Switching Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Self-advocacy guide on rights and options of people with disabilities who wish to change their DVR counselor.
This resource is meant to be a general guide for people with disabilities, not legal advice. For legal advice specific to your situation, please talk to an attorney.
My current counselor is not a good fit. Can I ask to switch?
Yes, you can ask to change counselors. You have the right to make informed choices about Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services that meet your needs. This includes making choices about the people you work with to reach your goals.
Learn about informed choice on the Department of Workforce Development's website.
You are the best person to decide if trying to work through communication issues is possible, or if you’re at the point where a counselor change is necessary. Keep in mind, sometimes switching counselors delays working through service requests, developing the Individual Plan for Employment (IPE), etc.
Please note that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation does not have to give you a specific counselor. Counselor assignment is a DVR staffing decision, and DVR leadership makes the final decision.
How do I ask for a new DVR counselor?
The first step is to reach out to the Director of your Workforce Development Area (WDA). You can contact the WDA director using email or phone.
You can find a map of the Workforce Development Areas in Wisconsin and counties served on the Department of Workforce Development's website.
Where do I find my Workforce Development Area’s contact information?
You can find contact information for all Workforce Development Areas listed in the DVR staff directory online.
Advocacy Tip
DVR will ask you to explain why you want a counselor change. Don’t just share what isn’t working with your current counselor. Share communication styles that work best for you. For example: “I prefer a counselor who calls me instead of emailing.”
Be ready for DVR to ask if you’re willing to try working through the issues you’re having before switching counselors.
The contents of this publication were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this document. The contents of this guide may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The content of this guide does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department. This publication is not intended to represent the views or policy of, or be an endorsement of any views expressed or materials provided by, any Federal agency.
