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I’m trying to wrap up forty years in vocational rehabilitation with mixed emotions.

After experience in state voc. rehab, several training agencies, and private sector rehab as a district manager, I founded Brower Rehabilitation Services in 1991 for case work.  It evolved into a private practice in forensic/ vocational expert work, with an almost overwhelming supply of work. [more]

Researcher for Life Care Planning and Vocational Research Available

A strong indication of case management gone wrong, is how many days a worker is on modified duty. The number of days a worker is performing modified duty needs to be managed by the return-to-work team, typically comprised of a physical or occupational therapist, a return-to-work coordinator and the worker's supervisor.  [more]

I was just checking in with the SSVE lobbyist progress. The last I knew is that the SSVE Board chose to wait longer to raise additional funds. I agree because the donations are low.

It dawned on me the other days that the court reporters are now earning more than VE's here in San Antonio. Some of them are getting fifty dollars per hearing. I am happy for them. Several of them did a bid and just received another increase. We receive 39.00 per hearing and slightly more for the first hearing of the day. [more]

In court, the DOT job title came up for cardiac monitoring tech and I use Vertek's Occubrowse. The ALJ mentioned to me that he looked up the DOT number against the DOT 4th edition and the middle digit was different.  Later, I checked the DOT # against the DOT 4th edition and the middle digits of this DOT job title are incorrect in Vertek as it appears. [more]

I began writing an elaborate posting and it was lost. In the San Antonio, TX region, an ALJ disagreed with my testimony and we went back and for a while, I asked for clarification, the Attorney even interjected to explain to the Judge why I would be confused by his hypothetical. This ALJ became angry at me and stated that I was defective as a SSVE. He asked me to leave the hearing when it was about complete and that I am not permitted to come back. This ALJ asked me to pack up and leave. I indicated that I was a contract worker and not an employee, he asked security to supervise my exit. I was just sitting down and I was not yelling, not using bad language, and saying nothing unprofessional. The ALJ indicated as I was packing my belongings that I have [more]