PLEASE NOTE: This schedule is being frequently updated; please check back for the final version. Concurrent sessions are open enrollment; no advance sign-up is required.

Preconference Workshop Schedule

Preconference access is included with your ARRPE Conference registration and no additional registration is required to attend.

Looking for more information about each session to plan your conference experience? Please view the conference schedule by day for session abstracts and/or content descriptions.

Day 1 Conference Schedule     Day 2 Conference Schedule

Monday, Feb. 24

7-9 a.m. Conference Check-in

A breakfast buffet will be available from 7:30-8:30 a.m.

8:15-8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks  |  Location: Ballroom ABC

David R. Strauser, Ph.D., president, ARRPE Board of Directors

8:30-9:20 a.m. Keynote Address  |  Location: Ballroom ABC

Competitive Employment: If Not Now, When? If Not Us, Who?
Paul Wehman, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Paul Wehman will discuss the current status on competitive integrated employment for individuals with the highest support needs and will review progress made, but also why we continue to remain stuck in helping significantly challenged people out of segregated setting and into real work for real pay.

9:30-10:20 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Moderated Session: Effective Support for College Students with Disabilities  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  • Mental Health Literacy, Stigma, and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Black Male College Students in Historically Black Universities
    Bryan Gere, Ph.D., MBA, CRC, LPGC; Nahal Salimi, Ph.D., CRC
     
  • The Exploration of Campus Climate, Self-Advocacy, and Flourishing among College Students with Disabilities
    Dewi Qisti
     
• Disability Social Inclusion Model and Trauma-Informed Strategies for Refugee-Focused Rehabilitation Service Provision  |  Location: Percival
  Ngonidzashe Mpofu, Ph.D., CCMHC, CRC, NCC
   
• A Randomized Control Trial to Promote Success among Postsecondary Students with TBI  |  Location: Verelst
  Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D., CRC; Amy Rumrill, M.Ed., CRC; Aundrea Gee, M.Ed., CRC
   
• Agency in Defining Autism: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis  |  Location: Vernon
  Kaiqi Zhou, Ph.D., CRC, LPC-IT; Sara Park, M.S., CRC, LPC-IT; Sang Qin, Ph.D., CRC
   
• A toolkit to help your agency with quality self-employment outcomes  |  Location: Sloane
  Michael Frain, Ph.D., CRC
   

10:20-10:35 a.m. Coffee Break


10:35-11:25 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Identification and Vocational Rehabilitation Needs of Persons in Custody  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  Timothy Tansey, Ph.D.; Jaeyoung Kim, Ph.D.; Brian Phillips, Ph.D.; Chelsea Brehmer, Ph.D.; Marcus Weathers; Emily Brinck, Ph.D.; Sara Park
   
• Unveiling the Complexity: Intersectionality of Disability in Multicultural Rehabilitation  |  Location: Percival
  Chrisann Schiro-Geist, Ph.D.; Xinhua Yu, Ph.D.; Patrick Krolik, Ed.D.
   
• Employer Perceptions: Practices that Sustain Competitive Employment for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities  |  Location: Verelst
  Robyn L. Lewis, Ph.D.
   
• Predictors of Rehabilitation Counselors’ Intention to Leave Their Current Employment  |  Location: Vernon
  James T. Herbert, Ph.D.
   
• A Case Study Responding to State VR Workforce Demands  |  Location: Sloane
  Steve, Zanskas, Ph.D., CRC, LPC (MI & WI)
   

11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Learn the impact of AI-powered outreach and intake on employment opportunities for people with disabilities  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  Andree Dolan
   
• Investing in Professionals to Improve Transition Outcomes  |  Location: Percival
  Janice Marrero Irizarry; Kathleen Marie Oertle, PhD., CRC, LVRC-Utah
   
• Exploring Demand-Side Perspectives in Hiring People with Psychiatric Disabilities  |  Location: Verelst
  Sang Qin, Ph.D.; Deyu Pan, Ph.D.; Eunjeong Ko; Yongsu Song; Muharrem Koc
   
• Suicide Prevention at HBCUs: Challenges Faced by Latino/Hispanic Educators  |  Location: Vernon
  Héctor José Velázquez-González, Ph.D., MSS, CRC, B-CTP-II
   
• Shifting the Narrative: A research project promoting employment for SSI/SSDI applicants  |  Location: Sloane
  Peter Pike, Douglas Alves
   

12:25-1:45 p.m. Lunch Break

2-2:50 p.m. Invited Speaker  |  Location: Ballroom ABC

Quality employment throughout the work lifecycle: Beyond short-term employment outcome
Jim S. Krause, Ph.D.; Clara E. Dismuke Greer, Ph.D.
 

