Purpose

We applied Barnes’s self-efficacy enhancement approach (e.g., mastery experiences, vicarious learning, verbal persuasion, and perceptions of psychological states) to two separate evaluation studies focused on teaching career counseling to master’s level rehabilitation counselors-in-training and doctoral level counselor educators-in-training.

Methods

Study 1 employed a pre/post, single group design with 24 master’s level rehabilitation counselors-in-training. Study 2 employed a longitudinal, single group design with 13 counselor education doctoral students. Students in each study participated in a 14-week semester-length career counseling course designed using Barnes’s self-efficacy enhancement approach. In both studies, students participated in a mini-practicum, completed several measures of self-efficacy and perceived competence during multiple time points across the semester.

Results

Findings from Study 1 indicated an increase in career counseling self-efficacy and helping skills self-efficacy. Findings from Study 2 indicated an increase in career counseling self-efficacy and perceived counseling skills when working with people with disabilities.

Conclusion

Findings from Study 1 and Study 2 support Barnes’s self-efficacy enhancement approach when teaching career counseling to rehabilitation counselors-in-training and doctoral students in counselor education.

PURPOSE

Understanding the career decision self-efficacy and outcome expectations of college students with disabilities (CSWD) are important to ensure their career-related activities participation and transition into the workforce. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the influences of disability identity, ethnic identity, perceptions of career barriers, and social supports on the career decision self-efficacy and outcome expectations of CSWD.

METHOD

The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design and the sample consisted of 312 CSWD recruited at two 4-year universities in Midwestern and Southeastern areas. A series of hierarchical regression analyses was used to examine the factors, including disability identity, ethnic identity, social support, perceived career barriers, ethnicity, gender, and disability types affect career decision self-efficacy, and career outcome expectations of CSWD.

RESULTS

The results showed that 30.1% of variability, F(7, 248) = 15.272, p < .001, in career decision self-efficacy was explained by disability identity, ethnic identity, social support, perceived career barriers, ethnicity, gender, and disability type. Social support was the largest contributor to career decision self-efficacy. In addition, 56.1% of variability, F(8, 247) = 39.433, p < .001, in career outcome expectations was explained by disability identity, ethnic identity, social support, perceived career barriers, career decision self-efficacy, ethnicity and gender. Career decision self-efficacy was the largest contributor to career outcome expectations.

CONCLUSIONS

Several implications for rehabilitation professionals, educators, and researchers are provided.

First, the intersection of social identities (i.e., disability identity and ethnicity identity) requires increased attention in the rehabilitation fields. Sociocultural backgrounds and diverse identities are factors that have been identified as influencing career development of CSWD. Rehabilitation counselors and relevant professionals can play critical roles in supporting and empowering CSWD to develop positive disability and ethnic identities within the postsecondary education environments. Second, appropriate social support from family, peers, faculty, and disability service specialists, inclusive campus climate, and career-related development support in postsecondary education are essential for positive career outcomes of CSWD. Lastly, the effective career services could assist underrepresented CSWD building a sense of identity, confidence, and beliefs of competencies for career decisions and career outcomes, also, eliminate perceptions of career barriers attributing to intersecting multiple identities.

Purpose

The purpose of this in-depth case study was to better understand how practices, policies, and structures contributed to a large health care organization’s track record of hiring, training, and retaining persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Method

We conducted in-depth interviews with 63 key informants across four hospitals in the hospital system. Within each site, we recruited participants from multiple-levels of the organization to understand the complexity of employment practices. Content analysis was used to analyze participant response to open-ended questions.

Results

Providing appropriate supports, including clearly defined job roles that are aligned with employee abilities, ongoing coaching and support, and purposeful efforts to integrate PWDs into the broader organization, are important elements of ongoing success. Invested leadership, alignment across organizational structures, and building partnerships with organizations with knowledge and skill in supporting PWDs are additional critical success factors.

Conclusions

Findings indicate that it is imperative for organizations wishing to strengthen their hiring practices for PWDs to develop a culture that embraces a person-first approach. As evidenced here, in an environment where all employees feel supported, valued, and as if there is room for growth, there is opportunity for employees with disabilities to be viewed through a positive, developmental, and generous lens.

Purpose

The present article provides a narrative review of Australia’s approach toward acquired brain injury (ABI) and proposes how Australia and the United States can collaborate to improve service delivery for persons with ABI and their families with epidemiology, healthcare, prevention, research, and training.

Method

A narrative review of journal articles, government documents, and websites was completed to present a broad overview of Australia’s approach toward meeting the needs of persons with ABI.

