“It’s Awful When We Get It Wrong”: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ Perspectives on Suicide

2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Lund ◽  
Jared C. Schultz ◽  
Katie B. Thomas ◽  
Michael R. Nadorff ◽  
Dalia Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Suicide Training ◽  
And Training ◽  
Do So

Despite the high prevalence of suicide among people with disabilities, little research has explored suicide in the context of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system. We analyzed the responses of 27 VR counselors who responded to an open-ended qualitative prompt regarding their experiences with suicide training and competency. Key themes included a desire for more training on suicide and the experience of seeking and receiving suicide training and experience outside of VR. Responses also underscored the heavy emotional impact of working with suicidal clients, especially when one feels unprepared to do so. These results suggest that it is important to provide VR counselors with resources and training for addressing suicide in their client populations.

“I Honestly Would Not Have Known What to Do”: An Exploratory Study of Perspectives on Client Suicide Among Vocational Rehabilitation Support Staff

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Lund ◽  
Jared C. Schultz ◽  
Katie B. Thomas ◽  
Michael R. Nadorff ◽  
Christina M. Sias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Client Suicide ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Suicide Training ◽  
And Training ◽  
Do So

Despite the high prevalence of suicide both overall and among people with disabilities in particular, little research has explored suicide in the context of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system or in counseling support staff in general. We analyzed the responses of 14 VR support staff who responded to an open-ended qualitative prompt regarding their experiences with suicide training and competency. Key themes included a perceived lack of and desire for more training regarding suicide, seeking and receiving suicide training outside of VR, and a perceived lack of resources for working with suicidal clients. Responses also underscored the heavy emotional impact of working with these clients, especially when one feels unprepared to do so. These results suggest that it is important to provide VR support staff with resources and training for addressing suicide in their client populations.

The Process and Experiences of Self-Employment Among People With Disabilities: A Qualitative Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Ashley ◽  
Noreen M. Graf
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Business Development ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

Self-employment and business ownership may provide viable options toward overcoming employment disparities for people with disabilities. This qualitative study explored the process and experience of self-employment among people with disabilities. An online survey yielded responses from 18 individuals who were engaged in various self-employment endeavors. The researchers identified three main categories: reasons for self-employment, the process of becoming self-employed, and the challenges encountered. The majority of participants revealed negative and/or unhelpful interactions with vocational rehabilitation counselors. In addition, this study solicited advice from participants for vocational rehabilitation counselors and other persons with disabilities contemplating self-employment. Finally, recommendations for vocational rehabilitation practice, business development training, and education are provided.

Emerging Roles of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with Regard to the ADA

1995 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-12
Author(s):  
Rosalie S. Boone ◽  
Pamela S. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselor ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Training Activities ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
And Training

Vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs), by virtue of their professional responsibilities to facilitate the employment of individuals with disabilities, represent a logical resource for promoting knowledge of and compliance with the ADA in the employment arena. The purpose of the current study was to collect information that would be useful to VRCs in developing and implementing ADA advocacy, information dissemination, and training activities in the employment community. Seventy employers and employees from businesses representing major areas covered by the ADA were interviewed. The following research questions were explored: 1. What is the current level of knowledge about the ADA within the business community? 2. What preferences do business personnel have for learning more about the ADA and its implementation? Results indicated that nearly half of the respondents had not heard about the ADA and that business personnel had a variety of preferences regarding the provision of ADA information. The findings are discussed with regard to their implications for vocational rehabilitation counselors.

Employer Attitudes Toward the Employment and Placement of the Handicapped

1978 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-125
Author(s):  
William G. Emener ◽  
James M. McHargue
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselor ◽  
Employer Attitudes ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Client Advocacy ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
And Training

Seven vocational rehabilitation counselors individually administered a 37 item Employer Attitude Survey Questionnaire to 34 employers from large and 23 employers from small business establishments. The questionnaire covered: (a) attitudes of employers toward the employment of the handicapped, vocational rehabilitation, and vocational rehabilitation's efforts to secure employment for the handicapped; (b) employer expectations and preferences for vocational rehabilitation counselor placement and follow-up techniques; and, (c) types of information desired by employers when they consider a handicapped person for employment. Implications for pre-service and inservice education and training, placement, job development, client advocacy, and future research are discussed.

