Useful Information

Background

The Rehabilitation Counseling program was started in August, 2004 to meet the gowing demand for qualified, professionally trained rehabilitation counselors who want to work in public and private rehabilitation agencies and institutions.

Program Mission

The Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Program is designed to meet the growing demand for qualified, professionally trained rehabilitation counselors who want to work in public and private rehabilitation agencies and institutions. Graduates are prepared to meet the psychosocial and vocational needs of persons with varying disabilities such as developmental disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, alcohol and substance abuse behaviors, as well as other acquired disabling conditions. Graduates are professionally trained for careers in vocational rehabilitation in government agencies such as the state-federal system, not for profit and for profit community rehabilitation programs, educational institutions, private for profit and not for profit community rehabilitation programs, residential programs, case management, bureau of worker’s compensation, and mental health services.

Graduates utilize knowledge and competency in understanding the physical, social, psychological, economic, and political implications of disabilities to promote self-sufficiency and independence. Likewise, graduates learn to always ensure understanding of how gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and culture impact one’s experience of disability. Graduates are trained to engage in ethical practice, ongoing professional development, and to implement research initiatives.

The program recruits candidates from typically underrepresented populations such as minority students and students with disabilities from the entire Region V area. Wilberforce’s Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling is the only HBCU program in the Midwest. (Region V includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.) The program results in improvement in the rehabilitation delivery system by increasing the number of master’s level minority professionals entering the rehabilitation service, or increasing their qualifications to advance professionally. Likewise, the program builds local capacity to provide culturally competent rehabilitation services for minority clients in the rehabilitation system and improve their chances to achieve successful employment out comes.

Program Objectives

The Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling has the following objectives:

1. Increase the number of qualified rehabilitation counselors from traditionally underrepresented populations.
   
2. Increase the number of qualified rehabilitation counselors from traditionally underrepresented populations to work in the State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation System.
   
3. Present an academic curriculum that provides students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies that meet and or exceed the accreditation standards of the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).
   
4. Place graduates of the program in rehabilitation counseling positions in the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system, community rehabilitation facilities, not for profit organizations, and for profit organizations.

Rehabilitation as a Career

Rehabilitation counselors are in high demand nationawide, and many recognized experts in teh field predict the demand will increase during the next several years. Rehabilitation counselors deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities in relation to employment and help people to become self sufficient citizens.

It is a challenging job that often requires vision and creativity to see possibilities where others see only problems. Counselors may confer with people who are disabled as the result of birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, or psychological or emotional issues. The evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling, and may arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement. The may interview both individuals with disabilities and their families, evaluate school and medical reports, and confer and plan with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, shchools, employers to determine the capabilities and skills of individuals with disabilities. They develop a rehabilitation program in conjunction with the consumer to help the person arrive at a plan to achieve a feasible employment outcome.

Rehabilitation Counselors work in public and private rehabilitation agencies and institutions.

The following is a list of places where rehabilitation counselors may be employed:

• State/Federal Rehabilitation Programs
• Mental Health Centers
• Private, Non-Profit, Community Based Organizations
• Insurance Companies
• Independent Living Centers
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Medical Centers/Hospitals
• Job Training Centers
• Colleges and Universitieis
• Workers' Compensation Agencies
• Social Security Administration
• Business and Industry
• Substance Abuse Facilities

For more information on careers in vocational rehabilitation, please visit the home page of the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials at www.rehabjobs.org. Additional information can also be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov.

Cooperative Education and Career Service

Registrar's Office