Rehabilitation Counseling Students to Benefit from $650,000 in Grants- July 30th, 2008

Dr. Randall Parker, director of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program

The University of Texas at Austin’s Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program has received a total of $650,000 in grant funds from the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Education to assist graduate students who are working toward a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.

One grant for $500,000 will extend over five years, beginning this September, and provide resident tuition and fees, in addition to a monthly stipend for students who are interested in counseling individuals who are blind.

The second grant is for $150,000, and it will support graduate students in the general field of rehabilitation counseling. The range of individual needs and conditions in this broad category include neurological, intellectual, behavioral, emotional, orthopedic, sensory, and learning disabilities.

The University of Texas at Austin’s master’s degree program in rehabilitation counseling requires 48 hours of course work over four semesters. That includes a full-time, 12-semester hour internship in a rehabilitation setting during the fourth semester.

Rehabilitation counselors help people with disabilities deal with the personal, social and vocational complications that may result from those disabilities. Assessing the strengths and limitations of each individual, the counselors help individuals adjust to changes in their personal lives as well as assist with vocational training, job placement and accessing proper medical care.

“Career prospects for students who are hoping to become rehabilitation counselors are extremely good,” says Dr. Randall Parker, Melissa Elizabeth Stuart Centennial Professor of Education and director of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program in the College of Education’s Department of Special Education.

“Whether an individual has a spinal injury or a chronic illness, the counselor assesses information from the patient’s family, medical and school records and employers’ reports to create a rehabilitation program that will help individuals reach their full potential and build their capacity to live independently. It’s a terribly important job and right now there are many more clients out there than there are counselors – job openings are exceeding the number of qualified professionals.”

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that jobs for rehabilitation counselors are expected to grow by around 23 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The number of people who will need rehabilitation counseling is expected to expand as advances in medical technology allow more people to survive injury or illness and live independently again. In addition, legislation requiring equal employment rights for people with disabilities will increase demand for counselors, who not only help these people make a transition to the workforce but also help companies to comply with the law.

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910