Results

The narrative review and synthesis of publications were summarized into the following categories: a) overview of ABI in Australia, b) long-term care government programs, c) services and advocacy, d) research and training, and e) recommendations for Australian-U.S. collaborations.

Conclusion

The current time presents an opportunity for Australia and the United States to collaboratively address areas of common ABI need by dialogue, collaboration, and academic engagement, which may lead to better outcomes for persons with ABI by the sharing of research findings, service approaches, advocacy efforts, and rehabilitation counselor training. Rehabilitation counselors in Australia and the United States should lead the process of collaboration and engagement around common areas of ABI need.

Purpose

This article provided a comprehensive overview of the available peer-reviewed and grey literature on the current status of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and small African American-owned technology firms participation in the federal assistive technology research and development (AT-R&D) enterprise.

Method

Authors completed a historical review of the existing literature on HBCUs' participation in STEM academic pathways to AT-R&D; the contextual framework for HBCUs federal R&D barriers; STEM pathways to small African American Technology Entrepreneurship; and small African American-owned technology firms AT-R&D participation barriers.

Results

Overall, the review illuminated participation barriers experienced; exacerbated in part by narrow STEM pathways designed to help African American students successfully matriculate in related disciplines, institutional systematic barriers, a lack of funding priorities within federal research agencies, and the oversight of African American entrepreneurs in AT.

Conclusions

The authors presented recommendations that might be useful for developing proactive academic pipelines to AT-R&D. The literature review is among the first to examine HBCUs' participation in STEM pathways to federally-funded AT-R&D.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore caregiver and family quality of life in families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To better understand the experience of caregivers and families of children with ASD, a family systems perspective using constructs from a psychosocial adjustment model of disability (i.e., role impact as the independent variable and relationship satisfaction and mastery as mediator variables) was studied to explain caregiver and family quality of life.

Method

Hayes’ PROCESS macro was used to determine the variance of caregiver and family quality of life accounted for by the predictor variables.

Results

The results indicated that the models explained 52.3% of the variance in caregiver quality of life and 44.4% of the variance in family quality of life.

Conclusions

The findings of this study expand the current literature on caregivers of children with ASD, and the important variables to consider related to caregiver quality of life and family quality of life. Implications for rehabilitation research (e.g., increased need for a focus on family variables across research agendas) and practice (e.g., increase need for family-oriented interventions) are discussed.

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the workplace discrimination experiences of individuals with disabilities residing in the Midwest by exploring their allegations filed under Title I of the ADA from 1992 through 2016.

Objective

The goals of this article are to describe region- and state-level patterns in workplace discrimination and to provide valuable information to stakeholders to better understand and address the issues within their respective areas of practice.

Methods

Using population level data of every available closed discrimination allegation filed under Title I of the ADA from its effectuation (January 26, 1992) through the most recent available data (December 31, 2016), descriptive statistics were obtained for each state within the Midwest for each of the five specific research questions. Data for each state represent the overall frequencies and proportions for each state and are presented in the context of their respective national and regional rankings for comparison purposes.

Results

Results for each state for each variable of consideration (i.e., allegation, CP disability type, prongs allegations, discrimination allegation type, and merit closures) are presented in tables for ease of comparison. Next steps and suggested questions for discussion are presented.

Purpose

This study explored the acceptability and practicality of implementing a Direct Skills Teaching (DST) approach to increase job interview preparation for individuals who were receiving state vocational rehabilitation (VR) services in four states.

Method

Counselors-in-training facilitated a four-session curriculum teaching “Presenting Qualifications” during job interviews to 137 individuals in 25 groups settings. Pre- and post-group 10-item questionnaires of skill acquisition, and a post-group satisfaction survey with open-ended questions were administered. Descriptive statistics and a nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for data analyses.

Results

All 10 items of the pre- and post-group questionnaire comparisons yielded significant improvement in the skill of “Presenting Qualifications” after group intervention. The satisfaction survey also indicated the positive experiences of participants.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate the feasibility of a structured DST curriculum in teaching job interview skills to people with disabilities (including transition age youth) served by state VR agencies.

Purpose

To explore Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ (VRCs) perceptions and experiences in utilizing career theories suggested by Easter and Gaertner (2009) when providing vocational guidance and career counseling to clients with a criminal record. Results from this research will provide insight to current and prospective VRCs in their practice and heighten educators’ and supervisors’ awareness of VRCs’ experience using career theories.

Methods

Six Louisiana VRCs with at least two years of experience working with clients who had a criminal background were interviewed twice using heuristic inquiry. This qualitative method relies on researchers’ ability to discover and interpret their own experiences while exploring others’ experiences. The data were analyzed by performing both opened-coding and axial-coding.

