The option for specialization is explored to address expanding roles for rehabilitation counselors. Several important considerations are identified for Rehabilitation Counselor Education (RCE) program faculty opting for a specialization. Development of specialty tracks in psychiatric and developmental disabilities are offered as viable options for a master's degree program in rehabilitation counseling. Authors discuss a model using a collaborative capacity-building process in response to national and state needs of persons with disabilities relative to rehabilitation counseling specialization.

Rehabilitation research provides the foundation for effective services to persons with disabilities. As a required course by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accreditation standards, the research course in the rehabilitation counseling curriculum remains a difficult one for students, as direct application to practice is not readily apparent. This article provides a review of the CORE standards and recommended curriculum design for the research and program evaluation course. The application of evidence-based practice and program evaluation in rehabilitation counseling is discussed.

The 2004 Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards were revised to include Human Growth and Development (HGD) as a knowledge domain. The HGD domain introduces a significant amount of new content to the curriculum, including several topics that have not traditionally appeared in the rehabilitation counselor educational curriculum. Thus, this domain presents both an educational challenge and an educational and professional opportunity. Our purposes in this article are to review the place of HGD in the CORE curriculum and in rehabilitation counseling practice; to describe the HGD knowledge domain and its educational outcomes; and to discuss educational perspectives on this knowledge domain in the preservice curriculum. We propose that the inclusion of the HGD domain provides an opportunity for improving professional practice and for exploring our current and future professional roles.

A national sample of 21 international students in Rehabilitation Counseling Education (RCE) programs was surveyed on their connection to their programs, the stressors they experienced during graduate studies, and their recommendations for RCE programs to better support international students. Participants engaged in limited social activities due to time limitations, cultural and language barriers, and limited social opportunities. Further, participants suggested that RCE programs need to possess awareness and understanding of international student needs and offer assistance with social support, financial resources, career development, language skills, and cultural transitions. Implications and recommendations from the findings are offered.

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance has been explored by many research teams over the last 30 years. However, none of the prior studies explored the multitude of demographic variables that may influence VR acceptance and the possible interactions of those variables with VR acceptance. Extrapolating demographic variables from the national RSA-911 database of persons who sought vocational rehabilitation services, a Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) and the backwards elimination method of entry were used as the test statistic. Race, education, monthly public assistance at application, and marital status, respectively, were significantly correlated to VR acceptance. Implications for VR counselors and educators are discussed.

An ethics project is described that challenged students to collaborate with disability rights authorities to co-write a code of ethics for a Center of Independent Living. Experiential and reflective assignments analyzed how the construction of knowledge and language is never value-neutral, and people with disabilities need to have a voice in decisions that affect their lives. Insights from the project suggest considerations for teaching students to construct ethical knowledge that is empathetic and respectful to the culture for which a code of ethics will be applied, in this case, the experience of disability from a social model perspective.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that about 10% of the world's population has some kind of disability (Poverty and Disability, 2000), yet many of the individuals who live in developing nations lack access to rehabilitation services. In this paper the authors share their concerns and rationale regarding the role of the United States in preparing international students. Specific recommendations to promote the growth of international rehabilitation education and collaboration include (a) accelerating collaborative research and training activities, (b) coordinating international scholars exchange and internship programs, (c) advocating disability rights through political activism, (d) encouraging student involvement in non-governmental agencies, (e) emphasizing cultural sensitivity in rehabilitation education curriculum and research activities, and (f) reviving university-based international rehabilitation programs.

This article provides a historical overview of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). A review of the history of MSIs and their inception is covered. Also, trends in federal support for MSIs is provided to gain a better understanding of the importance of these institutions to the field of rehabilitation counseling. A historical perspective of rehabilitation counselor education programs is provided including the role of the Council on Rehabilitation Education. Implications for additional empirical research are provided.

