The Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) degree, awarded by the Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling is consistent with the professional needs of the state federal rehabilitation program, and public and private rehabilitation agencies and facilities. The program employs a combination of course work, practicum, and internship experiences to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to assist in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities to help them achieve the highest level of functioning consistent with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Program Objectives

The University of Kentucky Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling (UK-GPRC) serves UK's strategic goals and objectives by preparing rehabilitation counselors to work in settings which include (a) the state federal rehabilitation program, (b) rehabilitation facilities, (c) sheltered workshops, (d) hospital and medical facilities, (e) proprietary rehabilitation companies, and (f) other public and private rehabilitation agencies. The program prepares generalists with the skills and competencies needed to function with individuals who have severe disabilities. In response to the mandates established for rehabilitation programs, the UK-GPRC has been established as an interdiscilinary, competency based approach to the training of rehabilitation counselors. Following are the program objectives.

Pre-Service Education - Students

To prepare masters level rehabilitation counselors in the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to work with individuals who have a disability, with an emphasis on cultural diversity, individuals with a severe disability and serving persons with disabilities from minority backgrounds.

To recruit high quality students, especially minority and individuals with disabilities, as well as underrepresented persons, such as Native American, and Hispanic populations, Asian and Pacific Islander, and other underserved groups.

Pre-Service Education - Program

To provide class and field training to students to interpret education and employment data, and understand medical, social, and psychological information to assess the impact of disability interms of cultural diversity, attitudinal barriers, vocational functioning, independent living, and adjustment within the family and community.

To provide didactic and field training oppurtunities in independent living, severe disability, especially orthopedic, traumatic brain injury, vision, hearing, mental illness, learning disabiiities, family involvement, and cultural diversity.

To prepare students in the skills needed to provide effective planning and coordination of rehabilitation services, interpersonal teamwork, and to determine community options to facilitate client integration into the community, and function in the role of client advocate.

To prepare rehabilitation counselors to work with business, industry, and clients in terms of job placement including employment outcomes, employability skill development, job development and identifying employment oppurtunities, job analysis, restructuring, modification, placement, and rehabilitation engineering.

To develop in students the ability to develop positive employer relations, and consult with employers to discuss and train them with regard to the removal of barriers to employment, to understand the vocational impact of different disabilities, and the vocational implications of those disabilities.

To prepare counselors to work with the client assistance program and understand the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, particularly with regard to nondiscrimination and placement of clients into training and employment.

To prepare students to provide vocational and independent living services for the transition from school to work, and community based options, and understand supported employment practices.

To train students in casework procedures and ethical practices.

Rehabilitation Research

To conduct rehabilitation research aimed at improving the quality of life and enhancing the opportunities of persons with disabilities, as consistent with goals of the state-federal rehabilitation programs, and to incorporate research results into the UK-GPRC training program.

Program Quality

Through the Human Resource Development (HRD) concept to maintain and enhance cooperative relationships with the two state rehabilitation agencies, business and industries, the public school systems, rehabilitation organizations, and facilities in Kentucky; and continue to develop interdisciplinary training oppurtunities with related disciplines.

To maintain program accreditation by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE); for faculty to maintain CRC status; and to maintain program membership in the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE).

To keep informed of new developments in rehabilitation through journals, published research reports, and to participate in rehabilitation conferences and workshops.

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Updated on November 5, 2004 9:53 by the Webmaster - Content by Dr. Debra Harley