Affiliations: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA | Center for Essential Management Services, Long Island,
NY, USA | University of Wisconsin-Stout, Stout, WI, USA | Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Robert T. Fraser, Ph.D., Professor,
Department of Neurology, University of Washington Epilepsy Center, c/o
Harborview Medical Center, Box 359744, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. Tel.: +1 800 347
3627; E-mail: rfraser@u.washington.edu
Abstract: This paper reviews salient categories of rehabilitation programs'
employment outcomes research, as recently presented by the authors at the May
2002 "Bridging Gaps" conference, sponsored by the National Institute of
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), US Department of Education and
several co-sponsors (e.g., the American Psychological
Association/Rehabilitation Psychology, Division 22, etc.). The purpose of this
paper is to review these findings and draw the most relevant implications for
rehabilitation counselor training programs' curricula. The paper begins with a
review of the contextual changes affecting vocational rehabilitation (VR)
services delivery today and then presents employment outcomes research findings
as related to the vocational rehabilitation participant, the rehabilitation
counselor in the placement process, and the actual services provided.
Implications for rehabilitation counseling curricula are presented not only in
relation to job placement coursework, but also coursework relating to
counseling strategies, vocational assessment, and medical aspects of
disability. Modifications to coursework in the above areas (and potentially
others) should have impact in preparing more of an "employment outcomes
skilled and oriented" RC program graduate.
