Rehabilitation counseling is focused on helping people with disabilities achieve their personal, career, and independent life goals through a counseling process.
Rehabilitation counselors can be found in private practice, at rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, universities, schools, government agencies, insurance companies and other organizations where people are treated for congenital or acquired defects. Over time, with a change in more psychotherapy-oriented social work, rehabilitation counselors take on more community engagement work, especially with regard to specific populations. Some rehabilitation counselors focus only on community involvement through vocational services, others in different countries qualify as both certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs) and licensed professional counselors (LPCs), enabling them to focus on psychotherapy.
Video Rehabilitation counseling
History
United States
Historically, rehabilitation counselors primarily serve working-age adults with disabilities. Currently, the need for rehabilitation counseling services extends to people of all age groups who have disabilities. Rehabilitation counselors may also provide general and specialized counseling for persons with disabilities in general human services programs and personal practice settings.
Initially, rehabilitation professionals were recruited from various disciplines of human services, including public health care, social work, and school counseling. Although educational programs began to emerge in the 1940s, it was not until the availability of federal funds for rehabilitation counseling programs in 1954 that the profession began to grow and establish its own identity.
Education and training
Although no special undergraduate degree is required, the majority of post-graduate rehabilitation counseling students have a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, psychology, sociology, or other services related to human services. As a minimum required master's degree, rehabilitation counselors are trained at the graduate level, with most getting a master's degree, and some continuing to the Doctorate level. The Board of Rehabilitation Education (INTI) accredits qualified institutions, although not all programs meet the accreditation requirements, prohibit some graduates from certification/professional licenses. Rehabilitation consultants are trained in the following areas:
- Individual and group counseling
- Medical and psychosocial information
- Community issues and engagement from custom populations
- Evaluations and ratings
- Research use
- Jobs and work options
- Case management and luggage storage
- Job development and placement
Accredited rehabilitation counseling education programs typically provide 60 credit hours for academic and field-based clinical training. The clinical training consists of at least one practicum semester and a minimum of 600 hours of supervised internship experience. Clinical field experience is available in programs related to community, state, federal, and private rehabilitation.
Professional certification and licensing
The Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Commission (CRCC) certifies to counselors who meet the educational requirements and have passed the exam indicating that they have the competence and skills to become a Certified Rehabilitation Adviser, (CRC in the United States, CCRC in Canada). A Master's degree is required to earn certification. Certification as a rehabilitation counselor is not mandated by state or federal law, but eligibility for certification exams is mandated by federal law for those wishing to work for state/federal vocational rehabilitation systems. Some states have Rehabilitation Revenitation Counselors (LRCs), which place LRCs at the same level as other licensed social service professionals. In other countries, CRCs are eligible for rehabilitation counselors to obtain License as Professional Advisor (LPC). Certification is highly desired by many companies.
Social relevance
Community services for culturally diverse and diverse populations, professional functions, critical thinking, advocacy, applied research activities, and ethical standards are integrated through the preparation and development of rehabilitation counselors. Although rehabilitation counselors are proficient in understanding disability-related medical issues (as evidenced by certification/licensing), they are trained in disability social models, which identify systemic barriers, negative attitudes and exceptions by the community (intentionally or unintentionally) meaning society is a major contributing factor in disabling people. Rehabilitation Counselors often advocate in communities for people with disabilities outside the workplace, with most undertaking some form of community involvement. Since most counselors have their own disabilities, the counseling process often emphasizes self-advocacy skills. Rehabilitation counselors can be found in the leadership of many leading organizations that support human rights and civil rights for persons with disabilities such as the American Citizen Coalition with Disabilities, the National Black Deaf Advocate, etc.
Renowned rehabilitation counselor
- Antonia Darder Aguilo - Intellectual Chairman, President's Departure Leave in Ethics and Moral Leadership at School of Education at Loyola Marymount University
- Bill G. Chapman - Air Force Vet, Blind/Vision-impaired Advocate
- Bill Copeland - Award-winning poet
- Laurence M. Foley - American Diplomat to Jordan
- Patricia Gerard - First Mayor of Largo, FL
- Juan de Dios RamÃÆ'rez Heredia - Romanian politician from Spain
- Al Jarreau - Grammy-winning Jazz Musician
- Young Woo Kang - First Korean man with vision impaired to get PhD, Braille Language Creator for Korean
- Robert Kelly - Veteran Navy, Film Inspiration
- Kathleen Kenna - Canadian journalist in Afghanistan
- Erin Pac - US Olympic Bobsledder, bronze medalist 2010
- Dianne Primavera - U.S. Legislator for the state of Colorado
- Kathleen Hawk Sawyer - Former Director of the US Federal Bureau of Corrections
- Alberta Banner Turner - The first African-American woman to earn a PhD in Psychology from The Ohio State University
- Ronnie Mae Tyson - First Miss Black Deaf America
Maps Rehabilitation counseling
Career rehabilitation counseling
Careers in the profession
In the United States, many rehabilitation counselors work in various arenas. The main placement of rehabilitation counselors is the state rehabilitation program as Vocational Counselors, social service agents as Administrators, and at the college level as Disability Counselors/Specialists:
Country rehabilitation program
The primary need for rehabilitation counselors is in federal/state funded vocational rehabilitation programs. Although the Veterans' Backup Administration has its own vocational rehabilitation program, other Federal/State vocational rehabilitation programs are funded and regulated by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), a division of the US Department of Education. Although the policies vary from state to state, rehabilitation counselors working in federal/state systems usually must hold a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, special education or related fields, and must be certified or eligible to take the certification exam. Persons accepting employment in federal/state Vocational Rehabilitation programs do so by agreement that they will meet this qualification with a specified date to keep the job.
