WHEREAS, rehabilitation counselors across North Carolina provide services and support to increase the independence, self-sufficiency, and active community participation of individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation counselors assess an individual’s needs, provide counseling, guidance and support to individuals and families, as well as plan and implement rehabilitation programs for individuals, increasing independence, self-sufficiency and employment; and
WHEREAS, professional organizations that offer rehabilitation counseling services also promote improvement of these programs through quality education for counselors and rehabilitation research; and
WHEREAS, on March 22, 1983, the president of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education testified before the United States Congress bringing attention to the need for qualified rehabilitation counselors; these efforts led to the enactment of laws that now require rehabilitation counselors to have proper credentials so they may provide a higher level of quality care to those in need of their services; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation counselors play an important role in fulfilling the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by supporting people with disabilities to achieve goals for employment and by promoting awareness and understanding of ADA provisions regarding equal opportunity and treatment in the workplace; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services employs hundreds of rehabilitation counselors who are committed to increasing opportunities for competitive employment for people with disabilities and supporting the State of North Carolina's Employment First efforts to be a leader in creating an inclusive climate and recruiting workers with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina has several accredited graduate programs for rehabilitation counseling, with nearly 2,400 rehabilitation counselors in our state; and employment of rehabilitation counselors is projected to see continued growth as the elderly population continues to increase, and to meet the continued rehabilitation needs of other groups, such as veterans and people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation counselors and their professional organizations are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to the benefit of individuals in need of rehabilitation;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March 22, 2022, as “REHABILITATION COUNSELORS APPRECIATION DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.