PROGRAM MISSION
The Rehabilitation Program has as its stated mission, "the enhancement of the quality of life of disabled and disadvantaged persons." As part of a state university system, the Program efforts reflect a major concern for the needs of South Carolinians; however, because of the universality of disability and disadvantagement, many of the Program activities have regional, national, and international implications.
To accomplish its mission, the Program faculty carry out a spectrum of
educational, scholarly, and service activities. Educational efforts are directed at
training professionals to engage in (1) counseling, (2) educational, vocational, and
psychosocial assessment, (3) case management, (4) advocacy, and (5) community program
development activities, within an interdisciplinary team framework. Scholarly activities
are centered around advancing and dissemination knowledge and understanding of disability
and disadvantagement-related issues. Service activities are primarily focused on providing
support for others involved in delivering services to persons who have physical or mental
disabilities, including addictions, or who are disadvantaged by cultural differences and
educational and economic impoverishment, throughout the state, nation, and international
community,
REHABILITATION COUNSELING PROFESSION
Description
Rehabilitation counseling is a systematic process which assists persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive and addiction-based disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals through counseling activities. The counseling process involves communication, goal setting, and facilitating personal growth or beneficial change through advocacy, psychological, vocational, social, and behavioral interventions.
Rehabilitation counselors help individuals deal with personal, interpersonal, and societal problems, plan careers, and find and maintain appropriate employment. Counselors work with individuals, organizations, and advocacy groups that address the environmental and social barriers that create obstacles for people with disabilities. They also collaborate with physicians, psychologists, therapists, and others in assisting rehabilitants in pursuing their vocational and independent living goals. Because employment is a major problem of persons with disabilities, rehabilitation counselors work closely with employers and representatives of the business community to identify job opportunities and to make work environment more accommodating.
In effect, rehabilitation counselors build bridges between persons with disabilities and their families, communities, and work places. Although other health and human service providers serve persons with disabilities, it is rehabilitation counselors who are uniquely qualified to provide vocational guidance and adjustment counseling to them and their families.
Rehabilitation is committed to facilitating the independence, integration and
inclusion of people with disabilities in the community, respecting the dignity and worth
of all people. It is dedicated to promoting equal justice based on a model of
accommodation. This includes providing and equalizing the opportunity to enjoy the rights
and privileges afforded non-disabled Americans. Rehabilitation counselors are committed to
supporting persons with disabilities in advocacy activities to enable them to empower
themselves and achieve full citizenship.
Training
Rehabilitation counselors must have knowledge of the rehabilitation process and a comprehensive set of rehabilitation skills and techniques. Interdisciplinary team work is emphasized in training, as well as a holistic view of rehabilitants. Counseling activities are learned within a systems framework that considers individuals in the context of their family and communities.
To help persons with disabilities, the rehabilitation counseling profession draws on knowledge from several fields, e.g. psychology, medicine, psychiatry, social work, sociology, education, law, and business. This broad knowledge base is key to developing and implementing rehabilitation plans that enable persons with disabilities to successfully cope with their disabilities. A detailed description of the full scope of practice has been prepared by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC):
CRCC
1835 Rohlwing Road, Suite E.
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
(708)394-1785
Rehabilitation counselors serve as team members and leaders in physical restoration, mental health, addictions treatment, and other settings. In South Carolina, the Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation and Mental Health, and the array of addictions treatment programs are among the major employers of rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation counselors also serve as consultants to insurance companies, industry, and educational institutions.
Recently, rehabilitation counselors have begun to coordinate and arrange for
rehabilitation and transition services for children with disabilities who are in school.
