UNT - Department of Rehabilitation & Health Services

History of the Department of Rehabilitation & Health Services

The Department has a rich history of providing quality rehabilitation education, research, training, and service. While the name has changed over the years, the commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities received excellent services from competent professionals has remained steadfast.

Updating Practitioners

Established in 1967 as the Center for Rehabilitation Studies (CRS), the primary purpose of the Center was to provide continuing education to rehabilitation facility personnel under a federally funded grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). While the type and venue of training provided has evolved over the years, UNT has been a leader in providing training to rehabilitation professionals since its inception. Texas WorkNet, funded by the Texas Developmental Disabilities Council (TDDC), began providing supported employment training to providers all over Texas in 1988. In 1990, UNT received a grant from RSA to provide supported employment training to providers in the five state region and in 1995, we collaborated with the University of Arkansas to develop the first Regional Continuing Education program for Community Providers. In 2008, we launched UNT WISE, a continuing education program for rehabilitation practitioners in a variety of settings. In 2010, DARS contracted with UNT WISE to develop online training that is required for all CRP vocational providers in Texas. In addition to that, we offer approximately 40 contact hours annually of continuing education through webinars and online courses on current topics in the field.

Developing Competent Professionals

In 1972, RSA funded an undergraduate rehabilitation program at UNT. The original 18 hour semester program was initially listed as a psychology degree with a rehabilitation minor. In 1977, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved a Bachelor’s in Applied Arts and Sciences in Rehabilitation, and the first student graduated with this degree in August 1978. More than 35 years later, this is a vibrant degree with over 175 majors. In 1998, we began offering a minor in addiction studies. This remains a strong emphasis in our academic program.

In 1978, the Coordinating Board approved a Master’s in Rehabilitation Services Administration with major concentrations in vocational evaluation, work adjustment, and rehabilitation administration. A concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling was approved in 1980. In 1999, we entered into a Consortium for Distance Education in Rehabilitation (CDER) with San Diego State University and Georgia State and began offering one of the first fully online master’s programs in rehabilitation counseling in the U.S. To date, we have graduated over 500 master’s level students. We continue to have a strong on campus program as well as a challenging online program.

Promoting Best Practices in Service

In 1975, CRS received funding from the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, TRC, (now Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, DARS), to renovate Oak Street Hall to provide a hands-on laboratory for students involved in the rehabilitation academic programs. As state-of-the-art Vocational Evaluation Center was developed as well as a work adjustment program. In 1988, UNT received a grant from TDDC to begin offering supported employment services to individuals with intellectual disabilities. In 1989, TRC, provided start-up money to develop the first supported employment program for individuals with psychiatric disabilities in the state. In 1990, CRS received funding for a Project with Industry grant that was designed to provide employment assistance to individuals 55 and over who had some type of disability. The grant continued until 1995 when funding was limited to large metropolitan areas. We began offering biofeedback training in 1998 and in 1992, the Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse provided start-up money for neurofeedback research and training for those with substance abuse and other disabilities. Subsequently, the department’s Neurotherapy Lab became nationally known for its educational and clinical programs in Neurofeedback. In 2009, Meadows Foundation provided seed money for Job Fit, an employment program to assist persons with psychiatric disabilities. Job Fit continues today on a fee for service basis with funding from DARS and private pay.

Research and Knowledge Translation

Throughout its history, the department has been involved in cutting edge research that will enhance services for people with disabilities. However, the focus has always been on including the end user while ensuring a holistic approach. Research has been conducted on the impact of biofeedback/neurofeedback, wellness, supported employment, multiculturalism, professionalism, transition, and psychiatric rehabilitation, just to name a few topics.