3-3:50 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Moderated Session: Bridging the Gaps for Underserved Groups (1)  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Needs of Underserved Race and Ethnic Populations: Identification and Approaches
    Mark Tucker, Ph.D., CRC; Mari Guillermo, Ed.D., CRC; Letitia Vavasour, M.S., CRC
     
  • Care Issues Related to Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals with Dementia
    Ryan Avery Langston, B.S., M.A.; Kristina Henderson, Ph.D., CRC, LPC, CVE
     
  • Rehabilitation Counseling with Members of the LGBTQ+ Community
    Marty Holin, Ph.D., LPCC; Aundrea Gee, M.Ed., CRC
     
• Empowering Rehabilitation: Training Counselors with VR and AI Avatars in Employer Engagement for Disability Inclusion  |  Location: Percival
  Margaret K. Glenn
   
• Rehabilitation counselors culturally responsive training: Feelings, fears and wishes  |  Location: Verelst
  Alexandra Kriofske Mainella, Ph.D., CRC
   
• Four paws grounded in evidence: researching the service dog intervention  |  Location: Vernon
  K. Lynn Pierce, Ph.D., CRC, LPC, ACS
   
• Needs Assessment Determining Competencies for Interprofessional, Intra University Training for Transition Professionals  |  Location: Sloane
  Tameika Minor, Ph.D.
   

3-5 p.m. ARRPE Recruitment Events  |  Location: Ballroom ABC

A variety of recruiters will be onsite to share information on available faculty positions, postdoctoral fellowships and doctoral programs.

RECRUITERS/VENDORS: Applications are still being accepted! If you are interested in joining us as a recruiter, please contact ARRPE at admin@arrpe.net.
 

4-4:50 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Moderated Session: Integrating Trauma-Informed Approach in Rehabilitation Counseling Practices  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  • Infusing a Trauma Informed Care Approach through the Vocational Rehabilitation Process
    Sandy Conder, M.Ed., MRC, CRC; Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC; Deborah Minton, M.Ed., CRC
     
  • Creating Inclusive Trauma-Informed Workplaces: Implications for Rehabilitation Practitioners
    Kristen Dahl, LPCC, MCHES; Lynn C. Koch, Ph.D., CRC
     
• Exercise as Medicine: Key Considerations in Psychophysical Activities for Youth with Autism  |  Location: Percival
  Jonathan Drummond, M.S., M.A., Ph.D. candidate, AES
   
• A Person-Centered Intervention for Connecting Students with Significant Support Needs to Employment  |  Location: Verelst
  Jessica Awsumb, Ph.D.; Leah Burgess, ACRE; Justine Hrvatin, M.S.Ed., M.A.T.
   
• Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) The Illinois Model  |  Location: Vernon
  Aletha Alexander, M.S.; Sharon Bergfeld, M.A., Christina Irland, M.A., Jim Knauf, Kyle Menke
   
• Work-Specific Factors Influencing Employment Status Among Cancer Survivors: A Bayesian Analysis  |  Location: Sloane
  Hannah Fry, Ph.D.
   

5-6:30 p.m. Poster Reception  |  Location: Harborside Ballroom

Appetizers and bar available.

View the list of this year's posters
 

Tuesday, Feb. 25

7-9 a.m. Conference Check-in

A breakfast buffet will be available from 7:30-8:30 a.m.

8:30-9:20 a.m.  Invited Speaker  |  Location: Ballroom ABC

Individual Placement and Support for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Bob Drake, M.D., Ph.D.; Ana Florence, Ph.D.

Employment benefits adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in many ways, yet unemployment remains high. This report describes Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based model that improves employment outcomes in diverse populations.
 

9:30-10:20 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Moderated Session: Bridging the Gaps for Underserved Groups (2)  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  • Effectively Serving Vocational Rehabilitation Consumers who have Justice System Involvement
    Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D., CRC; Chelsea Brehmer, Ph.D.
     
  • Supporting Independent Living Goals for People with Disabilities: A Focus on Pregnancy
    Hannah Fry, Ph.D., Constance Richard, Ph.D., Alexandra Kriofske Mainella, Ph.D., Xiaolei Tang, Ph.D.
     
• Disability Underrepresentation in Apprenticeships: Can We Fix This? Implementing an Apprenticeship Toolkit  |  Location: Percival
  Stuart Rumrill, Ph.D.
   
• Impact of Technical Assistance on Employment Specialist Skills and CIE Outcomes  |  Location: Verelst
  Whitney Ham, Ph.D. BCBA, M.S., CRC; Jennifer McDonough: M.S., CRC; Alissa Brooke: M.S., CRC
   
• American Indians and Alaska Natives in Vocational Rehabilitation Programs: A Scoping Review  |  Location: Vernon
  Elizabeth A. Boland, Ph.D., CRC; Jamie M. Emanuel, MS, CRC; Michele S. Lee, Ph.D.
   
• The Perfect World: VR, DS, CIL Collaborations to Move Disabled Students into Quality Employment  |  Location: Sloane
  Jenifer Montag, Ed.D.
   

10:20-10:35 a.m. Coffee Break


10:35-11:25 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Moderated Session: Enhancing Support for Mental Health  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  • School, Work, and Services Experiences of Black Young Adults Living with Mental Health Conditions
    Yemi Akinola, Ph.D.
     
