The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has created a Special Edition of American Rehabilitation “Celebrating 90 Years: Creating Our Vision for 2020” in honor of the legacy of Mary E. Switzer and celebrating the partnerships that have contributed to the success of our profession.
This issue is available on both the CSAVR and NRA websites, as well as below:
American Rehabilitation Summer 2010.pdf
Accessible American rehabilitation Pub 2010-WORD.doc
American Rehabilitation Summer 2010.pdf
Accessible American rehabilitation Pub 2010-WORD.doc
15 comments:
Reading about Mary E. Switzer is inspiring, her work, dedication, and advancements to help people that were blind at the time she was working. Even now what she did is useful. I will not mention what she did since we can read it from the websites cited. She showed passion towards people that she believed in. She wanted to help and she was able to do it. Now I think about how many people have done what Mary did. Is there anybody else, that has not been recognized as Mary? Maybe the work done by others is not enough. But I wonder, do we have any of our professors at the level of Mary that have not been recognized yet? I think about the new generation as well, ours. Will we get to where Mary escalated? I say we, the students in the Masters and Doctoral Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling. This is something to consider. Will we be recognized?
Recognizing Mary E. Switzer and promoting her great efforts and dedication through the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is an opportunity for all rehabilitation counselors to contribute to their field of profession and advocate, participate, and be actively engaged in helping the movement of finding empty spaces to fill when it comes to helping people with disabilities. By empty spaces I mean finding those open opportunities to take action in and become knowledgeable in that particular issue. Mary, for example, worked very effectively in taking action for increasing the rehabilitation services for the blind and other people in general. Being a committed rehabilitation counselor, in my opinion, is one's own way of being recognized inside. Simply by knowing that you've contributed to more than just the rehabililtation of consumer, lies the opportunities to help in greater ways. Let's take a lesson learned from Mary and continue to honor others who have done the same by carrying the torch of advocating for people with diabilities when an opportunity is found. If none is found, then the torch must be lit brighter to make sure those hard to see opportunities are not missed.
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has created a Special Edition of American Rehabilitation “Celebrating 90 Years: Creating Our Vision for 2020.” In honor of the legacy of Mary E. Switzer and celebrating the partnerships that have contributed to the success of our profession.
Mary Elizabeth Switzer became director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in 1950. She guided the program from the federal office for 17 consecutive years, 1950 to 1967. Miss Switzer loved rehabilitation and she thought vocational rehabilitation facilities (VR) needed to be open facilities where anyone who wanted to experience the rehabilitation philosophy concept and practice could be welcome. During 48 years, Ms. Switzer made the U.S. federal government responsible to the needs of individuals with disabilities.
2010 is the year of the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), the 25th Anniversary of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the 90th Anniversary of the Smith-Fess Act.
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has created a Special Edition of American Rehabilitation “Celebrating 90 Years: Creating Our Vision for 2020.” In honor of the legacy of Mary E. Switzer and celebrating the partnerships that have contributed to the success of our profession.
Mary Elizabeth Switzer became director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in 1950. She guided the program from the federal office for 17 consecutive years, 1950 to 1967. Miss Switzer loved rehabilitation and she thought vocational rehabilitation facilities (VR) needed to be open facilities where anyone who wanted to experience the rehabilitation philosophy concept and practice could be welcome. During 48 years, Ms. Switzer made the U.S. federal government responsible to the needs of individuals with disabilities.
2010 is the year of the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), the 25th Anniversary of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the 90th Anniversary of the Smith-Fess Act.
Counseling takes courage, effort, patience but most of people who care about others and want to help them surpass and accept their fears, pains as well as obstacles that come in one’s life. Mary E. Switzer is one of those persons who have put their professional and personal life in the line to help other people needs. Miss Switzer is one of the pioneers in the construct of programs for rehabilitation for disable people. Her works must to be an inspiration for students in rehab programs.
Mary E. Switzer was an impressive woman. She truly was a pioneer in the area of rehabilitation, especially through her work with and for the blind. I think that it is more than appropriate that she be honored at the Rehabilitation Services Administration's (RSA) celebration of 90 years. I think that it was quite clever that the title of the event read, "Celebrating 90 years: Creating Our Vision for 2020" given Mary's lifelong work with and for the blind. I think that you truly can achieve anything you set your mind to as long as you have the passion to fight for it and see it through. We should, as up and coming rehabilitation counselors, all strive to succeed just as Mary E. Switzer did. I believe that each and every one of us is capable of doing for and helping others just as Mary did. Just think, with Mary paving the way, we should all be doing amazing things for not just one group in the rehabilitation arena but all groups!
Vocational rehabilitation has definitely come a long way and there are many individuals who have played a huge part in advocating for individuals with disabilities. There is one person though who changed vocational rehabilitation forever, Mary E. Switzer. This woman made advocating for individuals with disabilities her number one priority. Even legislation was changed because of her determination. As I read about Mary E. Switzer I become familiarized with the dedication this woman had for the individuals with disabilities. Many looked up to her and I am more than sure that many strive to be like her. Her collaboration with Boyce Williams, another rehabilitation activist, only made her contribution all the more great. Together they accomplished many great things. In my opinion it is very important for individuals to love what they do in order to make a difference and obviously advocating for others is something Mary E. Switzer was extremely fond of.
