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Our project, funded under the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) – Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, aims to address critical personnel shortages in the vocational rehabilitation (VR) workforce. The program prepares RSA scholars (students) with the advanced knowledge and clinical competencies to support individuals with a wide range of disabilities in achieving meaningful employment and community participation.

There is a significant shortage of vocational rehabilitation counselors in the border region, including El Paso, Texas, and southern New Mexico. Both the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (NMDVR) have identified persistent and emerging staffing gaps. This grant helps us respond directly to these workforce needs by producing qualified rehabilitation counselors who are ready for immediate employment in state VR systems. The project is fully aligned with the mission of the State–Federal VR Program to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment and full participation in society. It also supports the mission of our Master of Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC/CRC) program to graduate counselors with the professional skills needed to work effectively in public and nonprofit rehabilitation settings.

This is a collaborative effort between the College of Education and the College of Health Sciences. The project team includes Dr. Beverley Argus-Calvo, Dr. Veronica Estala-Guiterrez, Dr. Yun-Pai Lee, Dr. Chu-Ling Lo, and Dr. Emre Umucu.

We are most excited about the opportunity to support students who are committed to serving individuals with disabilities through meaningful careers in vocational rehabilitation. The grant significantly reduces the financial burden of completing a 60-credit master’s program by fully supporting students’ tuition and providing additional funding for professional development, including conference travel. These opportunities strengthen students’ professional identity, expand their networks, and help them stay current with evidence-based practices in the field.

The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program emphasizes preparing students to understand and address the unique vocational needs of individuals with physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, and psychiatric disabilities. Students also gain training in assistive technology, employer engagement strategies, and the medical and psychosocial aspects of disability. All of which are essential for facilitating successful employment outcomes.

We encourage anyone interested in rehabilitation counseling to apply. Students who receive this funding are required to work in the vocational rehabilitation.