Also, geriatric services are now being provided to older persons who are experiencing
changing lifestyles and health problems. Increasingly, industrially disabled workers are
receiving rehabilitation counseling services through private rehabilitation companies and
employers' own in-house disability management and employee assistance programs. Persons
who have severe disabilities that limit opportunities for full-time competitive employment
may also be assisted through independent living service programs and supported employment
arrangements developed and provided by rehabilitation counselors.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional development is an ongoing process. The student's graduate studies are only the beginning of a career-long learning experience. Professional development activities include participation in in-service training programs, attending professional conferences, and reading professional publications to up-date knowledge and skills. To lay a foundation for professional development, the Program requires that the students join at least one of the two major related professional organizations and their rehabilitation counseling sub-division. Student memberships are available at nominal rates. In addition to providing newsletters, journals, and other benefits, membership makes students eligible for organization sponsored professional liability insurance which is required before engaging in practicum and internship clinical activities. Membership applications are available in the Program office. A description of the professional organizations follows:
National Rehabilitation Association
Founded in 1925, NRA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the United States. Membership is comprised of rehabilitation professionals, including administrators, counselors, job placement specialists, secretaries, vocational evaluators, instructors and independent living providers, business and industry representatives. Also represented are physiatrists and other physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, speech pathologists, specialists serving blind and deaf persons, hospital administrators, workshop and rehabilitation facility personnel, nursing home personnel, persons with disabilities, family members and other interested citizens.
NRA is the oldest, largest and strongest advocate for persons with disabilities. It is often called the "Voice of Rehabilitation."
The Journal of Rehabilitation is the organization's major publication.
National Rehabilitation Counseling Association
The National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA) is a subdivision of the NRA and is a professional association for rehabilitation counselors. NRCA strives to accommodate the professional interests and needs of all rehabilitation counselors regardless of their work setting or job title. NRCA also dedicates itself to the pursuit of self-fulfillment of all persons with disabilities.
NRCA provides opportunities for students to participate in professional activities and to interface with experienced practitioners in the field of rehabilitation counseling.
NRCA provides its membership with professional opportunities on the local, regional, and national levels, an annual Professional Development Symposium, legislative information advocacy, and a Certification Maintenance Plan (CRC, CIRS, NCC). NRCA publishes the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling.
American Counseling Association
With nearly 60, 000 members, the American Counseling Association is the world's largest non-profit organization for professional counselors. Student membership is available to those enrolled in a graduate counseling program. Dedicated to growth and enhancement of the counseling profession, ACA offers many benefits and services, including the following:
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American Rehabilitation Counseling Association
The American Rehabilitation Counseling Association is a sub-division of the ACA. It promotes the advancement of the rehabilitation counseling profession through its publications, conferences, and other development activities. It also serves as an advocate for persons with disabilities. The major publication of the ARCA is the Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin.
Rehabilitation Student Association
The Program faculty sponsors a Rehabilitation Counseling Student Association.
The association's purpose is to support the academic, professional, and personal growth of
its student members. The student members promote networking and training, and consumer
advocacy for individuals with physical and mental disabilities, as well as participate in
community projects. The association also facilitates the development of collegiality with
faculty and serves as a peer support group.
DEGREE DESCRIPTION
The Program offers a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (M.R.C.) Degree, which is officially awarded by the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. The M.R.C. is a 48 credit-hour professional degree and does not require a thesis. Thirty-six of the hours consist of classroom-based course work directed at knowledge and skill development. Six of these credit hours of study consist of elective courses selected on the basis of student interest and relevance to career objectives.
The remaining 12 hours include a clinical practicum and internship that consist of field placements and University-based seminars. These activities are intended to facilitate the development and enhancement of the spectrum of counseling activities within the context of real practice settings, assuring adequate competency to fulfill appropriate professional roles upon graduation.
The program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).
Students successfully completing the degree requirements are eligible to take appropriate
state licensure and national certification exams, which are prerequisites to becoming a
Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.) and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.)
It is pointed out that successful completion for the degree program is only the first step
in becoming credentialed. Other requirements, for example, supervised work experience,
vary with each credentialing organization.
This page updated 09 August, 2005
This page copyright 1998, the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.
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