From what I read is that Miss Switzer, was an amazing individual that made a tremendous contribution for Rehabilitation Services. She was also someone who cared enough to volunteer her time in efforts to help others, such as the people in the hospital of Alexandria. Miss Switzer also had an impact on those who with her and for her, she always set an exceptional standard for them, and respected them as well. Miss Switzer’s vision is one that greatly influenced the field of rehabilitation as we know it today, her view for people with disabilities was compounded with a better quality of life through the acquisition of skills and ability to attain employment. This is a factor that is of primary importance because individuals with disabilities gain self-esteem and a place in the community. She was a major contributor for individuals who were deaf or hard of hearing, by being chair of the Gallaudet College Role and Function Committee to promote higher education for this particular population. Miss Switzer was a kind hearted individual who cared about the welfare of others.
This is trully a well deserved honor and recognition to a pioneer in social reform. The Rehabilitation Services Administration has not only flagshiped our profession but is currently celebrating 90 years of public service to persons with disabilities. It comes to no surprise that Mary E. Switzer has planted deep roots in the area of vocational rehabilitation service for people with disabilities. From my understanding, she pioneered the 1954 Vocational Rehabilitation Act which in turn caverned the services for persons with disabilities. A well deserved honor from such humble beginings.
So refreshing to learn of the diligent, dedicated hard work of individuals such as Ms. Mary E. Switzer. Recognition always seem to come so late for such pioneering individuals. However, no doubt Ms. Switzer was a humble person who sought no recognition, and was driven by a mantra of service before self. In modern society, where we often hear cry's of, 'what about me.' These cry's and moans pale in comparison to the type of work and legacy Ms. Switzer left behind. Her kind, compassionate, spirit touched so many individuals in so many ways. Too we often forget that there are causes greater than ourselves and Ms. Switzer is the perfect example. To earn a reputation of 'cutter of red tape' is to be highly recognized, as we well know that cutting bureaucratic red tape is like cutting leather with a butter knife. Kudos to Ms. Mary E. Switzer for her dedication to duty in an era when women were still looked down upon by a male dominated society. She is a true inspiration and true American hero.
I feel a deep quite satisfaction to see people gain recognition for humanitarian efforts. In contemporary society, we are exposed to a consistent bombardment of media hype that grants fame and recognition to people that are likely to be considered enemies of humanity. All too often, depraved social miscreants gain fame and notoriety for their shameful antics and illicit behavior. So I am pleased and relieved to have read this article, which honors the legacy of Mary E. Switzer. This Special Edition article of American Rehabilitation thoroughly reflects upon the collaborative development and progress of the public vocational rehabilitation program. I like the fact that this article not only observes the 90th anniversary of the public vocational rehabilitation program but it commemorates the legislation behind it and several other legislative actions as well. The reader gets a good sense of just how vital the public vocational rehabilitation program is for people with disabilities and independent living. Just as important, through the legacy of Mary E. Switzer, the reader gets a clear understanding of just how much leadership, collaboration, hard work and sacrifice it takes to successfully maintain this program. Mary's life was extraordinary, and it reminds us how we as professionals can intelligently utilize our networking skills and continue working towards legislative progress for all programs that empower people with disabilities.
Mary E. Switzer was an amazing woman. I enjoyed reading about her life, career and all her contributions to the field of rehabilitation, specifically to people with visual impairments. Through her work and accomplishments I can see the result of a powerful combination of passion, knowledge, dedication, intelligence, and integrity, among others. In addition, it is very impressive that during the 70’s she was the woman with the highest rank in the federal government. Reading about Mary E. Switzer was really inspiring!
It was interesting to read about Mary Elizabeth Switzer and how she took part in the creation of the public vocational rehabilitation program. In the17 years Mary Switzer was in the Federal Office, she accomplished so much. She was influential in the creation of the 1943 and 1954 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. Mary Switzer was also the director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in 1950. In addition, she worked for the World Rehabilitation Fund as a vice president. It is amazing to know that Mary Switzer held the highest rank (as a woman) in the U.S. Civil Service. The accomplishments listed above are some of the many contributions Mary Switzer made to the public vocational rehabilitation program. Mary Switzer’s actions aimed at getting the U.S. Federal Government to recognize and provide for the needs of individuals with disabilities. Without Mary Switzer’s influence, it is unknown how effective the public vocational rehabilitation program would be or if it would have been created. In reading about Mary Switzer, I found her accomplishments both educational and inspiring.
This was an insightful article highlighting Mary E. Switzer, a monumental, historical, and integral figure in American Rehabilitation. In her life she served as an advocate for persons with disabilities paving the way for future successes. She is very much deserving of recognition for her dedication, commitment, and zeal.
RSA's Special Edition of American Rehabilitation “Celebrating 90 Years: Creating Our Vision for 2020” in honor of the legacy of Mary E. Switzer and celebrating the partnerships that have contributed to the success of our profession.
People who put so much of their energy, efforts, love, passion and most of their life to make such a huge and positive difference in the lives of so many should be remembered, celebrated and given more "air time" on national television than pop stars do for their mischievious acts. It's sad to see what our "news" is these days. However, its great and refreshing to read about a Good article and get reminded about such moving, intelligent, dedicated and hard working individuals such as Mary Switzer who for most of her life fought for the worthy rights of all pwd's and for the creation of the vocational rehab programs. Mary did so much during her time and I am grateful for the outstanding and dedicated work of people like herself. I hope to continue what she started and also hope that my colleagues will be motivated to do so too and even more.
HB
The Rehabilitation Services Administration was very assertive by recognizing the efforts of Mary E. Switzer in the rehabilitation field. Her trajectory is pretty impressive and we as a rehabilitation counselor should feel motivation by these type of persons. People as Mary Switzer are important role models that provided us with hope for changes and more improvements in our field.
Alinka Del Castillo
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