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The purpose of this study, which was conducted over the course of five semesters at one institution, was to determine the effectiveness of the Academic Coaching for Excellence (ACE) program for academically at-risk students. The study utilized archival data, which had been collected by the Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services (CARES), for 1434 undergraduate students in a cohort-based, nonequivalent groups post-tests design. Results indicated that full- and part-time students who participated in academic coaching had significant GPA increases, were more likely to earn at least a 2.00 GPA in the intervention semester, and were more likely to be retained at the university the following semester than were those students who did not participate in the program. Implications for higher education professionals are discussed.

The extremes of college student substance use and the negative consequences students face as a result of such use are of great public health concern. Although a multitude of campus-based substance abuse prevention efforts have appeared in literature, a clear picture of the programs and policies currently in use at colleges and universities is not readily available. This research was undertaken to detail both the efforts aimed at general student samples and those targeting at-risk (eg, Greeks, student athletes) and historically underserved (eg, ethnic minorities, students with disabilities) student groups at colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. While a variety of efforts were being made, there was a reliance on program orientations with limited scientific support. Four-year institutions used a wider array of outlets for their prevention messages. Targeted programs for at-risk groups were common but were largely unavailable specifically for ethnic minority students and students with disabilities.

Although the primary reason for publishing in scholarly journals is to help the profession in its efforts to serve persons with disabilities, such publication has a growing importance for the individuals and institutions involved in the publication process. Increasingly, publication is linked with the funding, reputation, and impact of those in the field. Despite that fact, the field is lacking a current analysis of publication productivity in core rehabilitation counseling outlets. This research was conducted to fill that gap by examining publication productivity in six core rehabilitation journals during the 6-year period from 1997 to 2002. Two ratings of institutional productivity based on author affiliation are provided. First, productivity is detailed in terms of the overall number of individuals involved in the publication process. Second, productivity is detailed via a weighting method based on author position to provide an indication of total number of publications attributable to a given institution. In both cases, the top 20 institutions are detailed. Implications for the field and for future research are discussed.

A hate crime is a criminal offense committed against person or property that is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's prejudice. Hate crimes are sometimes termed "bias-motivated crimes." The theoretical bases for bias motivation and their implications for hate crimes against Americans with disabilities are outlined. The history of the Hate Crime Statistics Act (1990) and its eventual extension to Americans with disabilities are also reviewed. Five years of aggregate data from FBI Hate Crimes Statistics reports are analyzed to compare and contrast the hate crimes experience of Americans with disabilities with that of other targeted groups based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Reports of hate crimes from persons with disabilities are minute as compared to those of any other group. The nature and location of hate crimes are also analyzed. Finally, the findings and their implications for such issues as alternative manifestations of prejudice, underreporting of violent crimes, cross-disability support for hate crime prevention, rehabilitation counseling practice, and future research directions are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)

Research evaluated psychometric properties of College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS) using a sample of African American college students. CAPS was evaluated for reliability and accuracy in identifying potential abusive drinkers. Results indicate that CAPS is a reliable and effective device for identification of abusive drinking among African American college students. (Contains 41 references and 4 tables.) (ADT)

This study assessed the accessibility of a nationally representative sample of substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States for persons with disabilities (PWDs). A stratified random sample of 159 substance abuse treatment facilities in 40 states completed a survey regarding physical accessibility and the provision of services that could enhance the ability to serve individuals with disabilities. Most responding facilities self-reported a variety of barriers to physical accessibility, as well as the lack of services and physical accommodations for persons with sensory limitations. Such widespread inaccessibility may be a factor that promotes the low representation of PWDs in the treatment population. Keywords: Persons with disabilities; Substance abuse treatment; Physical accessibility; Treatment acquisition

Closure rates (CR) of counselors with a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling (MRC) and master's degrees in related disciplines (RM) were compared. High-quality closure rates (HQCR) were also compared, defined as CR for full-time jobs that paid a living wage. Analyses examined all counselors and, separately, only those with 6 or fewer years of experience. Last, analyses examined if disability severity predicts HQCR. Eighty-nine counselors completed a survey assessing their educational background. These data were linked to outcomes of 13,460 clients. CR of MRC and RM counselors did not differ. However, MRC counselors had higher HQCR (p =.034), higher living-wage closure rate (LWCR; p =.025), and almost higher full-time job closure rate (FTCR; p =.066). MRC-RM comparisons using only counselors with 6 or fewer years of experience were also significant (all p s <.05) and, importantly, showed even stronger effects. Also, although clients with most-severe disabilities had lower CR (p =.029), they had much lower HQCR, LWCR, and FTCR (all ps <.001). Although CR does not differ between MRC and RM counselors, MRC counselors are more likely to secure high-quality jobs for clients. Also, clients with most-severe disabilities are more likely to be placed in lower quality jobs. Implications for hiring rehabilitation counselors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ADA Title I allegations are investigated and closed by the EEOC either with or without merit. Allegations resolved with merit indicate that actual disability employment discrimination took place against the person filing the allegation (the charging party) and those resolved without merit indicate that no discrimination took place. This study examined the drivers or predictors of merit in allegations filed by charging parties with mental illness (e.g., anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and unknown mental illness). Results indicated that the primary driver for ADA Title I allegations is [discrimination] Issue and corroborated the lower merit rate for mental illness allegations (19.83%) as compared to non mental illness allegations (23.39%). Further analysis of the Merit and Non Merit Resolution Types by non parametric tests of proportion between allegations filed by charging parties with mental illness and those filed by charging parties without mental illness also corroborated the lower mental illness allegation merit rate. The lower merit rate for mental illness allegations may indicate that: 1) there is less actual employment discrimination occurring against persons with mental illness; 2) that allegations filed by persons with mental illness are inherently difficult to prove; and/or 3) that the merit rate for mental illness allegations might be higher if they were not potentially under-reported. Implications, conclusions, and directions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unemployment and underemployment are major issues for persons with substance abuse and addiction concerns. The failure to address these issues can have substantial negative effects on the ability of such individuals to attain and maintain sobriety. Preliminary research indicates that the provision of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services can aid substance abusers not only in attaining competitive employment, but also in maintaining a substance free lifestyle. Despite this fact, early indications suggest that few substance abuse treatment facilities provide VR to clients. The present study assessed the use of VR services and the training and VR related credentials of clinical staff members in a nationally representative sample of 159 substance abuse treatment facilities. Results indicate that few of these substance abuse treatment facilities provide VR to their clients, have staff members equipped to provide such services, or actively refer clients to outside VR agencies. Given the extreme need for VR by persons with substance abuse concerns, these are issues that must be addressed by both substance abuse treatment and VR service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Integrated Mission System database were analyzed with specific reference to allegations of workplace discrimination filed by individuals with cancer under ADA Title One. These 6,832 allegations, filed between July 27, 1992 and September 30, 2003, were compared to 167,798 allegations from a general disability population on the following dimensions: type of workplace discrimination; demographic characteristics of the charging parties (CPs); the industry designation, location, and size of employers; and the outcome or resolution of EEOC investigations. Results showed allegations derived from CPs with cancer were more likely than those in the general disability population to include issues involving discharge, terms and conditions of employment, lay-off, wages, and demotion. Compared to the general disability group, CPs with cancer were more likely to be female, older, and White. Allegations derived from CPs with cancer were also more likely to be filed against smaller employers (15–100 workers) or those in service industries. Finally, the resolution of allegations by CPs with cancer were more likely to be meritorious than those filed from the general disability population; that is, actual discrimination is more likely to have occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]