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Purpose: This article provided a comprehensive overview of select challenges that oftentimes prevent minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in the United States (i.e., historically Black colleges/universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and American Indian tribal colleges/universities) from participating optimally in the federal research enterprise (i.e., National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research and National Institutes of Health). Methods: The authors completed a detailed synthesis of the available peer review and grey literature and policy on the subject matter while using the structural empowerment and critical mass models as theoretical lenses. Results: Select research infrastructure issues (i.e., restrictive administrative culture, heavy teaching and service practices, inefficient offices of sponsored programs, the lack of research seed money units, inefficient institutional review boards, and limited library resources and technology infrastructure) and limited training opportunities (i.e., postdoctoral fellowship training programs, and grant writing training) are important considerations in MSI research capacity and productivity context. Conclusions: New state-of-the-science research capacity building approaches, paradigms, and conceptual models that address individual MSI-based investigators' research skill development needs, institutional research infrastructure systems weaknesses, and federal research agency systems and policy issues need to be explored and scaled up for further efficacy testing through rigorous scientific methods.

This paper explores racial differences in maternal risk factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes across urban and rural geographies using 2019 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Bivariate chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed which showed statistically significant geographical differences among Non-Hispanic (NH) Black pregnant women across income levels (p =.016) and perceived health status (p =.003). Regression analyses indicated an increased racial gap between NH White pregnant women and other racial/ethnic groups. The findings support that there are statistically significant racial differences in maternal risk factors across urban and rural geographies for NH Black and Hispanic pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Affordable Care Act includes many new provisions for long-term services and supports (LTSS). Among these are several new options, improvements, and incentives within Medicaid to balance service systems and expand access to home and community-based services. This article discusses some of the major provisions, implementations, and implications of the new LTSS policies. It also examines how the major principles of rehabilitation counseling are central to advancing LTSS policy and how rehabilitation counselors can play a key role in ensuring quality LTSS services for persons with disabilities.

Early definitions of cultural diversity focused primarily on race/ethnicity, with subsequent inclusion of age, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, geography, and a combination of positionalities. More recently, social justice has resurfaced as a component of cultural diversity to explain experiences of people of color, women, and marginalized groups. This article examines the movement to include cultural diversity and social justice in rehabilitation education, and offers a model for curriculum development in light of the new CORE standards.

Persons with disabilities are among minority groups who frequently experience marginalization and disenfranchisement. As a paradigm, social justice attempts to address marginalization through equitable redistribution of resources, policy and legislative revisions, and personal empowerment. The limited response of rehabilitation counseling to relational issues of social justice sets the stage for disciplinary growth on the topic. The purpose of this article is to discuss the interplay between social justice and rehabilitation counseling and to explore how we can infuse the tenets of social justice into our discipline through refinements in rehabilitation curricula. (Contains 2 figures.)

A survey of 140 parents and 323 teachers about careers in science and engineering for students with learning disabilities (LD) found that parents think teachers do not make enough accommodations and employers are reluctant to hire persons with LD. Both groups felt students with LD were not encouraged to take science and engineering courses. (Contains 18 references.) (SK)

Examines racial identity, African self-consciousness, and career decidedness in 212 African-American college women. Comparisons were made between senior and first-year students at a historically Black and a predominantly White university. Findings indicate that seniors at both institutions had higher levels of racial identity than did freshmen. (EMK)

The purpose of this paper was to determine the relationship between race, perceptions of racism and disability on life satisfaction. Data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) examined through chi square and regression analysis found that African Americans with disabilities and without disabilities show a stronger relationship between dissatisfaction with life and perceived racism in the work and health care settings than Caucasians. Other issues such as lower employment and income contribute to dissatisfaction with life significantly more for African Americans. Regression analysis showed that having a disability and perceived racism decreased the likelihood of life satisfaction. These results have implications for rehabilitation professionals who need to consider not only disability, but race when working with clients to achieve an increase in life satisfaction., Life satisfaction is an important concept as it has been widely considered to be a central aspect of human welfare (Haybron, 2005). It has been further defined as having a [...]

