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Who Are the Rehab Specialists? Brain Injury Association of Arizona (page 2 of 2) Page 2 of 2

Recreational Therapists

provide treatment services and recreation activities to individuals with illnesses or disabling conditions. They use a variety of techniques to treat or maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well being of clients. They help individuals recover their basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities, build confidence, socialize more effectively thus allowing them to be more independent, and reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. Their focus is to help integrate people with disabilities into the community by helping them use community resources and recreational activities.

Rehabilitation Counselors

specialists in social and vocational issues who helps the client develop the skills and aptitudes necessary for return to productive activity in the community. Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of their disabilities. They evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling, and may arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement. They also work toward increasing the client's capacity to live independently.

Respiratory Therapists

evaluate, treat, and care for clients with breathing disorders.

Social Workers

help people deal with their relationships with others; solve their personal, family, and community problems; help clients grow and develop as they learn to cope with or shape the social and environmental forces affecting daily life.

Special Education Teachers

use various techniques to promote learning. Teaching methods can include individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments, and group or individual work. Special education teachers develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each special education student. The IEP sets personalized goals for each student and is tailored to a student's individual learning style and ability.

Speech/Language Pathologists

direct, diagnose, and conduct programs to improve communicative skills related to speech and language problems. They are involved in evaluating and teaching speech, writing, reading, and expression skills aimed at both comprehension and communication. For a person with brain injury, the speech/language pathologist may work on attention, organization, planning, and sequencing. They also specialize in teaching memory strategies (a classic problem in traumatic brain injury).

Urologists

physicians who specialize in the treatment of problems occurring in the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

identify skills, aptitudes, and abilities that will help restore the client to the world of work. They will help support the client by setting up job coaching, job strategies, and school strategies. The counselor will locate jobs, school programs, and volunteer sites that best match the individual's needs.

From the Brain Injury Association of Arizona. Reprinted with permission. www.biaaz.org.

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