Results

Four major themes were revealed from this qualitative study: (1) expectations, (2) autonomy, (3) counselor development, and (4) fidelity to career theories. Upon further analysis, the emergent theory suggested incongruence of theory and practice amongst participating VRCs. Findings suggest VRCs working with clients with criminal backgrounds do not feel their academic training has prepared them to use career theories with this population effectively.

Conclusion

When the participants apply the career theories suggested by Easter and Gaertner to clients with a criminal record, they perceive them to be ineffective. Therefore, this study serves as a baseline for additional research and suggests additional training may be necessary for VRCs who work with clients with a criminal background.

Purpose

The role of rehabilitation counseling in addressing major public health issues is an emerging area in the field. Despite higher rates of disease burden among currently or formerly incarcerated people, the syndemic effects of incarceration has received little attention. This article outlines how to think of incarceration from a syndemic perspective.

Method

The authors of this article draw upon syndemic theory to 1) describe the social determinants of health that lead to a greater risk of incarceration of people with substance use disorders (SUD), mental illness (MI), and infectious diseases (ID), 2) describe the syndemic impact of incarceration leading to more significant levels of disability for these populations, and 3) discuss implications for rehabilitation counseling professionals.

Results

This article highlights that incarceration may interact synergistically in various syndemics, having an exacerbated health and economic effects on individuals who are/were incarcerated, their families, and communities.

Conclusions

By employing stigma reduction strategies, advocating for prevention and treatment services, and addressing social determinants of health, rehabilitation counseling professionals have a substantial role to play in mitigating the syndemic impact of incarceration on people with SUD, MI, and ID.

Purpose

Despite federal legislation requiring youth engagement in their transition planning, students with disabilities continue to be passive partners in this transition process, under informed about the process and future possibilities, and with goals misaligned with their hopes. Students with specific disabilities and those who are English learners, Black, Indigenous, and from communities of color are even more impacted by the lack of active opportunities to provide direction on their futures.

Method

The authors conducted a scoping literature review of youth engagement in the transition process for students served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Results

A shift towards active engagement for students in the transition process is critical. Inequitable experiences in that process exist for students based on individual and environmental characteristics. Active engagement will require direct, deliberate instruction and amelioration of structural barriers.

Conclusions

As a bridge between school years and adult environments, vocational rehabilitation counselors have an important role in supporting the engagement of students in transition planning as they learn and practice self-determination and self-advocacy skills to lead planning towards their future.

Background

Emerging adults, the developmental period ranging from the late teens through the 20s, experience chronic pain at an estimated rate of 7.6%–14.3% and report greater pain interference (i.e., pain that disrupts daily life activities) than middle-aged or older adults. Chronic pain can interfere with the completion of developmental tasks associated with biological, psychological, occupational, and social changes necessary to move from emerging adulthood into young adulthood. For these reasons, the impact of chronic pain may be more detrimental for emerging adults than for middle-aged and older adults.

Objective

To investigate the unique characteristics and vocational rehabilitation needs of emerging adults with chronic pain and to identify and implement policies, practices, and interventions that facilitate the achievement of vocational rehabilitation consumer’s self-determined goals.

Methods

The authors reviewed the literature on (a) common conditions that cause chronic pain in emerging adults, (b) the populations most at risk of experiencing chronic pain in emerging adulthood, (c) psychosocial aspects of chronic pain for this population, (d) vocational impact of chronic pain on emerging adults, and (e) the use of the disability centrality model to guide assessment and planning.

Conclusion

This literature review examines best practices related to vocational rehabilitation and emerging adults living with chronic pain. Comprehensive recommendations are provided that inform all phases of the vocational rehabilitation planning process, including services related to outreach and eligibility, counseling and guidance, physical and mental restoration, post-secondary education, job development and placement, and accommodation planning.

Purpose

Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represent an emerging vocational rehabilitation (VR) clientele.

Method

Following an overview of the etiology, incidence, prevalence, and impact of RA, the authors present strategies to meet the service and support needs of Americans with RA across the phases of the VR process.

Results

The importance of individualized case planning, employer consultation, workplace accommodations, interface with medical and mental health professionals, and adherence to social distancing requirements resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic is emphasized throughout the article.

Conclusions

RA is an emerging disability that can affect people at any age, and rehabilitation counselors must be prepared to meet the service needs of this growing clientele.

Purpose

This study aimed at examining differences in satisfaction with the employment situation between employed and unemployed Latinx with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States (N = 148).

Method

Participants in this study responded to a national survey of the employment and community living concerns of people with MS. Multivariate analysis of variance and a follow-up univariate analysis of variance were conducted to compare the group differences.