Service needs among aging historically underrepresented racially and ethnically diverse populations with disabilities are increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. Consequently, it is obvious that current rehabilitation legislation and practices must be refined and extended to provide opportunities for this population. This article familiarizes rehabilitation practitioners with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the 1992 and 1998 amendments to the Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each of these initiatives establishes the potential for real reform in disability policy and practice. These pieces of legislation are discussed within the framework of aging racial and ethnic populations with disabilities and implications for improved service delivery. Rehabilitation and counseling practices desperately need to be reformed. In addition to reinforcing present laws, we must work within the system to make sure no disadvantaged aging individual is left behind. Aging represents the crowning point of one's life, thus, seniors should be viewed as contributing members of society, rather than a burden. It is clear that we have a legal as well as a moral responsibility to provide appropriate services. The key to effective service reform will include effective leadership, communication, collaboration, training, advocacy, and innovative legislative initiatives, Diversity and growth are two terms that best describe America's older population. This extensive population is a heterogeneous group, in as much as they differ in relation to age, gender, [...]

Rehabilitation outcomes of persons with mild/moderate mental retardation were analyzed. Seven variables were used to predict one dichotomous and one continuous criterion variable: work status at closure and level of income, respectively. Findings indicated that consumers with mild/moderate mental retardation who received job placement services achieved competitive jobs at a significantly greater rate than those who did not. Results are presented for each criterion variable and the implications of the findings for service and research are discussed., For most adults, employment is the means by which they obtain economic self-sufficiency, a route to social identification, and a source of personal networking. Thus, employment is a critical factor [...]

Assessment of a rehabilitation client's appropriateness for home health care must include an analysis of potential payment sources such as Medicaid. The purpose of this study is to examine each state's Medicaid policies that define reimbursement, utilization, and coverage of the home health care needed by persons with disabilities. The study also identifies any states that have utilized the Medicaid home and community-based care waiver to develop special Medicaid policies or programs for home health care needs of Medicaid recipients living in the community., Within recent years, the United States has experienced phenomenal growth in the provision of both formal (e.g., by paid agencies and professional personnel) and informal (e.g., by family members or [...]

The purpose of this article is to illuminate some of the major components of reform law as it applies to health care coverage for persons with disabilities. First, a brief historical context of health care policy as it pertains to persons with disabilities will be presented. Second, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in regard to health care protection for persons with disabilities will be discussed. Third, current reform initiatives designed to ensure coverage for persons with disabilities will be examined. Finally, a model plan for health care reform along with implications for the rehabilitation community will be offered., The quest for accountability and efficiency of health care in the United States has been a priority for almost twenty-five years. With the passage of the Health Maintenance Organization Act [...]

In the current political environment of health care, rehabilitation professionals must acquaint themselves with the language and strategies of the health care debate. Consequently, the purposes of this article are as follows: (1) to define managed care and examine its components; (2) to discuss the inherent contradictions between rehabilitation philosophy and health care reform; (3) to explore the components of public health care programs; and (4) to examine the merits of national health care for persons with disabilities. The article will not be inclusive about these issues but is intended to educate and facilitate further discussion., The magnitude of change in health care policy within the United States is parallel to the evolution of computer technology during the last decade. The changes have been swift, extensive, [...]

The interplay between racial identity and disability status among African Americans has strong implications for rehabilitation counseling. Cross' model of African American racial identity development suggests that counselors would be able to identify which African American clients will be problematic for therapy. The model consists of four stages that would help clients to understand what it means to be 'Black' within a White frame of reference. By identifying Blacks' different attitudes of racial identity, counselors would be able to provide more effective counseling services., Racial identity development is the focus of increasing attention in counseling and psychological services (Cross, Parham & Helms, 1991; Helms, 1990; Parham, 1989; Phinney, 1990). Smith (1989) contended that racial [...]

The interaction between disability status and attitudes to racial identity of African Americans has serious implications for rehabilitation counseling. One attitude that may hinder the rehabilitation process is cultural mistrust. Studies have shown that African Americans have low expectations for counseling with White Americans and thus, African Americans are less likely to seek counseling from White practitioners. Cultural mistrust is also manifested through the higher levels of premature termination from therapy with White counselors in comparison to African American counselors., The accessibility and equity of rehabilitation services offered to African Americans have been identified as priorities in Section 21 of the 1993 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The [...]

