Randall Parker

Terminal Degree

Ph.D., 1970, University of Missouri-Columbia, APA-Approved Program in Counseling Psychology.

Representative Publications

Parker, R., Szymanski, E., & Patterson, J. (Eds.). (2005). Rehabilitation counseling: Basics and beyond (4th ed.). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

Szymanski, E. M., & Parker, R. (Eds.). (2003). Work and disability: Issues and strategies in career counseling and job placement (2^nd ed.). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

Parker, R., Schaller, J., & Hansmann, S. (2003). Catastrophe, chaos, and complexity models and psychosocial adjustment. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 46, 234-241.

Parker, R. (2002). Occupational Aptitude Survey and Interest Schedule–3: Aptitude Survey. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

Parker, R. (2002). Occupational Aptitude Survey and Interest Schedule–3: Interest Schedule. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

Recent Awards

• Melissa Elizabeth Stuart Centennial Professorship in Education, September 1993-Present.
• Fall 2000 Dean’s Faculty Fellowship, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin.
• 1998 School of Education Alumni Achievement Award, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI, May 9, 1998.
• 1998 College of Education Outstanding Faculty Award, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin, April, 1998.
• James F. Garrett Award for Career Research, American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, Pittsburgh, PA, March 1996.

Boards, Committees and Associations

• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Division 17, Counseling Psychology, January 1990.
• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Division 22, Rehabilitation Psychology, January 1989.
• Chair, Graduate Assembly, College of Education Representative, The University of Texas at Austin, September 2006 to August 2007.
• Chair, Academic Committee, Graduate Assembly, College of Education Representative, The University of Texas at Austin, September 2005 to August 2006.
• Chair, College of Education Faculty Budget Advisory Committee, Fall 2003 to Summer 2005.

Current Research Projects and Grants

National Training Project to Prepare Doctoral Level Rehabilitation Professionals. $750,000 from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U. S. Office of Education; competitively awarded; 9/1/03 to 8/31/08.

National Training Project to Prepare Master’s Level Rehabilitation Counselors. $750,000 from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U. S. Office of Education; competitively awarded; 9/1/04 to 8/31/09.

Master’s Level Training: Specialized Personnel for Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are Blind or Visually Impaired--Long-Term Training Grant. $500,000 from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U. S. Office of Education; competitively awarded; 9/1/03 to 8/31/08.

National Training Project to Prepare Master’s Level Rehabilitation Counselors. $500,000 from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U. S. Office of Education; competitively awarded; 9/1/99 to 8/31/04.

Current Courses

SED 387.2 Adjustment to Disabling Conditions. Psychosocial principles of adjustment to chronic illness and disability, individual perceptions of illness, societal attitudes toward people with disabilities, and models for understanding the adjustment process and planning interventions.

SED 387.4 Rehabilitation Counseling Prepracticum. Systematic field-based study of the rehabilitation counseling process, including basic communication skills, techniques, services, community resources, and professional ethics.

SED 387.5 Practicum in Rehabilitation Counseling. Individually supervised and systematically organized observation and participation in rehabilitation counseling, case management, and skill development.

SED 387.6 Specialized Problems in Rehabilitation Counseling. Intensive study of specialized problems related to specific disability groups, counseling methods, and concepts in vocational placement.

SED 395 Data Analysis in Special Education. Intensive coverage of data analysis in Special Education. Focuses on research design, use of major computer packages, and interpretation of results of research studies.

SED 395 Research Methodology in Special Education. Intensive study of the research enterprise from formulating questions that can be answered empirically to preparing proposals and manuscripts. Emphasis is placed on designing research.

Research Interests and Expertise

Areas of research interests and expertise include:

Models of Adjustment to Disability, Rehabilitation Counseling Theories and Methods, Occupational Aptitude and Interest Assessment, Medical and Paramedical Aspects of Disability, Reliability and Validity of Self-estimates, and Data Analysis.