Early definitions of cultural diversity focused primarily on race/ethnicity, with subsequent inclusion of age, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, geography, and a combination of positionalities. More recently, social justice has resurfaced as a component of cultural diversity to explain experiences of people of color, women, and marginalized groups. This article examines the movement to include cultural diversity and social justice in rehabilitation education, and offers a model for curriculum development in light of the new CORE standards.

A study of rehabilitation educators was conducted to ascertain their publication productivity, defined as number of published refereed journal articles. Participants included 93 faculty members representing 57 rehabilitation education programs. The mean number of total published refereed journal articles over a career was 27.97 for the entire group, 12.61 for assistant professors, 21.33 for associate professors, and 39.76 for full professors. The annual on average publication rate was 2.35 for the entire group, 4.37 for assistant professors, 1.85 for associate professors, and 1.86 for full professors. Rehabilitation educators may use this information to set personal publication goals. Administrators may use this information to evaluate and mentor faculty.

In the field of rehabilitation services, substance abuse counseling requires unique skills. Post-baccalaureate academic certificate programs offer professionals an opportunity to retool or expand their skills and meet licensure needs in this evolving field. East Carolina University's online Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate Program was established to address both changes to the state's certification and licensure requirements and workforce development needs. This article will describe the evolution and refinement of the certificate program.

This paper addresses the topic of assistive technology (AT) to offer a direction for its future role within the rehabilitation profession. A brief overview of the five AT legislative acts to date is provided. Next, future considerations for AT are offered in the context of what we know within the U.S. and global communities followed by the imperative to apply AT evenly to all types of disabilities as well as all groups defined by various demographic dimensions. Recommendations for improving the viability of research efforts for AT are provided along with several strategies for mainstreaming its role within graduate rehabilitation education programs to develop a future workforce that has a more astute understanding of AT and a greater inclination to use it. The current status of AT in producing clinical outcomes is discussed. Finally, frameworks for involving key stakeholder voices to holistically evaluate the success of AT policy as well as measure its impact are provided.

This study is a comparative analysis of the impact of traditional face-to-face training contrasted with a blended learning approach, as it relates to improving skills, knowledge and attitudes for enhancing practices for achieving improved employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The study included two intervention groups: one participated exclusively in a half-day traditional face-to-face training program entitled Disability is Diversity; the other participated in both the traditional program and also accessed a series of additional online tutorials to reinforce knowledge translation. The pre-/post-analysis of participants indicated a statistically significant increase in knowledge and intentions of improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities across both groups. A six-month post-training follow-up provided important details about the continued impact of training on improving employment for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, participants who participated in the blended learning model were more likely to advocate the use of leading practices compared to those who attended only the traditional program. Thus, use of a blended learning model appears to increase capacity building of practicing professionals as they approach employment issues for people with disabilities as an issue of diversity, leading toward improved employment outcomes.

This paper examines applications of action research to rehabilitation education. An overview of action research is provided, and specific examples of action research in rehabilitation and other professions are illustrated. Emphasis is placed on utilizing action research to evaluate teaching and student learning and develop scientist practitioners who engage in active self-reflection about their practices.

The historical evolution of the rehabilitation profession is addressed, and current issues facing rehabilitation educators and professionals are identified. Clearly, both our practice environments and our consumers are continuously evolving and becoming more diverse. Simultaneously, a need exists to be seen as a stable, unified profession. Specific issues including the continuing development of private rehabilitation licensure and accreditation, increasing consumer diversity, and movement toward evidence-based practices are identified as critical issues for rehabilitation educators and professionals.

This study was an exploratory investigation of the perceptions of current doctoral students and recent graduates from rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation psychology programs on professional identity, professional associations, and recruitment. These three issues were selected based on the likelihood that students and recent graduates would have a different perspective than current leaders who are in the process of addressing these issues and would provide useful information. Participants' professional identities varied, but most felt that a unified identity for the discipline is important; a high percentage of participants held membership in at least one professional association; and most participants reported a willingness to recommend a master's or doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling to a relative or friend.