Experience, Knowledge, and Perceived Comfort and Clinical Competency in Working With Suicidal Clients Among Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Lund ◽  
Jared C. Schultz ◽  
Michael R. Nadorff ◽  
Kate Galbraith ◽  
Katie B. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Clinical Training ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Competency ◽  
Suicide Assessment ◽  
Core Skills ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Published Research

Despite the well-documented elevated rates of suicidality among people with disabilities, no published research has examined rehabilitation counselors’ experiences or perceived competency in suicide assessment or intervention. In the present study, we surveyed 223 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors from state VR offices in eight states regarding their experiences with, knowledge of, and perceived comfort with and competency in suicide assessment and intervention. Almost a quarter of participants worked with suicidal clients once a month or more, with more than half reporting working with suicidal clients at least once a year. Two thirds of participants reported having received some training related to suicide, and participants demonstrated both a good knowledge of suicide myths and facts, and a willingness to work with suicidal clients. However, most participants did not perceive themselves as being competent in core skills related to suicide assessment and intervention. These results suggest that more clinical training in suicide assessment and intervention is needed for VR counselors.

The Rehabilitation Problems and needs of the Spinal-Cord Injured: A Pilot Study

1976 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Felice ◽  
John E. Muthard ◽  
Laurie S. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Spinal Cord Injured

The findings of a pilot study of spinal-cord injury in Florida covering three topics are reported: 1) the incidence of spinal-cord injury in Florida, 2) the experiences of spinal-cord injured (SCI) persons and vocational rehabilitation counselors and their perceptions of the adequacy of their community's treatment and rehabilitation services for the SCI, and 3) the availability of facilities, equipment, and personnel for the care of SCI individuals in Florida. Recent developments in care for the SCI in Florida are discussed.

Disability and the Asian Culture

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny K. Yan ◽  
Michael P. Accordino ◽  
Daniel L. Boutin ◽  
Keith B. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Pacific Islander ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Asian Culture ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Asian Pacific Islander ◽  
Asian Descent ◽  
Asian Pacific ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Pacific Islander Population

Contemporary demographics reveal that the Asian Population is the fastest growing minority in the U.S. Thus, vocational rehabilitation counselors must be prepared to face cultural dynamics that can influence outcomes in the treatment process. While many people may view Asians as a homogenous population, people who are of Asian descent come from many places including, but not limited to Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, Vietnam and Asian/Pacific Islander population. The present study provides information about the Asian culture relative to people with disabilities and seeks to give clinicians more tools to apply when working with people who are of Asian descent. Asians represent 4.8% of the civilian non-institutionalized population. Since the Asian/Pacific Islander population is a large racial ethnic group in the U.S., it is important to understand how vocational rehabilitation counselors educate them to live in their new land.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ Experiences with and Knowledge of Non-suicidal Self-Injury

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Emily M. Lund ◽  
Jared C. Schultz ◽  
Michael R. Nadorff ◽  
Katie B. Thomas ◽  
Dalia Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ◽  
Knowledge Questionnaire ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Training And Support

This study examined experiences with and knowledge of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among a multistate sample of 253 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors. Over 90% of counselors reported working with clients who had expressed thoughts or behaviors related to NSSI, and over 20% reported doing so once a month or more. Only 44.7% reported having received training on NSSI. Scores on a brief NSSI knowledge questionnaire demonstrated generally accurate responses but also some gaps in knowledge. These findings indicate that rehabilitation counselors in public VR settings frequently work with clients who display thoughts and behaviors related to NSSI and may benefit from training and support in this area.

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