  • Impact of First Episode Psychosis on Transition-age Youth in the Career Path
    Eunjeong Ko
     
• Addressing Bias in Practice: A Conceptual Clinical Judgment Model for Rehabilitation Counseling  |  Location: Percival
  Bryan S. Austin, Ph.D., LPC (Idaho), CRC, CVE
   
• Real-World Outcomes in Neurobehavioral Disorders: Unlocking the Power of Ecological Momentary Assessment  |  Location: Verelst
  Alex W. K. Wong, Ph.D., CRC
   
• TBD  |  Location: Vernon
   
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Employment Outcomes for Foster Care Youth with Disabilities  |  Location: Sloane
  David R. Strauser, Ph.D., Judy Havilcek, Ph.D, Michele Schutz, Ph.D.
   

11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Disability Adjustment Counseling: Qualitative Analysis of Rehabilitation Counselors Perspectives and Experience  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  Constance Richard, Ph.D., CRC; Hannah Fry, Ph.D., CRC; Malachy Bishop, Ph.D.; Sara Park; Brigette Young; Samantha Foster
   
• Self-Compassion: Buffering the Impact of Disability  |  Location: Percival
  Alexandra Kriofske Mainella, Ph.D.
   
• Effectiveness of Assistive Technology Provided by Blind Field Services: A Longitudinal Study  |  Location: Verelst
  Abbas Quamar, Ph.D., CRC; Elizabeth A. Boland, Ph.D., CRC
   
• Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Bereavement Counseling: Strategies for Coping with Loss  |  Location: Vernon
  Elaine Mora, MS, LPC-A, LCDC-I, NCC
   
• Publishing Rehabilitation Research in Rehabilitation Research, Policy and Education  |  Location: Sloane
  David R. Strauser, Ph.D.; Alex W. K. Wong, Ph.D., CRC; Deidre O'Sullivan, Ph.D.
   

12:25-1:45 p.m. Lunch Break
 

2-2:50 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Work life expectancy among those with SCI: Employment throughout the work lifecycle  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  Clara E. Dismuke-Greer, Ph.D.; James Krause, Ph.D.
   
• The RETAIN Kentucky Model: Strategies for Helping Workers with Disabilities Maintain Employment  |  Location: Percival
  Kimberly Wickert, MRC, CRC, CVE; Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D., CRC
   
• Interagency Collaboration in VR: A Look at One State’s Project Data to Help Drive Real Change  |  Location: Verelst
  David George Strauser, Ph.D.
   
• Grief, Loss, and Traumatic Brain Injury: An Unexpected Consequence  |  Location: Vernon
  Aundrea Gee, M.Ed., CRC; Marty Holin, Ph.D., LPCC (New Mexico Counseling)
  
   
• The Role of Social Support in Psychosocial Adjustment and Return to Work Following Spinal Cord Injury  |  Location: Sloane
  Ada Chen, Ph.D., MPH, CRC, CVE; John O’Neill, Ph.D.

3-3:50 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• TBD  |  Location: Ballroom DE
   
• Employment Accommodation Experiences among Workers with Multiple Sclerosis: A Mixed-Method Analysis  |  Location: Percival
  Malachy Bishop, Ph.D., Sara Park, Eunjeong Ko, Muharrem Koc, Kaiqi Zhou, Ph.D., Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D.
   
• Functioning Mediates the Relationship Between Trauma and Work Outcomes for PWD  |  Location: Verelst
  Chelsea Brehmer, Ph.D.; Deirdre O’Sullivan, Ph.D.; David Strauser, Ph.D.; Brian Philips, Ph.D.
   
• Policy Initiatives in High Performing States that Facilitate Quality Employment Outcomes  |  Location: Vernon
  Lauren Avellone, Ph.D.; Jennifer McDonough, M.S, CRC
   
• Facilitating Adjustment to Physical Disabilities through Gestalt Therapy in Rehabilitation Counseling  |  Location: Sloane
  Gabriela Rangel
   

4-4:50 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

• Current and Future Hot Topics and Scientific Methods in Rehabilitation Research  |  Location: Ballroom DE
  Stuart Rumrill, Ph.D., LPC, CRC; Bradley McDaniels, Ph.D., CRC; Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D.
   
• Emotion Regulation Intervention for Student Veterans: A Pilot Study  |  Location: Percival
  Heekyung Lee, Ph.D.
   
• Implementing Customized Training Programs Utilizing a Toolkit  |  Location: Verelst
  Sandy Conder, M.Ed., MRC, CRC; Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC; Deborah Minton, MRC, CRC
   
• Empowering Veterans Through Accessible Vocational Rehabilitation  |  Location: Vernon
  Matthew Sprong, Ph.D., CRC, LPC (PA), LCPC (IL), CADC (IL), CLCP, CVE
   
• Applying the Illinois Model to Wage Loss Analysis  |  Location: Sloane
  David R. Strauser, Ph.D.
   

5-6:30 p.m. ARRPE Awards Reception  |  Location: Harborside Ballroom

Appetizers and bar available.

Day 1 Conference Schedule         Day 2 Conference Schedule