The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) has taken a proactive stance on perceived test inequities of the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam as it relates to people who are prelingually deaf and hard of hearing. This article describes the process developed and implemented by the CRCC to help maximize test equity for this target group. Using recommendations from a group of national experts in deafness and rehabilitation, focus groups examined exam items considered linguistically difficult items for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and, from that effort, developed guidelines that could be used to address linguistic complexity concerns for future test items.

Positive and negative rehabilitation experiences as a child and as an adult are examined to assess their effect as a consumer of rehabilitation services and as a rehabilitation counselor educator. The importance of case management, social supports, and use of an individualized treatment approach to rehabilitation are highlighted. This article concludes with a discussion of teachable moments and lessons learned that should be beneficial to both rehabilitation counselor educators and their students.

Current distance learning technological advances allow real and virtual classrooms to unite. In this program evaluation study, focus group, participatory action, and qualitative research strategies (Yin, 1994) were used to explore the quality and benefits of infusing elements of three distance learning modalities into the traditional rehabilitation counseling classroom. Participants were students with multiple experiences in hybrid classes in which in-person instruction was integrated with at least one distance learning modality. The distance learning alternatives involved were interactive television, web-conferencing using a live stream from interactive television, the learning management system (e. g., Blackboard) and/or the collaboration platform or enhancement to learning management system (e. g., Elluminate). Student feedback was generated on the quality and effectiveness of hybrid models, as well as on the benefits and advantages of these models for rehabilitation education in the rural area served. Results indicate that the modalities can be integrated while maintaining discernible quality and learning effectiveness. Most notably, hybrid models may have distinct advantages over the traditional classroom in isolated rural regions and students who for a variety of reasons find it difficult to meet in traditional classrooms. Students with specialized interests can be linked to each other and to needed resources.

Distance education is constantly evolving and improving. To stay current, effective online instructors must utilize the most innovative, evidence-based teaching methods available to promote student learning and satisfaction in their courses. One emerging teaching method, referred to as blended online learning (BOL), involves collaborative education across multiple university settings. In this article, we describe an inter-university educational collaboration designed to connect students from various academic institutions using the BOL teaching method. The article begins with an overview of the theoretical framework that informs the BOL method, followed by an overview of the method and its key components. Benefits of this collaborative learning effort to students, educators, universities, and the profession are also provided. The article culminates with implications for using the BOL method with rehabilitation educators, including collaborative teaching tips for working in educator and student teams.

The special education and rehabilitation literature is replete with articles examining transition planning, services and supports; however, transition models have typically been developed for the school context and not focused on other transition team members. These school-based models are important; however, models developed from the perspectives of other key partners could provide valuable insight and enhance transition team functioning. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) professionals are often the only link that transition programs have to employment; therefore, VR counselor perceptions of essential competency domains need to be understood by both school and adult agency professionals alike. This study collected data from 291 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors from three Midwestern states. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify an underlying transition domain structure. Seven transition domains areas are presented and conferred. Implications and proposed directions for future research are discussed.

Applied training of pre-practicum, practicum, and internship are important gateway experiences for rehabilitation counselors-in-training. Counselor educators and supervisors must be aware of requirements and expectations of counselor-in-training supervision and common ethical issues specific to these clinical experiences of rehabilitation counselors-in-training and their supervisors/faculty. The authors identify and discuss the CORE standards for practicum and internship in the preparation of rehabilitation counselors. Information is presented on the preparation phase, mandatory aspects of fieldwork and implications for curriculum standards, as well as supervision, and ethical and legal issues.

We reviewed 11 well-recognized counseling theories, seeking those that best fit requirements of rehabilitation counselors and clients. We looked specifically for methods that were goal-oriented, supported counselor-client collaboration, and were person-centered, brief, and evidence based. Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) fit our criteria on four of five dimensions. We describe these two counseling modalities and illustrate techniques, using hypothetical examples from rehabilitation counseling contexts, and provide specific recommendations for rehabilitation educators.

