Few studies have addressed the efficacy of counseling and psychotherapy for individuals with mild mental retardation, and no research has investigated the working alliance and psychotherapy outcomes for individuals with mental retardation. This study used existing survey data to examine the relationship between the level of working alliance and rehabilitation counseling outcomes for individuals with mild mental retardation. Results indicated a positive relationship between levels of working alliance and positive rehabilitation outcomes for people with mild mental retardation. This article examines effect sizes and discusses implications for rehabilitation counselors working with individuals with mild mental retardation.

The purpose of this study was to identify disparities in rehabilitation success (closure status 26) rates between Caucasian and African American SSDI recipients with mild mental retardation. A split-half cross-validation research design was utilized to evaluate two samples (i.e., screening and calibration) of case records obtained from the RSA-911 database for fiscal year 1998. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of rehabilitation success for a Caucasian VR customer was almost two times the odds of rehabilitation success for an African American customer. Moreover, findings indicated that a significantly higher proportion of job placement services were provided to Caucasian SSDI recipients with mild mental retardation as opposed to African American SSDI recipients with mild mental retardation. Results are presented for closure status, and the implications of the findings for research and practice are discussed.

This study investigated the impact of the working alliance on vocational rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with traumatic brain injury. The working alliance is defined as collaboration between the client and counselor supported by the development of an attachment bond as well as a shared commitment to the goals and tasks of counseling. Research supports the relationship between the working alliance and positive counseling outcomes. This study extends previous research and considers the relationship between working alliance and employment, job satisfaction, and view of future employment prospects for 49 vocational rehabilitation clients with traumatic brain injury. Results showed a relationship between the working alliance and employment outcomes and future employment prospects but not job satisfaction. Implications for rehabilitation counselors are discussed.

A small number of studies have yielded inconclusive results when examining the assertion that ethnic minorities have greater acceptance of persons with disabilities because of shared minority group status. The purpose of this study was to explore the hypothesis that African Americans, in comparison to Whites, hold more positive attitudes toward persons with disabilities in social situations. Also, differences according to the gender of the college student participants were explored. Implications for rehabilitation counseling are provided.

Improving rehabilitation services for Asian Americans with disabilities through the rehabilitation counseling process remains as an ongoing challenge. Despite being the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, past studies have reported low utilization rates of vocational rehabilitation and mental health services among this population. This article (a) describes Asian American views on disabilities from religious, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives; (b) reviews factors that may contribute to their being underserved in the rehabilitation; (c) discusses the influence of family dynamics on the rehabilitation process; (d) underscores unique employment challenges facing the Asian Immigrant community; and (e) draws out the implications of such an analysis for rehabilitation counseling.