1. Exceptional Lives
  2. Massachusetts Guides
  3. Employment: How to Prepare for Getting a Job
  4. Mass Rehab Commission (MRC)

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

This agency has many different programs to help you prepare for getting a job.

You can call them anytime to ask what they can offer!

MRC, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Helps people with disabilities to live and work in their communities through 3 programs. 1. Vocational Rehabilitation or VR. Provides job training and support. 2. Community Living. Provides life skills and personal support. 3. Disability Determination Services or DDS. Helps with SSI and SSDI.

The MRC includes these sections:

  1. Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR): helps people to find a job

  2. Community Living Division (CL): helps people with developmental disabilities, head injuries or traumatic histories to live in the community as independently as possible

  3. Disability Determination Services (DDS): helps people to get federal benefits from the Social Security Administration. These include SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

 To learn more:

  • Go to the Mass Rehab Commission Website. (Click on it to open in a new tab on your screen.) Or call them at 800-245-6543.

  • Click on the buttons below for more about each section. 

  • Click on the link at the bottom of the page to download a 6-page brochure. (It will open in a new tab or appear in the bottom corner of your screen.)

This program helps people with disabilities to find and keep a job. They work with high school students and people who are out of school.

 To be eligible (qualify) for these services, you must:

  • Have a physical or mental impairment that makes it hard for you to work

  • Want to work

  • Need services to train for a job, find one or keep one

 Examples of services:

  • Assessments

  • Training

  • Help with job placement

  • Supported work, job coaches, tutors

  • Pre-Employment Training Services (Pre-ETS) for students aged 14-22

  • Assistive technology or vehicle adaptations

  • There are many more!

Click on this Web page from Mass.gov to learn more: What is Vocational Rehabilitation?

Source: Mass Rehab Commission

This section of MRC offers support to help people live independently. There are several different programs that provide this help in different ways.

 Examples of Community Living programs:

  • Adult Supported Living: a case coordinator will work with you to find out what support you need to live independently. This may include help to manage your household, finances, transportation or recreational activities.

  • Home Care Assistance: A person who comes to your home to help with basic needs like cooking, shopping, laundry, picking up medicine, etc.

  • Assistive Technology: help with devices and equipment that let you communicate, move around and do the tasks of daily life

  • Protective Services: they follow up if you suspect someone of abusing a person with a disability

  • There are more!

 How to learn more or apply:

  • Call the main office at:800-245-6543.

This section of MRC helps people to apply for government benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

 SSI: Supplemental Security Income

  • It's a US government program that gives monthly payments to people who have low income and not many resources.

SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance

  • This programs is tied to the Social Security retirement program, but it's for people who are disabled before retirement age.

How to learn more or apply:

  • Call the main office at: 800-245-6543.

 

Sources: Mass Rehab Commission, Social Security Administration

 

Source: Mass Rehab Commission