This article provides suggestions for curriculum modifications that may be necessary to meet the new Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) Standard C.9, Medical, Functional, and Environmental Implications of Disability. Specifically addressed are (a) goals and objectives for meeting the new standards, (b) suggestions for new curricular units, (c) teaching strategies to convey new and revised content, (d) methods for assessing outcomes, and (e) primary resources for instructors and students. A discussion of conclusions and future issues is also presented.

Labor Market Survey (LMS) and labor market analysis knowledge and methodologies are minimum competencies expected of rehabilitation counselors through credentialing and accreditation boards. However, LMS knowledge and methodology is an example of a contemporary oral tradition that is universally recognized in rehabilitation and disability services but that the literature fails to document its use or to offer commonly accepted methodologies. This article proposes a definition of LMS as it is used in these services given the survey of small population censuses or samples as well as to apply the best practices accepted in survey research to offer a 12-step model to assist rehabilitation and disability practitioners to develop more valid and reliable LMSs for vocational exploration, plan development and support, job placement, or in determining employability, placeability, and earning capacity. The 12-step LMS model is the first comprehensive theoretical method offered in the rehabilitation counseling literature that introduces a dynamic and flexible framework of primary data collection of labor market information that could be utilized in clinical and forensic practice with highly heterogeneous population of individuals with disabilities in order to meet the minimum credentialing and accreditation competencies expected of those entering the field of rehabilitation counseling.

The present study explored whether students would be attracted to having an intimate relationship with a wheelchair user if participants were able to first see a head shot photo and later read a short biography of the person. Four hundred and eight undergraduate students were surveyed regarding their interest in potentially being friends, dating or marrying a wheelchair user. Sixty-six percent indicated they would have no problem dating and/or marrying a wheelchair user. A MANOVA revealed significant differences between gender, type of relationship, and experience with a prior disability relationship. Personal characteristics of intelligence, humor and appearance rated most highly. Those unwilling to date and/or marry their selection cited that the partner would be too much work, interaction would be awkward, and the partner would be sick often. Educators may benefit from training counselors about misconceptions regarding sexuality, whereas counselors can role play and provide clients with insights regarding societal beliefs.

Assessment represents a foundational component of rehabilitation counseling services. The revised Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards implemented in 2004 resulted in the redesign of the knowledge and outcomes under the Assessment standard. The author reviews the current CORE standard for training in assessment within the context of rehabilitation counselors’ roles as informed consumers of assessment. Further, the author reviews current educational practices and evaluation methods intended to develop competency in assessment. An alternative framework for providing training in assessment is provided.

This study examined which of two training models delivered through the internet led to better cultural competence in resolving ethical dilemmas with a sample of rehabilitation professionals. One type of training involved teaching a transcultural integrative model of ethical decision-making while the other training involved using the same transcultural model plus providing additional multicultural counseling theory concepts. Results showed that while both models resulted in significantly higher competence in resolving ethical dilemmas over time, there was no difference in competence ratings between training programs. Theoretical and practical implications are provided.

This article describes direct and applied applications of Council on Rehabilitation Education standards across the educational continuum, including undergraduate studies in rehabilitation services, master's degree programs in rehabilitation counseling, doctoral programs in rehabilitation counselor education and rehabilitation psychology, and professional development and continuing educational programs.

In 2007, we offered an innovative blended graduate level rehabilitation counseling course. The course was delivered online and in Hong Kong. It included readings, PowerPoint presentations and discussion board features on Blackboard, as well as face-to-face lectures and guest speakers in a classroom context at the City University of Hong Kong. Additionally, students were required to visit various psychiatric rehabilitation and mental health programs throughout Hong Kong, and participation in the 2007 World Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health. Two faculty members and 13 students spenta total of 10 days in Hong Kong. The authors discuss the development and delivery of the course including course design, content, delivery methods and logistics. Implications are explored for teaching innovation in rehabilitation education.

