Vocational Rehabilitation

The organization provides services for people with disabilities of all ages in Los Angeles County. Services include rehabilitation for children and adults who have brain or spinal cord injury; chronic pulmonary disease; back and pain-related disorders; orthopedic conditions, fractures or amputations; neurological and neuromuscular disorders; developmental, communications and behavioral disorders; multiple trauma; stroke-related disabilities; or other chronic and/or disabling medical conditions like diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and neoplasms. It also offers continuing education for professionals and engages in research related to new technology and cost-effective methods of providing services. The organization also provides specialized services at the Casa Colina Children's Services Center, the Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitative Medicine and the Casa Colina Transitional Living Center; (see separate entries for details). There are no geographic restrictions.

The type of care available ranges from subacute rehabilitation through acute inpatient care, outpatient and day treatment services, long and short-term residential care, vocational rehabilitation, follow up and advocacy, support groups, and community fitness and sports programs.

The organization also provides residential programs for people who have disabilities. It operates a transitional living center for brain injured adults which promotes the development of independent living skills to facilitate the person's return to the community. It also provides four long-term, supervised residences for developmentally disabled and brain injured adults which are administered under the name, Padua Village, Inc. It operates a per diem residence on the hospital grounds which provides housing for out-of-town clients and for family and visitors.

The organization offers a sports program for children and adults who use wheelchairs, a fitness program for adults who have a variety of disabilities, an outdoors and social activities program for people who have brain injuries and other disabilities, and a disabled driver program.

The adaptive driver program offers people who have a variety of disabilities, an evaluation and the opportunity to learn to drive safely and competently.

Support groups are available which also offer education, recreation and social interaction, and serve as an adjunct to treatment for clients and people in the community who have disabilities and for their families. The ongoing groups usually include those for people who have arthritis, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, pulmonary disabilities, spinal cord injuries, and Alzheimer's disease.

Casa Colina Outpatient Services provides industrial rehabilitation for individuals and businesses. The program provides industrial rehabilitation services to business, industry and their employees to reduce the impact of on-the-job injuries.

Return-to-work services include an individualized plan for each client; consultation and assessment in relation to injury risk; return-to-work readiness treatment; job site analysis; work site based training for safety; job modification and manager training; and co-worker education. A doctor's referral is required.

Services to business and industry include educational programs, workshops and consultation services to improve work site safety and return-to-work success. The program also provides ergonomic assessment and consultation regarding workplace compliance with ADA and FEHA disability access regulations.

In addition to direct client services, the organization provides continuing education programs for professionals and also actively engages in research and planning which promote the development and use of new technology and techniques in the field of rehabilitation and which enable clients to receive a continuum of care cost effectively.