Using distance learning to prepare supported employment professionals

Journal of Rehabilitation, July-Sept, 1998 by Wendy M. Wood, Kay Miller, David W. Test

Unfortunately, the number of program graduates has not been able to keep pace with the statewide demand for trained supported employment professionals. In addition, not all supported employment personnel are interested in pursuing a master's degree. Based on these needs, UNC Charlotte recently received an RSA Rehabilitation Training: Experimental and Innovative Training grant (H263A50016) to design and deliver a sequence of supported employment courses via distance learning. As part of the distance learning grant, the university established a Graduate Certificate in Supported Employment and Transition to serve (a) professionals who work with adult service agencies that provide supported employment services and (b) school system personnel who are responsible for helping students make the transition to adulthood. The graduate certificate program requires the completion of 12 semester hours of supported employment and transition coursework.

Description of the Distance Education Program

In 1995 the Department of Counseling, Special Education and Child Development, College of Education, UNC Charlotte, in conjunction with the North Carolina Division for Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), implemented a North Carolina collaborative personnel preparation program. The program was designed to provide graduate training to professionals who were interested in supported employment (e.g. Employment Specialists, VR Counselors, Case Managers, Vocational Evaluators, and Program Managers). The coursework was provided through an interactive microwave satellite network, combined with on-site instruction, to sites at three partner universities. UNC Charlotte served as the home-site; Appalachian State University(ASU) and East Carolina University (ECU) served as partner-sites for the first phase of the project (1995-1996).

During the second phase of the project, initiated in the Spring of 1997, UNC Charlotte continued to serve as the home-site; the University of North Carolina-Asheville (UNC-A) and East Carolina University (ECU) served as partner-sites. This allowed the project to recruit students from every region of North Carolina. This program also enabled UNC Charlotte, which has the only program concentration in supported employment and transition in North Carolina, to refine, expand, and offer its supported employment coursework to professionals who would otherwise not have access to it. By providing this coursework through the NC REN (North Carolina Research and Education Network), the project has quickly and economically increased the number of qualified supported employment professionals across the state.

North Carolina Research and Education Network (NC REN)

NC REN is a private telecommunications network that links universities, research institutions, medical centers, and graduate centers throughout North Carolina. The network utilizes private microwave and public/private fiber optics links and satellite technologies. It consists of duplex analog and digital video channels, as well as, a high-speed 45-Mb/s digital data channel. The video network consists of two full duplex channels for conferencing, collaboration, and instruction. Additional video capability is achieved via compressed video on the NC-REN Data Network. NC REN interfaces with the North Carolina Information Highway video network, the High-Performance Computing and Communications Video Collaboratory and external sites via AT & T/Sprint dialup services. Campus program selection is managed by the NC REN Usage Committee, which is composed of representatives from each connected campus and the University of North Carolina General Administration. This technology allows for a fully interactive learning environment where all students can interact simultaneously with the instructor and/or students at each site.