Mission
The mission of the graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling at Kent State University is to prepare future rehabilitation counseling professionals to assist persons with disabilities. This is accomplished through community-based experiences within an inter-disciplinary context. Students learn strategies through academic coursework and field experience for empowering people with physical, sensory, and mental disabilities to enjoy rewarding, productive lives. Students work collaboratively with professional agencies to help people with disabilities achieve maximum independence and high quality of life.
The objectives of the Rehabilitation Counseling program are to provide students with the knowledge, competencies and opportunities to:
- Understand the experiences, values, and perspectives of people with disabilities and their families.
- Enable people with disabilities and their significant others to become active participants in the rehabilitation process.
- Encourage people with disabilities to participate as active citizens of their communities.
- Identify and address the attitudinal, environmental, economic, political, and systemic barriers that may impede people with disabilities from achieving their life goals.
- Develop and demonstrate counseling techniques and career development strategies to assist people with disabilities in establishing the skills they need to participate actively in all aspects of society.
- Adhere to the highest ethical standards and best practices.
Overview
Rehabilitation Counseling is a counseling specialty offered at Kent State University. This description has been written to clarify the role and function of the rehabilitation counselor and the preparation offered at Kent State University. The unique competencies that you would acquire in this program are not interchangeable with community counseling, social work, school counseling, or other counseling specialties.
Rehabilitation counseling is a process - a process that builds upon the strengths and goals of persons with disabilities. Typically, clients of rehabilitation counselors are late adolescents and adults who have physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities. The goal of rehabilitation counseling is integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. The mission of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program at Kent State University is to prepare competent professionals who will provide quality service to persons with disabilities.
Rehabilitation counselors work in a variety of settings. Employers of rehabilitation counselors include hospitals, public agencies (e.g., vocational rehabilitation, mental health, developmental disabilities), Bureau of Workers' Compensation, drug and alcohol treatment centers, correctional facilities, community-based programs, comprehensive rehabilitation facilities, private industry, and propriety rehabilitation.
The process of rehabilitation is defined by values that permeate each phase of the rehabilitation process: individualization, integration, independence, and industry. Each individual with a disability has a unique constellation of strengths, abilities, weaknesses, interests, hopes, goals, and fears. An individualized process is employed to define and implement a program of services and counseling to enable and empower persons who have disabilities.
The curriculum at Kent State University is imbued with the belief that early and continual service and development of professional skills predict success as a rehabilitation counselor. Course content is tied to observable skills and thoughtful practice. Throughout the four semesters of full-time academic coursework, students gain supervised experience as rehabilitation counselors. This includes an internship experience which can be completed in a variety of settings including rehabilitation agencies, community mental health centers, Bureau of Workers' Compensation, county boards of MR/DD, schools, hospitals, drug and alcohol treatment centers, and community corrections.
The rehabilitation counseling student develops a professional perspective throughout the learning experience. The student is eligible to sit for the written examination by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification with completion of 75% of coursework. This nationally standardized examination is scheduled for those desiring to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC). The CRC is a credential recognized internationally as evidence of competence and professionalism in the field of rehabilitation counseling. In addition, sub-specialization in deafness, transition, and job development and placement are available.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Phillip Rumrill, Coordinator & Professor
Department of Educational Foundations and Special Services
405 White Hall
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio 44242
Telephone: (330) 672-0600
Fax Number: (330) 672-2512
E-Mail: prumrill@kent.edu
