Being a Vocational Rehabilitation Assistant: My Experience

I wanted to do an internship before leaving URI for several reasons. First, Internships allow undergraduate students to gain knowledge and experience in their field of interest. By interning for both Disability Services and Career Services at URI, I have been able to work with disabled students in both a vocational and counseling environment. Second, this internship will look great on my resume for graduate school. Having intern experience in a field that relates to the program I'm applying to shows that I'm genuinely interested in pursuing a career and that I'm dedicated to higher learning. And third, Interning in these two offices has allowed me to network with amazing people who have gone through the process before and they have guided me and helped me better define my career goals. 

When I met with one of the new Coordinators for Disability Services at URI, I was working as a receptionist at Disability Services. I immediately expressed an interest in his field (Vocational Rehab Counseling), and would often meet with him on my free time to discuss graduate programs, job settings, etc. When I started thinking about internships, I went to the internship office to look through some of their contacts, and while a few stood out to me, none of them really incorporated both career counseling, mentoring, and people with disabilities- so I decided to do a little searching on my own and through Rhodynet. Since rehabilitation counseling programs do not exist until you get to the masters level in your education, many of the places I called (such as the Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services) would not hire me as an intern until I was enrolled in a VRC masters program. I went to the same coordinator I mentioned above about this, and he told me that he had been thinking about creating an internship with me in mind where I would help him recruit students with disabilities for the Workforce Recruitment Program, while at the same time, I would be “bridging the gap” between Disability Services and Career Services, by helping students with varying abilities utilize the services provided by the Career counselors in the most effective way possible. I was immediately in love with the idea. This internship will really give me an advantage over other students applying to VRC programs because I have gained rehabilitation counseling and career counseling experience and guidance while still in undergraduate school. After discussing this, we went over to Career Services, and pitched the idea to one of the career counselors there who was very supportive and willing to supervise my hours, he informed the Career Services staff of my arrival, and from there it was truly an extremely rewarding, advantageous opportunity for me. I am currently a Disability Services Employee working an additional 10 hours during the week. During this time, I handle all electronic book requests, downloads, and scans, and I manage the note-taker- note-needer hiring and posting system for all students who require those services.

Working on campus was an easy decision for me because of the nature of my career goals. Vocational Rehabilitation doesn't really exist for students until you get to a master's level program, so many of the placements I looked into (both from the Internship Office and through my own inquiry), were either not what I was looking for, or they would not hire me until I was enrolled in a Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Master's program. Working at Disability Services and Career Services under the supervision of a Vocational Rehab counselor and a Career counselor, I was able to get experience that I could not get anywhere else at this point in my education. I also live on campus, and I do not drive, so the on-campus location was extremely convenient for me.

The people at both of my placement sites were, and continue to be, so helpful. The work environment was comfortable, educational, and friendly. Everyone I have encountered has continued to be supportive, and since I've been working with Disability Services for 2 years, I am now even more familiar with the inner-workings of the office. My two biggest passions are Disability Advocacy and Disability Employment, and this internship has helped me learn more about both of those topics.

Networking at both of my placement sites has been a huge part of my experience this semester. At Disability Services I get to meet individuals who work with people with disabilities everyday, and who really know and understand the culture. For example, the woman I met with for my Informational Interview assignment, is not only a rehabilitation counselor, but is also president of the RI chapter of The National Association of the Blind. She has been able to incorporate advocacy into her career which is something I plan to do, whether I pursue rehab counseling or go straight into public policy reform.

  Through this internship, I have met a successful disabled attorney for the Department of Treasury, when she came to interview students for the Workforce Recruitment Program in October. Since then, we have emailed each other back and forth, and I heard that she is looking to hire an intern, with me in mind. I may not actually get to do an internship for her, but I never would have made a connection to such an influential woman if I had not done this internship.

I also got to attend the 2010 Rhode Island Employment First Summit this year to brainstorm with vocational rehabilitation counselors, politicians, and other committed individuals on how we can make Rhode Island more proactive in hiring people with disabilities.

Through Career Services, I have received access to multiple resources like scholarship information, and workshop details almost everyday just by being on their Staff list-serve. I also met a lot of the people who work at the Counseling Center in Roosevelt, just down the hall from me, and through them, I was able to help a student register with Disability Services, and then interview with WRP a few weeks later.

My experience  has definitely made me feel more prepared for my future. This internship will give me a leg-up over many other applicants because undergraduates are not usually in a position where they can get this kind of experience so early in their education. I am extremely knowledgeable about the unemployment situation for people with disabilities, vocational evaluation, and the politics and policies in place to ensure employment for all. Basically, with this internship I can safely say that I know what I'm talking about and I'm completely dedicated to my future.

I loved being able to recruit juniors, seniors, and recently graduated college students with disabilities to interview for the Workforce Recruitment Program, a program through the Federal government that helps disabled college students get job experience and  internship placements within the federal government from federal employers who understand the importance of hiring disabled individuals in this economy. I was able to counsel disabled students on a vocational level, while advocating for their rights in the workforce. It was perfect for me.

Next semester, I will be continuing my job at Disability Services, incorporating the duties of this internship into my daily activities. I will be getting paid for 20 hours a week, while training my new assistant, who will subsequently take my place when I graduate in May.