Results

The analyses revealed statistically significant between-group differences in satisfaction ratings on items pertaining to personal and environmental resources and fair treatment, but no significant between-group differences in response to items related to legal rights.

Conclusion

The findings in this study confirmed our a priori expectation that satisfaction ratings regarding the overall employment situation among Latinx Americans with MS would vary as a function of their workforce participation status. Implications for future research and clinical practice in vocational rehabilitation in the COVID-19 era are discussed.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine whether functional limitations mediate the relation between PTSD symptoms and college life adjustment in student veterans with PTSD symptoms.

Methods

A total of 232 student veterans with PTSD symptoms were recruited for this study. Participants were predominantly male (84.5%; females = 15.5%). Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 54 years (M = 28.43, SD = 5.42). Correlational analyses were conducted to calculate the relationships among study variables. We also conducted a mediation analysis to examine whether functional limitations mediate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and college life adjustment.

Results

The mediation analysis indicated that the effect of PTSD symptoms on college adjustment can be partially explained by functional limitations.

Conclusion

Our results have potentially important implications for rehabilitation counseling researchers and clinicians in the COVID-19 era.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide rehabilitation counselors an overview of the benefits of the community college system as an option that veterans with service-connected disabilities should consider in helping to make the transition from military to civilian life. We describe veterans with service-connected disabilities, the reasons to consider community colleges instead of 4-year universities, and community college supports for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Method

Through a narrative review approach, we synthesized a collection of research articles, government reports, and websites to describe the academic and career development needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities and how community colleges are an effective option to meet these needs. Our approach toward analyzing the article's source materials was informed in part by our military/veteran-related lived experiences.

Results

We provide six recommendations for rehabilitation counselors who support veterans with service-connected disabilities with educational goals. These include gaining knowledge of community college options; understanding funding options for veterans; knowledge of military-friendly community college settings; collaborating with institutional colleagues; understanding on-campus supports for disability-related needs; and continuing education on veterans' issues.

Conclusions

We conclude rehabilitation counselors should be familiar with the benefits of the community college setting for veterans with service-connected disabilities to facilitate educational goals and transition to civilian life.

Background

While rehabilitation counseling programs often stress the importance of self-care strategies, which are considered as being both ethically and personally imperative, the integration of direct instruction around these strategies has often been eclipsed by the academic demands of rehabilitation counselor education programs (Tarrasch, 2015), leaving new rehabilitation counselors with the added responsibility of exploring, identifying, and practicing these self-care activities during a time of transition and steep learning curves.

Purpose

This article reviews the literature surrounding the multilayered phenomena of counselor stress and burnout, with particular attention to the field of rehabilitation counseling; it then recommends a new paradigm shift for incorporating self-care into rehabilitation counseling programs, specifically in the areas of programmatic interventions, classroom curriculum and techniques, practicum and internship supervision, and professional identity and postgraduation. The article also discusses applying self-care strategies in individualized and culturally sensitive ways.

Conclusion

It is time to formally integrate self-care training and planning into rehabilitation counselor education programs. Ultimately, the trainee-centered self-care initiatives will positively impact future rehabilitation counselors, the clients they serve, the agencies they work for, and the rehabilitation counseling profession as a whole.

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to develop a Daily Life Education Program for institutionalized individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Method

The system approach-based program development model was used in the study. This model includes three steps: (a) defining the problem, (b) development, and (c) assessment. In the first phase of the study, the members of the program advisory committee were identified, and the problems related to the daily life of the individuals with intellectual disabilities who reside in public care and rehabilitation centers were defined, and a work plan was developed. During the development phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 61 caregivers, professionals, and administrators employed in 10 public care and rehabilitation centers in seven regions in Turkey.

Results

The assessment results demonstrated that content validity was obtained for all 232 program objectives.

Conclusions

This study's main conclusion underline the necessity of a well-designed and well-organized life system that combines structured daily life skills training and leisure time activities for individuals with intellectual disabilities during their adulthood with the supports provided and coordinated by qualified experts and assistant personnel.

Background

Enhancing career self-efficacy and social cognitive career theory factors will improve goal persistence and job place of African American college students with disabilities.

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Career Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) in a sample of African American college students with disabilities.

Method

Participants were recruited from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in a Southern state. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to investigate the measurement structure of the CSES.

Results/Findings

Three-factor solution accounted for 66.85% of the total variance. The three CSES factors were labeled as (a) job performance efficacy, (b) job seeking efficacy, and (c) emotional efficacy. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for these three factors were high ranging from .82 to .91. Career self-efficacy was positively and significantly associated with career outcome expectations and goal persistence. These findings provide support for the construct validity of the CSES.

