Abstract
Veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) face numerous challenges during reintegration to civilian life. Aside from the psychological difficulties, many returning veterans lack the skills needed to obtain and maintain suitable employment, which is a critical part of the transitional process. The Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program (VR&E) offers veterans vocational rehabilitation and acquisition of new skills to ease the transition and help with employment. The problem is that veterans with PTSD have difficulties accessing and fully benefiting from vocational rehabilitation services. Some veterans may not be aware of what PTSD is, or that they have PTSD, although they may be experiencing the symptoms of the disorder. In addition, these veterans may not know if these symptoms are interfering with their ability to access and utilize those benefits. At the same time, most veterans applying for services do not understand what the process of enrollment and eligibility entails or the potential outcomes of their application for services. The purpose of this project was to create an interactive handbook that will systematically guide and engage the user in a question-answer activity to learn about and identify the symptoms of PTSD and locate services, community resources, benefits, and the vocational rehabilitation process, from application to employment services. The Outreach Handbook will serve as an interactive informational guide to veterans with PTSD about symptoms; resources; and the processes of eligibility, entitlement, and feasibility when applying for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services with the Veterans Affairs VR&E, to assist with successful utilization of services conducive to employment and transition to civilian life.