This syllabus is a representative sample for this course. Specific information such as texts, assignments, and schedule may vary by semester.

Florida Atlantic University
College of Education
Department of Counselor Education

 

Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery
RCS 6031

 


Larry G. Kontosh, Ph.D.
561/297-2806 Office
561/865-9372 Home
lkontosh@fau.edu email

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a survey of the historical, sociological, theoretical, legislative, and operational foundations of rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation service delivery as these issues specifically relate to persons with disabilities¾physical, intellectual, or psychiatric, and whether congenital or acquired.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To provide students with knowledge and understanding of the:

1. History and sociology of disability and related concepts in the United States.
2. Attitudinal, physical, and systemic barriers to full social participation for persons with disabilities.
3. History and philosophy of vocational rehabilitation and rehabilitation counseling.
4. Federal legislation which supports the provision of rehabilitation services and the civil rights of persons with disabilities.
5. Vocational rehabilitation process, and standards and scope of practice.
6. The Unified Code of Ethics of the rehabilitation profession.
7. The impacts of disability.
8. Services available to persons with disabilities.

C.O.R.E COMPETENCIES ADDRESSED
C.2.1, C.2.3

TEXTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

1. Parker, R. M. & Szymanski, E. M. (Eds.) (1998) Rehabilitation counseling: Basics and beyond. New York: Springer Publishing.

2. American Psychological Association (1994). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

3. Supplementary Reading----A packet of readings will be made available for student use on loan from the instructor, and will be on reserve in the library.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Complete all assigned readings. Each reading is to be done in advance of the class day.

2. Attend all class sessions. Attendance at all classes is mandatory. Only 1 class absence is allowed with the instructor's permission. Each absence beyond the first will result in a 20-point reduction in the total points available for this course.

3. 2 non-cumulative examinations will be given. They will consist of multiple choice and/or written, short-answer questions.

4. A facility visitation paper is required. This paper will report on the student's visitation to a rehabilitation facility agreed upon in advance with the instructor. The student will interview the director or a designate, and as many of the facility staff as possible. A topical outline will be provided by the instructor that reflects the minimum areas of the facility's operation the student will explore with staff. If possible and only with the director's permission, the student should attempt to observe service delivery in progress. The paper will include a report of the experience, the student's observations, and the student's impressions of the experience. This assignment will culminate with a classroom presentation on the visitation.

5. A library research paper is required. The topic of this paper is to be mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor. Students will select a specific topic in rehabilitation that is of interest to them. Topics can include, but are not limited to: a disabling condition from a rehabilitation stand point, disability rights, civil rights of persons with disabilities, service delivery issues/concerns, biography/history of a prominent figure in rehabilitation, or other topic as agreed. The paper will be 12 to 15 pages long (exclusive of bibliography), and will be in CORRECT APA style.

COURSE EVALUATIONS

1. Class participation & attendance, 25 points
2. Exam I 50 points
3. Exam II 50 points
4. Facility paper & presentation 75 points
5. Research paper 100 points
TOTAL 300 POINTS

GRADING

A 282-300 Points
A- 270-281 Points
B+ 258-269 Points
B 249-257 Points
B- 240-248 Points
C+ 228-239 Points
C 219-227 Points
C- 210-218 Points
F 0-209 Points


SYLLABUS
The instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule, the topics covered, the assignments made, the evaluations required, or otherwise as may be need to effectively teach the material to be covered. Such adjustments will be made and announced at the beginning of the class or prior to the affected session if possible.

Week Class Content and Activities Student Preparation Presenter &
Style Used
Evaluations
Week 1
Orientation & background material
1. Overview
2. Outline of course
3. Assignments
4. APA Style
Text: APA Style Manual Ch. 1, 2, & 3

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 2
Foundations of VR & Laws Effecting Rehabilitation
1. Foundations
2. History
3. Law
4. Present Practice
Text: Parker: & Szymanski Ch.1
Readings: Chabon, R.; Cottone, R.; Dejong, G.; Schriner, K.

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 3
Scope of Practice
1. Scope of practice
2. Roles & Competencies
Readings: Hershenson, D.; Mandeville, K.;

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 4
Ethics
1. Ethics
2. Development
3. Unified Code of Ethics
Text: Parker: & Syzmanski
Ch. 6
Readings: Blackwell, T.

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 5
Impact of
Disability I
1. Cognitive & Developmental Delay-base impacts
2. Functional limitations
Text: Parker: & Szymanski
Ch. 7, 8
Readings: Neglieri

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 6
Impact of
Disability II
1. Psychological impacts
2. Social impacts
3. Functional limitations
Text: Parker: & Syzmanski
Ch. 9

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 7
Impact of
Disability III
1. Vocational impacts
2. Avocational impacts
Text: Parker: & Syzmanski
Ch. 5, 10, 11, 12
Readings: National Center

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

 
Week 8
Practice Settings & Service Delivery I
1. Mid Term Exam
2. State-Federal VR system Overview
Text: Parker: & Syzmanski
Ch. 2. Readings: Syzmanski, E. 1994

Kontosh
Lecture & Group discussion

Mid term Exam
Week 9
Practice Settings & Service Delivery II
1. FL VR System
2. Private sector VR overview
Text: Parker: & Syzmanski
Ch. 3
Readings: Jacques, M.; Livneh, H.
1.Guest Speaker from FL State VR
2. Kontosh Lecture
 
