An easy-to-use toolkit for applying evidence-based practices is now available for vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors. This toolkit was developed specifically for VR Counselors working to improve employment, and quality of employment, outcomes of people with disabilities. It is based on research conducted by the RRTC-EBP VR and contains valuable insights and instruction from the cumulative experience of VR service providers, …
Findings from the Field: Symposium on Evidence-Based Practices in Rehabilitation Counseling and Forum of the U.S. Department of Education’s RSA’s Technical Assistance Centers
“This was a truly fantastic conference… It was refreshing to see a conference that was evidence-based and designed to provide tools and resources to VR professionals both in academia and in the field in our endeavor to serve individuals with significant functional limitations reach their vocational goal. Well done!” Approximately 150 vocational rehabilitation researchers, administrators, educators, and counselors participated in …
Bridging the Gap: A Comparative Assessment of Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Practices with Transition-Age Youth
Background Transition from school to work or post-secondary education is often challenging for youth with disabilities. Research has shown that youth with disabilities have lower high school graduation and employment rates than youth without disabilities. The majority of youth with disabilities have traditionally received transition services from schools. However, youth participation in these programs varies widely, as do the services …
Findings Featured in Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
The RRTC-EBP-VR is pleased to announce that findings from its Phase II study are featured in a Special Issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation: Evidence-based Best Practices in the Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program that Lead to Employment Outcomes You can access it FREE at IOS Press. Articles include: Evidence-based Best Practices in the Public Vocational Rehabilitation Program that Lead …
Path Analysis of a Self-Determination Model of Work Motivation in Vocational Rehabilitation
Researchers from the RRTC-EBP VR and partner Universities presented at the National Council on Rehabilitation Education’s Spring Conference in Newport Beach, CA in April of 2016. They shared with attendees their recent path analysis of a self-determination model of work motivation in relation to increasing employment and improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. You can download their presentation materials here: Path Analysis …
Evidence-Based Practices: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How
Experts from the RRTC-EBP VR shared information about evidence-based practice (EBP) with practitioners at the National Rehabilitation Association’s Annual Training Conference in Richmond, Virginia, in September of 2016. The interactive presentation helped attendees define the term “EBP,” encouraged discussion on the importance of integrating EBP into vocational rehabilitation (VR) practice, and provided resources and examples of EBP that can be provided in …
Reducing the Need for Personal Supports Among Workers with Autism Using an iPod Touch as an Assistive Technology: Delayed Randomized Control Trial
Background Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have lower rates of competitive employment and post-secondary education than their peers with other types of disabilities. The challenges they face are often attributed to functional difficulties related to cognition, behavior, communication, and sensory perception. At the same time, they often offer characteristics perceived as valuable by employers, such as logical and mathematical …
Social-Cognitive Motivational Interviewing Competency Ratings Prepared for Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Preliminary Report
The RRTC-EBP VR provided technical assistance and training to Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services related to the provision of motivational interviewing (MI) intervention services to DVR consumers. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of MI training on perceived counselor competencies in the areas of self-efficacy, benefits, barriers, stages of change/action, and working alliance. Ratings were analyzed between beginner, …
VR Counselors’ Engagement in Knowledge Translation Processes: Preliminary Results
Preliminary results are in for the RRTC’s study to identify incentives, barriers, and specific training needs of vocational rehabilitation (VR) practitioners related to participation in a knowledge translation process, and to learn if acquiring new knowledge about evidence-based practices (EBP) results in applying and sharing such knowledge. This study builds on information gained in the RRTC’s 2012 study to learn what …
An Upstream Approach to Acquiring, Applying, and Sharing Evidence-Based Practice in Vocational Rehabilitation
Does acquiring new knowledge about evidence-based practices by VR Counselors result in applying and sharing such knowledge? How do master’s level VR students perceive the importance of evidence-based practices, and their ability to implement them as future professionals? The RRTC-EBP VR, in partnership with UW-Stout’s Department of Rehabilitation & Counseling, addressed these questions at the National Rehabilitation Association’s Annual Training …