Bryan Austin

Bryan Austin, Ph.D., is director of evaluation for the Illinois Institute for Rehabilitation and Employment Research. He is currently responsible for developing and conducting an evaluation of two United States (US) Department of Education (ED)/Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) grant-funded projects—(1) From Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment for Illinoisans with Disabilities: An Innovative and Collaborative Project Partnership (SWTCIE Illinois), and (2) Pathways to Partnerships: Improving Transition Outcomes of Illinois Students with Disabilities. In addition, Bryan contributes to the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance for Quality Employment (VRTAC-QE), another US ED/RSA grant-funded project, providing training and technical assistance to State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies in the areas of client assessment, VR/career counseling, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

Bryan has worked in the fields of disability and rehabilitation for over 25 years and has served in clinical, teaching/training, supervisory, research and evaluation, and administrative capacities. He has significant clinical experience working with individuals with disabilities in mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, vocational rehabilitation, and higher education practice settings. Bryan’s research interests include clinical judgment, clinical competencies, intellectual disability and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, vocational rehabilitation, and employment-/career-related interventions for people with disabilities.

Most notably, Bryan has worked as a counselor educator, program coordinator and project director, researcher, clinical supervisor, vocational rehabilitation counselor, behavior specialist, trainer, consultant, and program evaluator.

Education

Ph.D., Rehabilitation Counselor Education, Michigan State University, 2012
M.S., Education: Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization, Portland State University, 2003
B.A., Psychology, University of Oregon, 1997

Certificates and Licenses

Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist (CVE), October 2022 – present
Approved Registered Counselor Supervisor (in Idaho), January 2022 – present
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (in Idaho), April 2014 – present
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), March 2003 – present