The Department of Veteran Benefits' Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Independent Living Program

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program, a division in the Department of Veterans Benefits within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), provides vocational rehabilitation services that are similar to those provided by the state-federal vocational rehabilitation program. The Independent Living Program (IL), which is part of VR&E, addresses the IL needs of veterans with the most serious disabilities. Rehabilitation counselors are an integral part of the IL service program. The purpose of this article is to describe the IL program, process, and the role of the rehabilitation counselor in the delivery of IL services to veterans.