VA Boston Healthcare System

SCI patient working

Veterans living with spinal cord injury who are employed in the community experience a significantly better quality of life and personal satisfaction. Yet the average rate of Veteran employment following SCI/D is much lower than the employment rate for those without disabilities in the United States.

Hiring a Veteran has many advantages. Veterans bring discipline, focus and organizational skills from their military experience.  They know how to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and have a strong sense of accountability and trustworthiness.

Predictive Outcome Model Over Time (PrOMOTE) is a project funded by VA Rehabilitation Research and Development to look at the effects of enhanced vocational rehabilitation and job search assistance for Veterans with SCI/D. 

Iif you are a Veteran with a spinal cord injury who receives care at VA Boston Healthcare System and are between the ages of 18 and 65, you are eligible for a baseline interview. At the interview, you complete questionnaires that focus on your health, quality of life and education. Then you are screened for what is named Supported Employment Assistance.

To be eligible for this support you will need to live within 100 miles of VA Boston Healthcare System for the next two years.  Program enrollees will work with Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists (VSR) to determine their work goals and the VSRs go out in the community and inform employers of your various skills and capabilities. Once you are hired in the community, the VSR will continue to meet with you to overcome barriers to your continued success and advancement. You will also meet with the PrOMOTE Project Coordinator every three months for a follow-up interview.

Veterans who enroll receive compensation for each interview, the satisfaction of helping improve services for Veterans and Individualized Supported Employment.

If you would like to learn more about or take part in the PrOMOTE program, please call Kan Mehta at 857-203-6557.