Employers - NVSU maintains contact with local companies and more than 200 area companies in order to pre-screen clients for placement. job tryouts, internships, and other business personnel needs. We specialize in tax benefit and accommodation strategizing for area employers.
Rehabilitation Professionals - The Unit has produced more than 100 articles and is embarking on a fifth book related to neurological rehabilitation (see Rehabilitation Professionals). Training in neurological vocational rehabilitation is provided periodically at our office, or can be tailored to your agency's needs. We have presented one- to three-day programs for six state DVR agencies, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the Ontario Brain Injury Association, the Brain Injury Association of Florida, the Veterans Administration, and numerous private sector rehabilitation companies. We've assisted in the development or refinement of other neurological vocational rehabilitation programs to include the University of California San Francisco, ReMed of Pennsylvania. Health South, the Jim Thorp Rehabilitation Center, Oklahoma City, etc.
Please click here to contact us for information or advisement about meeting your special vocational needs.
Warm regards,
Robert T. Fraser, Ph.D., CRC
Executive Director, Neurological Vocational Services
Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine
Joint with Neurology and Neurological Surgery
