Neurology Vocational Services Unit to close after 50 years of service

Neurology Vocational Services Unit will close Sept. 1, 2026, after 50 years of service. The decision was made by the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine after careful consideration of the resources needed to sustain the program over the long term. We recognize that this marks the end of an important chapter for many staff, partners, and participants. While this is a difficult transition, we are deeply grateful for the dedication, expertise, and compassion that have defined the program throughout its history and enriched the lives of those it served.

Since 1976, the Neurology Vocational Services Unit has helped people living with neurological conditions pursue meaningful employment and greater independence. Originally established to serve people with epilepsy, the program later expanded to support individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), visual impairment, and other neurological conditions. Professor Robert T. Fraser, PhD, CRC, worked tirelessly through research and direct service to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. 

Working in partnership with the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Services for the Blind, the program provided individualized vocational rehabilitation services and helped countless people find and maintain employment. Its legacy will endure through the lives it has changed and the opportunities it helped create over five decades.

While the Neurology Vocational Services Unit is closing, individuals who are seeking employment-related services may find support through the University of Washington Employment Program (UWEP), which provides vocational and employment services for people with disabilities pursuing community-based employment. Services include vocational assessment, career exploration, job development, job placement, on-the-job training, job coaching, and ongoing employment support tailored to individual goals and needs. UWEP also offers independent living services and transition supports for eligible participants.

UWEP accepts referrals and contracts through the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and also offers services through private-pay arrangements.

To learn more about UWEP services or make a referral, please visit the UWEP website or contact UWEP at uwep@uw.edu or (206) 543-6387.