This study examines 137 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors' perceptions of the value of having the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential. While almost 53% of this sample included persons who were certified, the majority who were not indicated that the two major reasons for not currently having this designation were: (a) it was not required to be employed as a state VR counselor and (b) they planned to get it. In terms of perceived encouragement by master's degree program faculty to pursue the CRC credential, results reveal that for this group of vocational rehabilitation counselors, this influence did not have a substantial impact on CRC obtainment. Implications for the rehabilitation counseling field/education are discussed.

The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) CORE revised the standards for rehabilitation counseling master's degree program accreditation in 2004. These standards seek to promote effective rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities in both private and public programs (CORE, 2008). This article focuses on the new CORE standard knowledge domain C: Employment and Career Development and its application for rehabilitation counselor educators. The issues of employment and career development have been major factors in the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling from its inception. As a key knowledge domain in the new CORE standards, competence in this domain is integral to preparation for the CRC exam and essential to incorporate in existing rehabilitation counseling graduate programs.

Individuals with disabilities have lower rates of workforce participation and lower earnings than their nondisabled peers. This article traces the history of the U.S. workforce development policy framework, including the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the impact of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 on both of these policies. Reviewing literature and administrative data, we discuss how these policies have impacted current rehabilitation practice and identify remaining service delivery gaps. We conclude with a set of recommendations for enhancing the current workforce development policy and practice environment.

The Working Alliance, consisting of building bonds, establishing goals, and developing tasks, has been deemed the cornerstone of helping professions, and has been found to significantly and reliably predict client outcomes. The importance of client characteristics and perceptions of working alliance has been established in the literature. Less is known about service provider qualities that impact the working alliance. This study utilized 104 rehabilitation service providers to assess the impact of education, work experience, and disability category on working alliance efficacy. Results indicate that rehabilitation service providers with more education had significantly higher working alliance efficacy pertaining to clients with physical disability. This suggests that master level rehabilitation service providers have greater confidence to build bonds, identify goals, and structure tasks when working with clients with physical disabilities. No differences were found between education groups on working alliance efficacy for psychiatric disability. Work experience was found to relate to working alliance efficacy for physical disability, not psychiatric disability. The results of this study provide initial support for the notion that rehabilitation service providers with more education and more work experience demonstrate a more effective working alliance in their efforts with clients who have physical disabilities. The non significant differences in psychiatric disability working alliance scores among service providers with varying education levels and work experience may be indicative of provider stigma or burnout when working with this population.

Assistive technology (AT) benefits many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The appropriate application of accommodation solutions, whether they involve the use of AT or not, can be a complex process involving a team of people with various backgrounds. This article describes an in-service AT training program that was developed for case managers (CMs) serving individuals with IDD. The article goes on to describe results of the course evaluations designed to measure participant knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to the application of AT in developing accommodation solutions for individuals with IDD. Results indicate that CMs saw limited financial resources as a significant barrier to obtaining appropriate accommodations. However, CMs also felt better equipped to identify appropriate AT accommodation solutions and were more likely to apply AT solutions following completion of the training program.

Counselor education programs across the country often fail to attract, enroll and graduate students in proportion that reflects the diversity of the nation. As our country's demography changes, the impact of race and ethnicity within the client-counselor relationship is likely to have greater importance and, as such, counselor education programs must ensure a diverse group of students and graduates. Accordingly, counseling programs must recruit, retain and graduate minority students. This article reviews information concerning (a) the increasing diversity within the country and, in particular, student enrollment in post-secondary educational programs; (b) the importance of having a diverse counselor education student body; and (c), a minority student recruitment and retention model currently being used by a Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredited program.

The Affordable Care Act includes many new provisions for long-term services and supports (LTSS). Among these are several new options, improvements, and incentives within Medicaid to balance service systems and expand access to home and community-based services. In addition, the Affordable Care Act authorizes the establishment of a new voluntary national long-term care insurance program, the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program. This article discusses some of the major provisions and implementation. It also examines how the major principles of rehabilitation counseling are central to advancing LTSS policy and how rehabilitation counselors can play a key role in ensuring quality LTSS services for persons with disabilities.