African Americans have certain cultural traits that should not be ignored in rehabilitation counseling. Rehabilitation counselors who understand such traits can easily request support from the family of their clients to help patients cope with their disabilities. A study reveals that family competence is considered an important factor in helping African Americans adjust to their abnormalities., A study was conducted to explore the influence of family competence factors such as cohesion, expressiveness, leadership, and conflict on adjustment to disability for African Americans. Significant correlations were found between successful adjustment to disability and African American family competence for rehabilitated African American clients. Implications for rehabilitation practice and recommendations for research are provided., Family involvement in the rehabilitation success of persons with disabilities has received greater attention in health and human services. For instance, several authors have suggested that family competence is a [...]

The APTICOM computer-assisted vocational assessment system can accurately determine a client's physical capabilities. Rehabilitation counselors can employ the system in assisting disabled persons to locate jobs that match their competence. Likewise, the counselors can provide potential employers with comments and recommendations based on the information provided by APTICOM. The system provides counselors with the most reliable data in assessing a handicapped's physical functioning.

Early definitions of cultural diversity focused primarily on race/ethnicity, with subsequent inclusion of age, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, geography, and a combination of positionalities. More recently, social justice has resurfaced as a component of cultural diversity to explain experiences of people of color, women, and marginalized groups. This article examines the movement to include cultural diversity and social justice in rehabilitation education, and offers a model for curriculum development in light of the new CORE standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigated effect of computer-assisted career guidance system on career indecision of 50 physically disabled college students. Found no differences between physically disabled students who used system and those who did not. No evidence was found that type of disability, gender, age of disability onset, and grade point average were related to level of career indecision. (Author/NB)

Objectives: In this study, we assessed fresh and fresh lean beef intake in relation to functional limitations among US adults 65 years and older. Methods: We conducted logistic regressions on individual-level 24-hour dietary recall and health indicator data (N = 6135) retrieved from 2005-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: Approximately 51%, 14%, and 9% of older adults consumed beef, fresh beef, and fresh lean beef, respectively. Daily increase in fresh beef consumption by one-ounce-equivalent was associated with a reduction in the odds of lower extremity mobility limitation (LEM) by 16% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 4%-27%), general physical activities limitation by 13% (95% CI: 1%-24%), and any functional limitation by 14% 95% CI: (2%-24%). Daily increase in fresh lean beef consumption by one-ounce-equivalent was associated with a reduction in the odds of LEM by 22% (95% CI: 7%-34%) and any functional limitation by 15% (95% CI: 1%-28%). We identified no association with activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, or leisure and social activities limitations. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence links fresh and fresh lean beef consumption to reduced functional limitation risk. Future studies with longitudinal/experimental design are warranted to examine the relationship between fresh/lean beef consumption and functional limitations among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study at hand replicated Wilson's (1999) investigation to see whether African Americans and White Americans with disabilities differ in vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance in another midwestern state (Michigan). The results showed a statistically significant difference between race and VR acceptance, although the association was small (phi coefficient =.046). African Americans in this study were less likely than White Americans to be accepted for VR services. These results challenge earlier results reported by Wilson (1999), Wheaton (1995), and Peterson (1996) in that no differences appeared in VR acceptance rates by race. The authors also suggest further research and highlight possible obstacles that counselors need to overcome to be more sensitive to ethnic and racial minorities seeking VR services., The new millennium seems certain to bring profound changes in the physical appearance of the typical United States (U.S.) citizen (Rehabilitation Services Administration, 1993; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1996). [...]

It is important to consider the social conditions of persons with disabilities who choose to abuse drugs. Hirschi's social control theory may illuminate the sociology of addiction for persons with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to examine the meaning of Hirschi's theoretical thesis for persons with disabilities, with particular attention given to the concepts of attachment, commitment, involvement, and beliefs. Specific Implications for rehabilitation counseling practice and research will be provided., The rehabilitation literature is replete with studies which suggest a high incidence of substance abuse among persons with disabilities. For example, Stude (1990) estimated that the rate of drug abuse [...]