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Rehabilitation Counseling and Employment Professional Division

Rehabilitation Counseling and Employment Professional Division

Statement of Purpose

The Rehabilitation Counseling and Employment (RCE) Professional Division addresses critical professional needs within the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) that are not fully represented within existing divisions. While current divisions address important specialty areas—such as Orientation & Mobility, Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, Aging, Psychosocial Services, and Assistive Technology—none offer a comprehensive focus on employment, vocational rehabilitation, career development, and employer engagement as they specifically relate to individuals who are blind or have low vision, and the service providers who serve them.

Employment is a central outcome of rehabilitation and a core element of independence, economic stability, and quality of life. However, blindness-specific employment services require a unique blend of knowledge and practice across rehabilitation counseling, vocational evaluation, workforce development, occupational and psychological assessment, benefits counseling, assistive technology, blindness rehabilitation services, employer training, and transition services. These elements cross multiple professions and agency systems and therefore require a dedicated platform for collaboration, research, advocacy, and training.

 

Statement of Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of the Rehabilitation Counseling and Employment Division support the advancement of professional practice, workforce development, research, and the mission of AER. These goals are designed to promote excellence in employment-related services and ensure that members across interdisciplinary fields have access to resources, leadership, and professional support.

Goal 1: Advance Professional Competence in Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation 

Objectives:

  • Develop and disseminate professional standards, competencies, and evidence-based practices for employment services in blindness rehabilitation.
  • Offer continuing education, webinars, and conference programming aligned with CRC, ACVREP, and other credentials.
  • Facilitate training in specialized areas such as vocational assessment, AT for employment, benefits counseling, employer engagement, and workplace accessibility, employment and multiple disability.

Goal 2: Support Research and Knowledge Development 

Objectives:

  • Promote and disseminate research on employment outcomes, vocational methods, and program effectiveness.
  • Encourage collaboration with universities, research centers, and VR agencies.
  • Serve as a hub for sharing data-driven insights to strengthen services across the field.

Goal 3: Enhance Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Workforce Development 

Objectives:

  • Create collaborations across AER divisions on issues of intersecting employment needs.
  • Develop mentorship programs for early-career professionals entering VR or employment-related roles.
  • Support leadership development pipelines that contribute to workforce stability and retention.

Goal 4: Strengthen Best Practices for Employment Outcomes   

Objectives:

  • Promote best practices in career exploration, vocational evaluation, job readiness training, job placement, and long-term support.
  • Strengthen the role of VR counseling and employment services across all stages of the rehabilitation process, including Pre-ETS, adult VR, and supported employment.
  • Develop tools and resources for agencies and practitioners, including employer training materials and accessibility guides.

Goal 5: Advocacy for Policy, Funding, and Systems Change 

Objectives:

  • Inform AER’s policy agenda on issues affecting employment and VR services, such as WIOA reauthorization, funding for programs, and related policy and regulations.
  • Produce policy briefs and position statements related to employment services and workforce development needs.
  • Advocate for equitable access, workplace accommodations, and inclusive employment policies.

Goal 6: Strengthen Relationships with Employers and Workforce Partners 

Objectives:

  • Develop outreach initiatives to educate employers about blindness, accessibility, accommodations, and inclusive hiring.
  • Promote partnerships with workforce boards, federal contractors, HR associations, and DEIA-focused organizations.
  • Encourage employer participation in AER activities and create employer-facing resources.

Goal 7: Promote Student, Trainee, and Emerging Professional Engagement 

Objectives:

  • Support students in rehabilitation counseling, blindness rehabilitation, and employment related fields.
  • Provide networking spaces, leadership opportunities, and student-focused conference programming.
  • Encourage university programs to engage with the division for curriculum relevance and fieldwork placement opportunities.

 

Membership Criteria and Acceptable Documentation

The RCE Professional Division is open to a range of professionals whose work intersects with employment for individuals who are blind or have low vision, or DeafBlind. To ensure appropriate alignment with AER’s mission and standards, and to become a Fellow of the AER RCE Professional Division, one (1) of the following pathways are required to meet membership criteria.

Pathway 1: A university degree or certificate in a relevant professional field, as evidenced by:

  • Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Vocational Evaluation
  • Counseling
  • Rehabilitation Studies
  • Blind Rehabilitation/Vision Studies
  • Workforce Development
  • Social Work
  • Special Education
  • Psychology

Pathway 2: Certification or licensure from an appropriate certifying or licensing body, as evidenced by:

  • CRC/CRCC – Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
  • CVE – Certified Vocational Evaluator
  • CVRT – Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
  • COMS – Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist
  • CATIS – Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist
  • LPC, LMHC, LMSW/LCSW or other counseling licensure
  • HR, workforce, or employment-related certifications

Pathway 3: Demonstrated professional experience as evidenced by

  • Verified through a resume, CV, or documented employment history
  • Must show involvement in one or more of the following:
  • State or federal vocational rehabilitation
  • Workforce development or employment programs
  • Blindness rehabilitation services
  • Employer engagement, DEIA leadership, or HR accessibility roles
  • Higher education or research related to VR or employment
  • Assistive technology training or workplace accommodations
  • Vocational evaluation or career assessment
  • Transition and Pre-ETS services

 

Members may participate in this Professional Division as either a Fellow or an Associate Member.

  • Fellow: Fellows are voting members of the Professional Division. To be considered for Fellow status, members must submit acceptable documentation showing that they meet the approved membership criteria for this division.
  • Associate Member: Associate Members are non-voting members of the Professional Division. Documentation is not required. Associate Members will receive division-specific communications and may be invited to division webinars, meetings, and events.

To join the Rehabilitation Counseling and Employment Professional Division, please email [email protected] and clearly indicate whether you are requesting to participate as a Fellow or as an Associate Member.

If requesting Fellow status, please attach acceptable documentation for review. Notification of review status will be provided within one week of email receipt.