Conclusion

The CSES is a psychometrically sound instrument that can be used to assess career self-efficacy, an important construct of the Social Cognitive Career Theory, to help African American college students with disabilities to persist in college and find gainful employment.

Purpose

As the disability community holds a larger presence in the United States, the needs become more apparent. Researchers in collaboration with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation looked to find the most pressing needs of the paralysis community—inclusive of persons with paralysis, family members/caregivers of persons with paralysis, and professionals working with persons with paralysis.

Methods

As part of an online needs assessment survey, respondents were asked to identify which topics were most important to them from 25 issues. Data was received and analyzed from 237 valid and unique responses.

Results

The top ranked issue for each group were as follows: (a) Persons with Paralysis—Public Accessibility, Inclusion, and Universal Design; (b) Family Members/Caregivers—Prevention of Secondary Conditions; and (c) Professionals—Rehabilitation.

Conclusions

It is essential to consider the priority areas from the U.S. paralysis community when embarking on new policy initiatives and when advocating for changes to existing policy.

Purpose

Four African American women with multiple sclerosis (MS) participated in an evaluation of barriers to their continued employment.

Methods

A trained interviewer completed the Work Experience Survey (WES) in teleconsultation sessions with each participant to identify their: (a) barriers to worksite access, (b) difficulties performing essential functions of their positions, (c) concerns regarding continued mastery of their careers, and (d) extent of job satisfaction.

Results

Resulting largely from the physiological, sensory, and cognitive sequelae of their disease, participants reported a wide range of difficulties in performing essential functions of their jobs (15–45) that have the potential to significantly affect their productivity. Career mastery problems reflected issues associated with MS such as “believing that others think I do a good job” and “having the resources (e.g., knowledge, tools, supplies, and equipment) needed to do the job.” Other career mastery concerns reflected idiosyncratic aspects of a specific job setting such as “being able to speak with my supervisor about promotion.” Considering these barriers and relationships with employers, the majority of participants reported low levels of job satisfaction.

Conclusion

The interviewer concluded the WES interview by recommending a job accommodation plan, which included suggestions from Job Accommodation Network (JAN) consultants. The interviewer also offered guidelines for the employee to follow in requesting job modifications and assistive technology.

Purpose

We explored the relationships between positive human traits and positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement (PERMA) the core elements for Seligman's model of happiness and well-being.

Method

Two hundred and five student veterans (147 males and 58 females; 80 with service-related disability) were recruited from several colleges and universities across the United States. Participants completed positive human traits measures on resilience, hope, optimism, attachment, and coping, along with the PERMA Profiler that measures the five core elements of the well-being theory. Correlational techniques and canonical correlation analysis were computed to examine the canonical relationship between positive human traits and PERMA variables.

Results

Overall, the positive human traits set accounted for 37% of the variance in the PERMA set, whereas the PERMA set accounted for 51% of the variance in the positive human traits set.

Conclusions

The research findings suggest that human traits can be conceptualized as building blocks for PERMA, and PERMA are the core elements for happiness and well-being. Importantly, student veterans with disabilities had significantly lower resilience, secure attachment and PERMA scores. Positive psychology interventions to help student veterans, especially students with service-related disabilities, develop character strengths, and PERMA could improve college life adjustment and goal persistence of student veterans.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore how the functional impact of Parkinson's disease affects participation and to evaluate whether positive psychological capital (PsyCap) mediates the relationship within the context of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Model.

Method

Survey responses were analyzed from 144 adults with Parkinson's disease using a quantitative, correlational research design employing multiple regression and hierarchical regression analysis to examine hypothesized relationships.

Results

The results of the correlation analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant, moderate-to-strong positive correlation between functioning and PsyCap and participation. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that functioning accounted for 65% of the variance in participation. Although PsyCap was associated with participation, no mediating effect was observed.

Conclusions

The results are consistent with traditional clinical judgment that physical functioning is positively correlated with participation. This study represents the first evaluation of the role of PsyCap in people with Parkinson's disease, and the results of the correlational analysis suggest that continued investigation of these relationships is warranted.

Background

Parkinson's disease results in a variety of motor and non-motor features that frequently result in reduced participation in valued life activities.

Background

Research evidence supports the assertion that healthy employees are happier and more productive. Employers prefer to hire healthy workers to reduce absenteeism. Rehabilitation counselors have started to explore health promotion interventions to help individuals with chronic health conditions and disability improve their physical and mental health as a strategy to increase their employment opportunities.

Purpose

The present study evaluated a self-determination theory (SDT) model of physical activity and exercise in a sample of 218 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain using structural equation modeling.

