Sept. 26, 2023, marks the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act (Rehab Act) of 1973, the first federal, civil rights legislation to address access and equity for people with disabilities. In conjunction with the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Veterans Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) service (formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or “voc rehab”) is proud to recognize the special observance with the theme of “Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next.”
ODEP’s theme for the Rehab Act’s 50th Anniversary observance and the provisions in the act echo the mission of VR&E, which is committed to helping America’s transitioning service members and Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment barrier to prepare for, obtain and maintain suitable careers. It also provides employment resources and expertise, removes obstacles to employment, and provides independent living services and assistance.
Prior to the Rehab Act, people with disabilities had a hard time obtaining employment and education. Lawmakers looked at the barriers people with disabilities faced and realized that many were caused by the inability of some people in our society to see the capabilities of people with disabilities.
The Rehab Act extended and revised state vocational rehabilitation services and prohibited discrimination because of disability by federally funded and assisted programs, federal employers and federal contractors. It transformed the lives of people with disabilities and enhanced programs and services, such as VR&E.
This landmark law laid the foundation upon which the more comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 now stands. By way of the ADA, the Rehab Act has been amended and become more robust. Both laws are important tools in the quest for people with disabilities to live full and productive lives, including in the areas of education, employment, reasonable accommodation, access to information and much more.
VR&E proudly celebrates laws like these, which aid in advancing access and equity for individuals with disabilities in the workforce, and employers in the non-profit, private and public sectors who have increased employment opportunities for service members and Veterans with disabilities. At the same time, we recognize that barriers to equal opportunity remain. We will continue to work on making the promise of the Rehab Act and the ADA a reality to increase the employment of Veterans and enabling Veterans with disabilities to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.
To learn more about ODEP and the Rehabilitation Act, visit ODEP’s Rehabilitation Act 50 Years page. To learn more about VR&E services, visit https://www.va.gov/vre.
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