Social and corporate sector agencies
Rehabilitation counselors can work in the nonprofit/corporate sector in various ways. Although the majority begin as counselors, specializing in career counseling, most rehabilitation advisers working in the nonprofit arena rise to the administrative level, either in supervising staff or directing programs for persons with disabilities. Others oversee staff working in a case management program that serves people with disabilities. Some rehabilitation counselors work with Independent Living Centers, engage in community, advocacy, outside referrals, and the provision of social services for people with disabilities. Entrepreneur rehabilitation consultants â ⬠<â â¬
By law all colleges, colleges and universities are required to make decent accommodation for students with disabilities. To meet this requirement, most collegial arrangements have a Disability Resource Center, a Special Needs Coordinator or a similar office. Staff are responsible for coordinating services that may be included but not limited to: advocacy/liaison, computer access, counseling (academic, personal, vocational), equipment loans, referral information/services, awareness of in-service programs , recorder, campus orientation and mobility training for students with visual impairment, priority registration assistance, readers, clerks, shuttle (on campus), sign language interpreters, testers/test accommodation, and tutors.
Some adaptive technology accommodation may include but is not limited to: Adaptive computer technology (including voice activated and sound output), hearing aids, Film/videocassette of disabilities, Kurzweil personal readers, large print software, Print enlargers (CCTV), line-drawing drawing kit, campus tactile map, speech calculator, tape recorder/APH Talking Book Machine, TDD for deaf, wheelchair, wheelchair access.
Students who have documentation proving their disability status and staff are trained to access or have knowledge of the required services according to the students' unique needs. Because the college level differs from the primary school system, the same services that students may receive in special education programs in high school may not be required at the college level. A wide range of students with disabilities can be served, some examples are individuals with: learning disabilities, sensory defects (loss of hearing, loss of vision, etc.), physical disabilities (cerebral palsy, etc.) and psychological disabilities.
Forensic rehabilitation counselor
Forensic rehabilitation consultants may work as consultants, serve as witnesses and advocates in the legal profession. Forensic rehabilitation consultants function as legal advisors with special information on disability in the area of ââaccess to higher education, Social Security, dissolution of marriage, personal injury, and Workers' Compensation.
According to a survey of 1,220 Certified Rehabilitation Officers (CRCs) conducted by the Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Commission (CRC), the CRC working in the forensic witness/expert witness function has the highest annual salary ($ 93,000) of all job functions analyzed. Furthermore, when the average salary is analyzed by major work arrangements, CRCs working in business or industry have the highest annual salary ($ 78,000) of all registered arrangements, ie $ 30,000 more than CRCs working in state/federal rehabilitation agencies. High annual salaries in the field of forensics may be a major attraction for CRCs seeking transition from the public sector. The academic program requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited rehabilitation counseling program, and allows students to: learn about the role that counselors provide in the legal system; gain expertise in the ethical standards expected of expert witnesses; learn about the process followed in legal cases when testifying to one's expert opinion; gain an understanding of the business aspects of the work of forensic counselors who cultivate success in this area of ââspecialization.
Field Growth
Job prospects
In 2010 there were 129,800 working in the field. Jobs for rehabilitation counselors are expected to grow 28 percent, which is much faster than the average for all jobs.
Professional development
There are several professional organizations of Rehabilitation Counselors and other rehabilitation professionals including the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, and American Rehabilitation Action Network. Although there are no national unions or lobbying organizations that support rehabilitation counselors (as with social workers, or psychologists), the Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Commission (CRCC) does a lot of work in organizing rehabilitation counselors who pursue youth professional progress.
See also
- Career development
- Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
- The European Platform for Rehabilitation
- Public services
- Social changes
- Social development
References
External links
- Rehabilitation Services Administration
- Commission for Rehabilitation Counselors
- The American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
- National Rehabilitation Association
- National Rehabilitation Counseling Association
- NIU Rehabilitation Counseling - Deafness/Deaf-Tulan Specialization
- Rehabilitation Counseling Program Portal, TTUHSC
- Michigan State University's Counseling Rehabilitation Program
- Rehabilitation Counseling Program, UB Graduate School of Education
- Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program, TTUHSC School of Allied Health
- Rehabilitation Counseling Network
Source of the article : Wikipedia