This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.
Also Known As:Blind Rehabilitation Specialist, Care Navigator, Career Navigator, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Classification Counselor, Client Navigator, Client Trainer, Developmental Disabilities Specialist +53 more
Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
Participate in job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
Collaborate with clients' families to implement rehabilitation plans, such as behavioral, residential, social, or employment goals.
Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools or community groups.
Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.
Arrange for on-site job coaching or assistive devices, such as specially equipped wheelchairs, to help clients adapt to work or school environments.
Arrange for physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and developing rehabilitation plans.
Confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals to develop and implement client rehabilitation programs.
Collaborate with community agencies to establish facilities and programs for persons with disabilities.
Supplemental Tasks (3)
Manage budgets and direct case service allocations, authorizing expenditures and payments.
Supervise rehabilitation counselors and staff.
Develop diagnostic procedures to determine clients' needs.
Education & Training
Job Zone 4Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Bachelor's Degree
56%
Master's Degree
28%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
13%
Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.
2%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.