Program Objectives

At the completion of the Rehabilitation Services program, students will have developed the
knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe the various physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities experienced by

people who receive rehabilitation services and understand their functional limitations.
2. Understand the medical and psychosocial impact of disabilities.
3. Understand the impact of society's attitudes towards disabilities on the treatment of
people with disabilities.
4. Understand how physical, mental, gender, racial, cultural, and environmental variables
interact to affect the lives of people with disabilities.
5. Develop interaction skills to accommodate cultural sensitivity when working with
consumers and their families.
6. Be familiar with the wide variety of generic and specialized community resources
available to serve people with disabilities.
7. Describe the major services provided in rehabilitation (e.g., rehabilitation counseling,
vocational evaluation, adjustment services, job placement, physical restoration,
environmental adaptations).
8. Identify the roles of different professionals in the field of rehabilitation including those
trained at the undergraduate level and those trained at the graduate level.
9. Understand the role of the rehabilitation case manager in coordinating services for people
with disabilities.
10. Understand the local, state, and federal laws that affect rehabilitation services and the
rights of people with disabilities.
11. Understand the importance of advocacy (including self-advocacy) in the field of
rehabilitation.
12. Develop skills to empower consumers to be active participants in their own rehabilitation
plan.
13. Apply the principles of behavior analysis and therapy to human needs and problems
including:
a. defining and measuring target behaviors,
b. developing appropriate behavioral interventions, and
c. evaluating behavior change.
14. Understand the ethical principles that guide the rehabilitation field.
15. Develop the verbal, written, and nonverbal communication skills necessary to work with
people with disabilities, their families, and other service providers.
16. Develop basic rehabilitation service delivery skills including
a. writing intakes, progress notes, and other technical writing,
b. interviewing and active listening,
c. working as a team member,
d. ensuring confidentiality, and
e. understanding duty to warn.
17. Describe the rehabilitation process and techniques used to evaluate eligibility for
services, assess consumers to identify employment and independent living options,
develop appropriate treatment plans, and provide follow-up.
18. Understand the similarities and differences among public, private not-for-profit, and
private-for-profit rehabilitation practice.
19. Understand the community-based employment options for individuals with disabilities.
20. Be familiar with the changing demographics (e.g., gender, cultural diversity, age) in the
workforce.
21. Develop knowledge and skills to apply basic behavior analytic skills to problems of
social significance in residential programs, employment settings, schools, and community
programs.
22. Be familiar with the theories of cause and development of drug and alcohol abuse, the
consequences of abuse, classes and types of drugs, and legislation and current issues
related to substance abuse and addiction.
23. Be familiar with the social, political, economic, and legal issues pertinent to an aging
society and rehabilitation.
24. Develop the knowledge and skills pertinent to the procedures and programs provided to
persons with developmental disabilities.
25. Develop the knowledge and skills pertinent to the procedures and programs provided to
persons with psychiatric disabilities.
26. Develop the knowledge and skills to train, supervise, and evaluate employees who are
providing direct care to consumers.
27. Be familiar with the professional organizations, professional journals, and job
opportunities in the field of rehabilitation.