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Dr. Phillip Rumrill to deliver Hanoch Livneh Lecture on Psychosocial Adaptation Research

The Council on Psychosocial Adaptation Research (PAR) has invited Dr. Phillip Rumrill, Director of Research and Training at the UK Human Development Institute, to deliver the prestigious Hanoch Livneh Lecture on PAR at the 2022 National Council on Rehabilitation Education Conference in San Diego, California. The title of the presentation is Strategies for Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of People with Emerging Disabilities across Phases of the Rehabilitation Counseling Process.

Chung-Yi Chiu, Ph.D., CRC, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign and Brad McDaniels, Ph.D., CRC, University of North Texas serve as Co-Chairs for the Council on Psychosocial Adaptation Research for the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.

Dr. McDaniels says, “We could think of no one more passionate about nor instrumental to our current conceptualization of psychosocial adaptation. Your ability to identify novel concepts related to PAR, along with your prestigious record of research make you the ideal candidate”.

Congratulations, Dr. Rumrill!

The HDI Digital Storytelling Initiative features Dr. Phillip Rumrill

The UK Human Development Institute presents the second video in its Digital Storytelling Initiative, a Fund for Excellence project. In this video, Morgan Turner, Project Specialist, interviews Dr. Phillip Rumrill.

Dr. Rumrill is a professor of Counselor Education, and Director of Research and Training at the UK Human Development Institute. He shares his personal experience with disability, how it has impacted his life, and shares advice for other people living with disabilities. Dr. Rumrill says, “It’s not about what you can’t do. It’s what you do contribute and what you add in that appreciation of diversity and value of everyone’s humanity”.

The Digital Storytelling Initiative utilizes the StoryCorps (R) facilitation model to preserve and share stories by, about, and told by people with disabilities. In these videos, both the interviewer and interviewee are people who experience disability in their lives. If you are interested in learning more about the Digital Storytelling Initiative, contact patti.logsdon@uky.edu.

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The Rehabilitation Services Administration Funds Partnership to establish Technical Assistance Center on Quality Employment

In concert with the University of Wisconsin and other committed partners, the University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI) is part of the new Technical Assistance Center (TAC) on Quality Employment. Christina Bard, Community Education Director and Dr. Phil Rumrill, Director of Research and Training, will lead HDI’s involvement in this five-year project to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

The TAC will work closely with partners, state vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs, employers, disability advocacy organizations, and other national-level employment and disability resources to provide customized training and credential programs to meet employer demands in the post-COVID-19 economy.  The TAC will emphasize career pathways for STEM fields, apprenticeships, supported and customized employment, self-employment and business engagement.

The UKHDI will also lead the TAC team in conducting a comprehensive national needs assessment of state VR agencies regarding high-priority quality employment areas that should be the focus of technical assistance, pre-service training, and continuing education for VR counselors, college and university personnel, community rehabilitation providers, and other stakeholders in total workplace inclusion. In keeping with the ideals of Participatory Action Research, all UKHDI training, technical assistance, and credentialing efforts will be guided by input and direction from members of the disability community. 

Contact Christina.Bard@uky.edu if you have any questions.

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Phillip Rumrill, PhD, CRC, appointed Director of Research and Training for the UK Human Development Institute

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute announces the appointment of Phillip Rumrill, PhD, CRC as the Director of Research and Training with a faculty appointment in the area of Rehabilitation Counseling. Dr. Rumrill received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Keene State College in New Hampshire and his doctorate from the University of Arkansas. He is a nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and most recently served as the Founding Director of the Center for Disability Studies at Kent State University and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Employment Assistance Services.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Rumrill has authored or co-authored 251 professional journal articles; 42 book chapters, monographs, measurement instruments, and training manuals; and 15 books. He is a highly sought out speaker at national and international conferences in health care, social sciences, rehabilitation, and education and has delivered addresses to consumer, professional, academic, and policymaking audiences in 43 states and U.S. territories and 18 countries since 1992.
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