Results

The SDT model fit the data well, accounting for 54% of the variance in physical activity and exercise. Relatedness was significantly associated with autonomous motivation for physical activity and exercise. Autonomous motivation was associated with competency. Competency was associated with physical activity and exercise. Autonomous motivation and competency mediated relatedness and physical activity and exercise.

Implications

This study contributes to an emerging body of theory-informed health promotion literature and identifies the specific pathways that will increase the motivation to engage in physical activity and exercise. Findings can be used to design and validate theory-driven health promotion interventions as an employment strategy for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain receiving vocational rehabilitation services.

Purpose

The current study examined the relationships between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and social determinants of health (SDH), which are the individual and structural factors that contribute to health outcomes.

Method

A hierarchical general linear model was used to assess the sequential effect of the SDH on the scores of the Short Form-12 among people living with HIV.

Results

Results show that many psychosocial, medical, demographic, financial, and vocational factors are significant predictors of HRQOL.

Conclusions

Gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of SDH on HRQOL is critical for rehabilitation counselors to develop effective assessments and interventions.

Background

In exploring the matter of sensory loss and job discrimination, the National EEOC ADA Research Project (NEARP) seeks to answer a singular question.

Objective

How do persons with hearing loss (HL) vs. visual loss (VL) experience the nature and scope of workplace discrimination differently, if at all?

Methods

The NEARP team uses an ex post facto, causal comparative quantitative design that includes descriptive and inferential, nonparametric statistics. Closed EEOC files involving ADA allegations of workplace discrimination filed by Americans with Hearing Loss (HL, N = 21,847) and Vision Loss (VL, N = 16,136) were compared in terms of demographics, issues, and investigatory outcomes.

Results

HL and VL groups show Demographic differences to one another and to population statistics of sensory impairment in the areas of Gender and Race/Ethnicity. Regarding Issues, HL and VL groups are different from one another with respect to several prevalent matters (i.e., Discharge, Reasonable Accommodation) and small-scale matters (i.e., Hiring and Terms/Conditions). With respect to the Merit of allegations following EEOC investigation, HL and VL are very similar.

Conclusion

Workplace discrimination is experienced differently for Charging Parties who experience HL vs. VL. Moreover, important differences exist Charging Parties from both sensory impairments vs. those from a General Disability Population.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measurement structure of a simplified version of the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale (MSSMS) in a sample of 256 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

Exploratory factor analysis was utilized to uncover meaningful and interpretable factors.

Results

The study yielded three factors as both meaningful and interpretable (medication compliance, MS knowledge, and health maintenance behavior). These factors are reliable and correlated with functional disability and community participation in the theoretically expected directions.

Conclusion

Results show the MSSMS to be a promising rehabilitation assessment tool for individuals with MS and rehabilitation counselors to evaluate self-management support needs in the interview, assessment, and rehabilitation planning protocols.

Purpose

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a multifaceted disorder, and the specific diagnostic criteria developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which highlight symptoms of CPTSD (i.e., affect dysregulation, negative self-concept, disturbed relationships), that occur along with PTSD symptoms speak to this. Understanding the disorder itself and its ramifications is essential as our society is exposed to seemingly more and more traumatic and long-lasting events, all of which may lead to an increase in the number of overall cases. CPTSD is characterized by changes in three primary areas of the brain – hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)– which are usually smaller in individuals with CPTSD, and there are certain subsets of individuals who have an increased likelihood of developing this disorder (e.g., individuals with physical and psychiatric disabilities, children exposed to long-term trauma).

Method

The authors conducted a scoping literature review on CPTSD, treatment approaches for individuals with CPTSD, and rehabilitation implications.

Results

Treatment for CPTSD is generally more extensive than treatment for PTSD and should be made available for those in need. There is a dearth of research on this topic in the rehabilitation literature; however, disability research has consistently shown that employment plays a huge role in successful recovery among individuals with psychiatric disabilities, which includes CPTSD.

Conclusion

In order to ensure client success, rehabilitation counselors, educators, and researchers must understand the complexities associated with CPTSD and then how to best go about incorporating this information into individual plans for employment and our classrooms as well as making research in this area a priority for the field.

Purpose

Coworkers' positive attitudes toward working with people with disabilities is vital for the successful and long-term employment of people with disabilities. The purpose of the present study was to examine the organizational factors associated with working with individuals with disabilities.

Method

This was accomplished by sampling coworkers without disabilities (N = 262) using hierarchical regression analysis.

Results

The perceived benefits of having workers with disabilities in the workforce was found to be the strongest predictor for positive attitude toward working with people with disabilities, followed by good health mission and do good expectations.

