A National Survey of the Employment of Placement Specialists by General and Blind Rehabilitation Agencies

Abstract

This study investigated the use of placement specialists by Vocational Rehabihtation and State Blind agencies. Minimum educational requirements and salary ranges for counselors and placement specialists were also surveyed for comparison purposes.The ,data were collected through a questionnaire, which was sent to all the State Vocational Rehabilitation and State Blind agencies. The results indicate that almost sixty percent (60%) of the surveyed agencies used placement specialists at either a local, regional, or state level. The functions performed by the placement specialist at the three levels are reported.The increase in the use of placement specialists may have a future effect on the rehabilitation counseling profession. The study suggests the opening of new employment opportunities for the rehabilitation counselor and the challenge for new placement-oriented curricula for the rehabilitation counselor training programs.