Week 10
Practice Settings & Service Delivery III
1. Case management in the private sector
2. Disability Rights & Independent Living Overview
Text: Parker: & Syzmanski
Ch. 4
Readings: Degan, P.; Hahn, H.
1.Guest Speaker from a case management firm
2. Kontosh Lecture
 
Week 11
Practice Settings & Service Delivery IV
1. Disability rights/Indepen-dent Living in FL
2. Rehabilitation Centers Overview
Readings: Holms, G.; Arokiasamy, C.; Scheer, J. 1. Guest speaker from IL Movement
2. Kontosh Lecture
 
Week 12
Practice Settings
& Service Delivery V
1. Rehabilitation centers' role in rehabilitation
2. Fee-for-service/Indepen-dent practice Overview
Readings: Wang, C 1. Guest speaker from a Rehab Facility
2. Kontosh
Facility paper due
Week 13
Practice Settings & Service Delivery VI
Disability Determination I
1. Independent practice in FL
2. Disability Determination
Readings: Wehman, P 1. Guest speaker from Private Practice
2. Kontosh
Lecture
 
Week 14
Disability Determination II
1. SSA Outsourcing Pgm.
2. Long-term Disability Overview
Readings: U. S. Department of Health 1. Guest speaker from State Disability Determination Agency
2. Kontosh
Lecture
 
Week 15
Disability Determination III
1. Long term disability in FL
2. VA disability program
Readings: Syzmanski, E. 1988 1. Guest speaker Insurance Carrier
2. Kontosh
Lecture
Research paper due
Week 16 (Finals Week) 1. Wrap up
2. Final Exam
  Kontosh Final Exam

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arokiasamy, C. Rubin, S., & Roessler, R. (1995). Sociological aspects of disability. In S. Rubin & R. Roessler (Eds.), Foundations of the rehabilitation process, 91-113. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Blackwell, T. (1998). Ethics in Rehabilitation. Athens, GA: E & F Vocational Services.

Chubon, R. (1992). Defining rehabilitation from a systems perspective: Critical implications. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 23 (1), 27-31.

Cottone, R. & Emener, W. (1990). The psychomedical paradigm of vocational rehabilitation and its alternatives. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 34 (2), 91-102.

Degan, P. (1992). The Independent Living movement and people with psychiatric disabilities: Taking back control of own lives. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 15, (3), 3-19.

Dejong, G. & Batavia, A. (1990). The Americans with Disabilities Act and the current state of U. S. disability policy. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 3 (1), 65-75.

Hahn, H. (1984) Reconceptualizing disability A political science perspective. Rehabilitation Literature, 45 (11), 362-365.

Hershenson, D. (1990). A theoretical model for rehabilitation counseling. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 33, (2), 268-275.

Holmes, G. & Karst, R. (1990). The institutionalization of disability myths: Impact on vocational rehabilitation services. Journal of Rehabilitation, 56 (1), 20-27.

Jacobson, J. W. & Malick, J. A. (1997). Manual of diagnosis and professional practice in mental retardation. Washington: American Psychological Association.

Jacques, M. & Hershenson, D. (1970). Culture, work, and deviance: Implications for rehabilitation counseling. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 13 (1), 49-56.

Livneh, H. (1989). Rehabilitation intervention strategies: Their integration and classification. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 55 (2), 21-30.

Mandeville, K. & Brabham, R. (1992). The state-federal vocational rehabilitation program. In R. Parker & E. Szymanski (Eds.), Rehabilitation counseling Basics and Beyond (2nd ed.), 43-72. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (1993). Transition summary: Transition services in the IEP. Washington, DC: Author.

Neglieri, J. A. & Reardon, S. M. (1993). Traditional IQ is irrelevant to learning disabilities¾Intelligence is not. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 26, 127-133.

Nihira, K., Weisner, T. S. & Bernheimer, L. P. (1994). Ecocultural assessment in families of children with developmental delays: Construct and concurrent validity. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 98, 551-556.

Parker, R. & Szymanski, E. (Eds.). (1998) Rehabilitation counseling: Basics and beyond (3rd Ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Rubin, S. & Roessler, R. (1995) Foundations of the vocational rehabilitation process. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Scheer, J. & Groce, N. (1988) Impairment as a human constant: Cross-cultural and historical perspectives on variation. Journal of Social Issues, 44(1), 37-41.

Schriner, K. (1996). The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992: Initiatives and issues. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 27(1), 37-41.

Social Security Administration (1994). Disability Evaluation Under Social Security. Washington, DC: author.
Szymanski, E. (1994). Transition: Life span and life-space considerations for employment. Exceptional Children, 60(5), 402-410.

Wang, C. (1995). Culture, meaning, and disability: Injury prevention programs and the production of stigma. In M. Nagler (ed.), Perspectives disability (2nd ed.), 77-90. Palo Alto, CA: Health Markets Research.

Wehman, P. (1988). Supported employment: Toward zero exclusion of persons with severe disabilities. In P. Wehman and S. Moon (Eds.), Vocational rehabilitation and supported employment. Baltimore, MD: Brooks Publishing Company.