Conclusions

The findings of this study will contribute to developing effective interventions to enhance employee's positive attitude toward working with people with disabilities.

Background

Research indicates that transition-age youth with disabilities face several obstacles with regard to finding employment. However, research on the extent to which barriers and facilitators differ across disability types and contexts is lacking.

Objective

The primary purpose of this qualitative study was to understand employment-related challenges encountered by a cross-section of transition-age youth with disabilities across multiple settings. In addition, the study also examined transition-aged youth's knowledge and use of rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Methods

We adopted a focus group strategy to understand the barriers faced by transition-aged youth with disabilities; five focus groups were conducted at five community-based locations in three states (Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia) in Federal Region 3 (i.e., Mid-Atlantic). Participants ranged in age from 16 to 24 (53.5% male; 44.2% White).

Findings

Findings indicated that youth with disabilities faced several barriers in the form of stigma, lack of workplace supports and accommodations, their disability condition, and anxiety. In addition, a very small proportion of the sample were aware about the ADA and their rights under Title I.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the need to develop programs that equip transition-aged youth with disabilities with the necessary skills as they prepare to enter the work force. In addition, efforts should be targeted at addressing the barriers identified in the study, such as stigma, as well as at increase students' knowledge of the ADA by embedding information within secondary and postsecondary academic curricula.

Purpose

The past few decades have witnessed significant growth in the disability sector and the rehabilitation counseling profession has responded by broadening its scope of practice to serve a range of people who experience illness, injury, and social disadvantage. Despite the sector's growth and the profession's flexible response to it, the rehabilitation counseling profession in Australia continues to face challenges in relation to its professional identity. The purpose of this article is to identify these challenges and present solutions by reviewing literature and professionalization responses in Australia and the United States.

Method

In this article, we examine ways of transcending the professional identity challenges faced by the Australian rehabilitation counseling community. This is achieved firstly by defining the characteristics of professions and their application to rehabilitation counseling and second, by suggesting possible actions to advance the profession.

Results

The necessary responses identified include the need for stronger professional governance, further development of the evidence base, and strict professional membership regulations. These goals will require the input of professional bodies and members, universities, rehabilitation regulators, employers, people with disabilities, and their families.

Conclusions

Rehabilitation counseling is a valued allied health and human service profession in the Australian work injury and disability sectors. By drawing on the experience of the profession in the United States, the authors have identified issues and solutions to facilitate the sustainability and advancement of rehabilitation counseling in Australia.

Purpose

The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) provides a framework for understanding and accommodating disability. This study examined predictors and outcomes of ICF familiarity among rehabilitation counselors.

Method

Analysis of variance and hierarchical regression analysis were used to examine research questions related to ICF familiarity.

Results

Rehabilitation counselors with five or fewer years of experience were more familiar with the ICF. Analysis showed familiarity with the ICF positively correlated with greater confidence in recommending work accommodations.

Conclusions

Data supports use of the ICF in rehabilitation counseling. Emphasizing the ICF in specific courses (e.g., medical aspects of disability, career and vocational development) may support improved practice.

Purpose

This study surveyed sources of moral distress within rehabilitation counseling practice.

Method

A mixed-methods approach, the study used both quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Results

Of the 83 participants who completed the survey, the average rating of moral distress was 4.32 (uncomfortable), with 43% reporting a distress rating of 5 (uncomfortable/distressing) or higher. Based on the descriptions, common sources of moral distress involved (a) compromised service delivery, client welfare, and resources, (b) conflicts between client, treatment team, and family, (c) leadership and climate, and (d) organizational policy and practice.

Conclusions

Implications address areas for ongoing discussion, including considerations for how to address moral distress to potentially reduce professional burnout and compassion fatigue with in rehabilitation counseling.

Background

Research on character strengths in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) is lacking. Moreover, measures of character strengths have not been validated in this population, limiting the opportunities for further investigation.

Objective

To investigate the factor structure of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA)-72 in a sample of individuals with MS.

Methods

This quantitative descriptive study included 624 individuals with MS. The factor structure of the VIA-72 was examined using principal component analysis. The internal consistency reliability and validity were assessed by computing Cronbach's alphas and correlations of the VIA-72 with other psychosocial constructs, respectively.

Findings

The principal component analysis revealed an interpretable four-factor structure of the VIA-72: intellectual and emotional strengths, temperance, transcendence, and interpersonal strengths. The factors significantly correlated with measures of quality of life, resilience, social support, depression, fatigue, and personality traits, indicating good concurrent validity. The four factors did not completely align with Peterson and Seligman's (2004) classification system.

