Providing Career Development Services to Veterans: Perceived Need, Acceptability, and Demand

Providing career development services, through career counseling and assessment, is part of vocational rehabilitation programming. However, there is no applied evidence that such career development services are feasible or accepted among individuals with psychiatric disorders. We examined feasibility (acceptability, demand, and perceived need) of the Vocational Evaluation Center (VEC), one veterans affairs (VA) hospital’s method of career development services for veterans with psychiatric disorders. Demographics, referral source, and service utilization were analyzed among 90 veterans referred to the VEC. Qualitative analysis identified patterns to veterans’ reasons for seeking VEC services. Veterans referred to the VEC were predominately unemployed and disabled. Veterans tolerated the intervention well, with 16.7% dropping out. Reported needs for VEC services included (a) vocational uncertainty, (b) functional considerations in vocational planning, and (c) finding purpose. Veterans with psychiatric disorders want career development services. The VEC model appears feasible, well-tolerated, and aligned with consumers’ needs.

A Case Review Study of a Young Adult with Low-Functioning Autistic Disorder transitioning from School to Work

The transition process from school to work is often challenging for young people, especially those with disabilities. In order to gather a meaningful transition, a cross battery assessment and a functional vocational evaluation are needed. In this case review study, a young adult aged 20 years 8 months, JC, had his autistic condition reviewed. Assessment was done so as to know the current status of JC’s abilities and skills and his state of readiness for vocational employment. With the results, JC could then use them to look for vocational training centers so as to develop more skills in the area of his vocational interest.

Clinical Judgment and the Utilization of Psychometric Instruments for Vocational Assessment

BackgroundOver the last 40 years advances in the field of rehabilitation counseling continue to play a major role in the professional identity, skills, and competencies of rehabilitation counselors. While advances have developed in several areas (e.g., multiculturalism, ethics) within the scope of rehabilitation counseling research and practice, there are research gaps for vocational evaluation and the psychometric properties of instruments utilized for assessment.ObjectiveThis study sought to investigate what psychometric instruments rehabilitation counselors utilize for assessment. Primarily, our goal was to seek major details in how practicing rehabilitation counselors utilize psychometric assessments in their work environments and any ethical concerns involved with their use. We sought to investigate the presence of what assessment tools are commonly used by rehabilitation counseling practitioners and the frequency with which they are used.MethodsData from 228 participants was analyzed using a mixed-methods research design with a goal of obtaining both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously. We sought to determine if there were any statistically significant differences on whether demographic variables affected the selection and use of psychometric assessments.FindingsAverage use of psychometric instruments for assessment use for the entire sample was low, at .66 (between “never” and “sometimes”). Average assessment use for the five subgroups ranged from .37 (body system function) to .99 (interests). Average use for individual assessments ranged from .08 to 2.07. There was a significant effect for education, (R2 = .039 F(1) = 8.82, p = .003).ConclusionsResults indicate higher education levels were associated with increased utilization of psychometric instruments. In addition, collaboration between psychometric assessments and clinical judgment have proven to be valuable in overall quality of rehabilitation services provided.