CRMHC Graduates Present at Conference Hosted by the Florida Association of People Supporting Employment First

Graduates from the Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program at USF, who were also Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) scholarship recipients, recently presented at the Maximizing Employment for Individuals with Disabilities: 4th Statewide Conference Focused on Advancing Employment For Persons with Disabilities. The conference, held May 4 - 6, 2022, was hosted by the Florida Association of People Supporting Employment First (FLAPSE) in collaboration with Georgia APSE, state divisions of the National APSE Organization.  It provided valuable employment-focused training while providing a forum for participants to connect with one another, speakers, and subject matter experts, all who support and work toward equitable employment for all.

Sara Connell, Chris Lee, Estefania Simon, and Magdhalini Meshek (via video) presented on the RSA Scholar program with CRMHC faculty Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga, PhD and Tammy Jorgensen Smith, PhD. In addition, Dr. Jill Heilman provided a video on the new RCDS program.

"We had a full room with people from all over the state and from southern Georgia. They were very engaged and interested in these program options," said Dr. Jorgensen Smith. "Sara and Chris also did a separate presentation on Vocational Evaluation. It's always great to reconnect with former students and see that they are thriving and loving their careers."

"I am currently working as a senior vocational rehabilitation counselor for state VR," said Estefania Simon. "I work with people with disabilities to identify and address any barriers to employment and help them go to work. I have recently also started working with youth aiding them in their transition for life after high school. I love my job and love helping people with disabilities achieve their goals! 

"My training through the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program prepared me for my career as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and provided me with the knowledge and confidence that I can be a competent professional in the field," said Magdhalini Meshek. "The coursework and the support of the professors helped me understand the needs of my clients so I am able to better serve individuals with physical and mental disabilities."