Conclusions

The four-factor structure of the VIA-72 seems to be interpretable, valid, and reliable. Measures like VIA-72 may help rehabilitation professionals learn more about the nature and development of character strengths among persons with MS and suggest ways to cultivate it. Further studies are indicated to confirm the factor structures and psychometric properties of this scale in persons with MS.

Background

Research indicates that transition-age youth with disabilities face several obstacles with regard to finding employment. However, research on the extent to which barriers and facilitators differ across disability types and contexts is lacking. Objective the primary purpose of this qualitative study was to understand employment-related challenges encountered by a cross-section of transition-age youth with disabilities across multiple settings. In addition, the study also examined transition-aged youth’s knowledge and use of rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Methods

We adopted a focus group strategy to understand the barriers faced by transition-aged youth with disabilities; five focus groups were conducted at five community-based locations in three states (Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia) in Federal Region 3 (i.e., Mid-Atlantic). Participants ranged in age from 16 to 24 (53.5% male; 44.2% White).

Findings

Findings indicated that youth with disabilities faced several barriers in the form of stigma, lack of workplace supports and accommodations, their disability condition, and anxiety. In addition, a very small proportion of the sample were aware about the ADA and their rights under Title I.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the need to develop programs that equip transition-aged youth with disabilities with the necessary skills as they prepare to enter the work force. In addition, efforts should be targeted at addressing the barriers identified in the study, such as stigma, as well as at increase students’ knowledge of the ADA by embedding information within secondary and postsecondary academic curricula.

Purpose

The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) provides a framework for understanding and accommodating disability. This study examined predictors and outcomes of ICF familiarity among rehabilitation counselors.

Method

Analysis of variance and hierarchical regression analysis were used to examine research questions related to ICF familiarity.

Results

Rehabilitation counselors with five or fewer years of experience were more familiar with the ICF. Analysis showed familiarity with the ICF positively correlated with greater confidence in recommending work accommodations.

Conclusions

Data supports use of the ICF in rehabilitation counseling. Emphasizing the ICF in specific courses (e.g., medical aspects of disability, career and vocational development) may support improved practice.

Purpose

This study surveyed sources of moral distress within rehabilitation counseling practice.

Method

A mixed-methods approach, the study used both quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Results

Of the 83 participants who completed the survey, the average rating of moral distress was 4.32 (uncomfortable), with 43% reporting a distress rating of 5 (uncomfortable/distressing) or higher. Based on the descriptions, common sources of moral distress involved (a) compromised service delivery, client welfare, and resources, (b) conflicts between client, treatment team, and family, (c) leadership and climate, and (d) organizational policy and practice.

Conclusions

Implications address areas for ongoing discussion, including considerations for how to address moral distress to potentially reduce professional burnout and compassion fatigue with in rehabilitation counseling.

Purpose

Rehabilitation counseling has seen many advances in evidence-based practice in the last decade. The purpose of this study was to provide a review of intervention literature conducted within rehabilitation counseling or related fields from the years 2007–2018.

Method

A systematic review of rehabilitation research was conducted, and a total of 163 intervention studies were included in the final sample. Description and analysis include a summary of where and when manuscripts were published, aspects of the intervention (target population, setting, and desired change), and criteria for evaluation of the intervention.

Results

Findings show an increase in the use of intervention research during the period studied while also highlighting several patterns in rehabilitation research relating to the targeted samples, outcomes pursued, and the design of research.

Conclusions

There is much more intervention research being conducted related to rehabilitation counseling process and outcomes than is demonstrated in rehabilitation counseling journals. This systematic review provides a greater understanding of the progress being made through these international research efforts.

Background

Graduate studies in rehabilitation counseling present a variety of social, academic, and professional demands. To date, previous research has largely neglected the role that relationships among students that can help in addressing these demands.

Objective

The present exploratory study examined how relationships formed during a Master's Rehabilitation Counseling Education (RCE) specialization program enhanced the experience of participants both during their studies and following graduation.

Methods

A total of 33 graduates of a cohort-based, Cognitive Disabilities Certificate (CDC) program were asked to reflect on the impacts of relationship-building on their experiences as students as well as their post-CDC professional development. Results were examined through phenomenological qualitative data analysis.

Results

Participant responses revealed relationships as cohort members formed during graduate studies enhanced their student experience with facilitating camaraderie, enhancing learning, promoting student success, and providing employment leads. With regard to professional development, participants indicated their cohort-based relationships enhanced professional development, provided resources, and facilitated professional collaboration.

Conclusion

The benefits of cohort-based relationship building that began during graduate education extended beyond into the professional careers of participants. More use of cohort-based instruction in RCE programs may be more likely to facilitate productive and supportive relationships.