What is a job coach?
A job coach (or employment specialist) is a person who provides the support you need to keep a job in the community. You may need the job coach only for a limited period of time (which the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services calls "transitional employment") or you may need support from a job coach on an ongoing basis (which BRS calls "supported employment").
Some examples of how a job coach might support you are:
- Helping your employer train you on the skills needed for the job
- Helping you work with supervisors and coworkers
- Helping you learn how to use transportation for going to work
- Helping you to know what is expected of you on the job
- Providing assistance if the work becomes too difficult for you or if other problems arise that affect your work
Sometimes the job coach may work with your employer to teach him/her
how to provide support to you. A job coach will usually meet with you
at work, but may meet with you off the job, if that is appropriate and
more comfortable for you.
[Adapted from the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Consumer Handbook,
page 30. Used by permission.]
Who pays for a job coach?
Sometimes a job coach is part of a person's employment plan with the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. In that case, BRS may pay for the service for a period of time. Visit the BRS website
Other possible funding sources are the Department of Mental Retardation and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Sometimes an individual may use part of his or her earnings to hire a job coach privately. This can be especially useful to people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), because the money can be deducted from earnings as an Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE). This allows the person to earn more money without jeopardizing eligibility for benefits.
Occasionally, there is a combination of several funding sources.
How do I get a job coach?
Often, a job coach is contracted for through a Community Rehabilitation Provider, but an individual may also hire his or her own job coach the way you would hire a personal assistant. Learn more about Personal Assistance.
How long can I have a job coach?
If Bureau of Rehabilitation Services monies are involved, the BRS counselor, worker with a disability, and employer make this decision. Sometimes BRS funding is used initially when someone is getting a job, and then the cost is picked up by another agency or by the individual him- or herself.
What is the relationship between my job coach, my supervisor, and my coworkers?
Every situation is different. Typically, the relationship between the job coach, supervisor and coworkers is determined by the person receiving the services and the BRS counselor. But there are times when job coaching is done entirely off-site, and the supervisor and coworkers might never know that someone has a job coach.
Your opinion on the content in this section matters to us and will help us improve the Connect-Ability program and site. Simply select an option and press "Submit." If you would like to tell us how we can improve, provide feedback.