The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of employment and earnings for college graduates with visual impairments, with an emphasis on the impact of college degree major on these outcomes. We utilized American Community Survey data to conduct a multinomial logistic regression analysis predicting employment (full-time/full-year versus less than full-time/full-year and not working) and a multiple regression analysis predicting annual earnings. Our predictor variables included demographic factors previously related to employment outcomes plus 25 college degree majors. Degree majors explained little variance in employment and earnings, although several specific majors were associated with these outcomes. Five majors predicted both: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Nursing, Accounting, and Finance. Age, gender, race, receipt of Social Security benefits, additional disabilities, having an advanced degree, and class of worker (earnings model only) were stronger predictors of employment outcomes than degree major. Degree majors that had significant relationships with earnings and employment in our study generally coincide with those for the general population. Vocational rehabilitation counselors should inform their consumers with visual impairments who are pursuing a college degree of differences in earnings and employment rates based on degree major.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic represented a critical moment for technology use within rehabilitation counseling. This study explored trends in the beliefs and behaviors of certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs) regarding the ethical use of technology before and during the pandemic. Specifically, this study compared two groups of CRCs regarding the degree to which they engaged in 59 technology behaviors and whether they viewed each behavior to be ethical. Overall, group comparisons suggested an increased use of telephone, videoconferencing, and email to deliver counseling, assessment, and supervision services during the pandemic. Furthermore, supervision via videoconferencing and email in the pandemic were rated as more ethically appropriate than before the pandemic. As a general trend, synchronous modes of communication such as the telephone and video conferencing were rated as more ethically appropriate than asynchronous modes such as social networking and text messaging. Indicating a high degree of congruence between beliefs and behaviors, the technology practices viewed as most ethical were used the most often. Implications address the revisions to the regarding the ethical use of technology in rehabilitation counseling.

This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-6 (K6) with a nationally representative clinical sample with various mental health disorders. The cross-sectional, nationally representative, and publicly available data were extracted from the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS), which was sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). After excluding certain individuals for the purpose of this study, we had a total of 1,863 participants. The highest and lowest psychological distress weighted scores were reported by individuals with bipolar disorder ( = 17.16) and individuals with schizophrenia ( = 16.09), respectively, although psychological distress interference was highest in individuals with schizophrenia ( = 2.44). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results yielded a unidimensional factor solution for K6 scale in all subgroups. The K6 is a brief, reliable, and valid measure of psychological distress in adults with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

American Indian cancer survivors are an underserved and understudied group. In this pilot study we attempted to address, through participatory action research, missing information about those factors that serve to either facilitate employment or hinder it for adult cancer survivors. One task of the study was to develop and/or modify instrumentation that could be used in a subsequent, in-depth census study. The pilot sample consisted of 10 cancer survivors, all members of a Northern Minnesota American Indian tribe, and 10 family members. All survivors reported having health problems such as fatigue since their cancer treatments. Rehabilitation counselors can assist survivors and their family members by advising them in regard to employment discrimination and accommodations such as flexible work schedules.

The ethical issues inherent in rehabilitation counselor supervision are discussed. More specifically, the following topics are addressed: (a) emerging ethical standards in rehabilitation counseling supervision, (b) supervisory relationship vulnerability and codes of ethics applicable to rehabilitation supervision, and (c) ethical concerns that are common to supervision.

This study tested an eight-factor model of client actions/decisions in terms of the extent to which professionals counseling persons with HIV/AIDS believed that those actions/decisions presented ethical dilemmas, and the frequency with which they encountered such actions. A confirmatory factor analysis lent initial support for the hypothetical eight-factor ethical-dilemma model for the ratings regarding the extent to which the participants believed those items constituted ethical dilemmas. Similar results were obtained for the frequency ratings, but in this case a second, competing model was equally plausible. Several significant predictors of participant ratings were found and are discussed.

This article provides an overview of the ethical and professional trends and concerns that led to the formation of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification "Ethics Task Force." This task force has been charged with rewriting the ethical code for rehabilitation counselors. Historical issues, the Commission's ethics review process, and the present code are briefly analyzed. Procedures used by the task force for revising the code are outlined. Code revisions should serve the profession by guiding ethical and professional practice well into the 21st century.

This article reviews ethical issues that rehabilitation educators may face in meeting their everyday teaching and research responsibilities. Issues presented include dual relationships; selection of students; measurement of student competence; supervision of students; confidentiality concerning student information; faculty competence; multicultural issues; and the design, conduction, and publication of research. Applicable ethical codes are described, and appropriate actions are suggested.

The concept of choice, which has been inherent in the rehabilitation process since its inception, has evolved into legal mandates and ethical challenges for rehabilitation professionals during the latter part of the 20th century. This article identifies the ethical and legal issues related to choice, summarizes a pilot project on rehabilitation counselors' perceptions of choice, and provides recommendations for rehabilitation professionals in the resolving ethical dilemmas related to choice.

Although all counselors face ethical challenges, addictions counselors encounter ethical issues that are, in many respects, unique to their discipline. This article provides an overview of these issues, which include but are not limited to (a) the lack of communication and continuity between research and clinical practice, (b) lack of agreement over the necessary professional credentials, (c) the questionable propensity of group work in the addictions field, (d) special issues of confidentiality and privileged communication, (e) boundaries of professional practice in making treatment decisions, and (f) unusual circumstances of informed consent. In addressing these issues, addictions counselors must not only uphold the ethical standards of their profession, they must also be cognizant of any federal statutes that may supersede their state regulations and act in accordance with them.

As the private sector rehabilitation industry matures, certain ethical and malpractice issues have emerged. This article provides an overview of ethical issues in private for-profit practice, with particular focus on expert testimony, using examples from a sample of claims filed with the National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector (NARPS), malpractice insurance companies, selected court cases, and complaints submitted to NARPPS Standards Compliance Review Board Committee and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. It is evident that complaints have a direct relationship to at least half of the ethical canons of the Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors because they most frequently involve issues related to competence, the client-counselor relationship, professional relationships, confidentiality, and use of the certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) designation.

Given vocational rehabilitation's (VR) substantial role in workforce development, it follows that agencies would encourage and support consumers using the most current job-seeking methods, including social media. Recent data, however, show that online strategies are limited in VR practice and that many agencies lack comprehensive policies to guide social media use. We conducted a qualitative analysis to examine current VR social media policies and procedures and offer recommendations for policy development. Through an examination of open coding of 22 policies and one guideline, we identified seven themes and 25 subthemes, which mapped onto recommended social media policy elements from research. Only two VR policies, however, covered themes in a comprehensive way, and only one policy acknowledged social media as a tool for consumer job search. This outcome is an oversight given the emphasis social media plays in employment networking, proof of performance, and skills demonstration when seeking employment.