The Power of VR Offices

Mar 9, 2022

The role of VR counselors is crucial, as they hold students’ fates and careers in their hands. Dr. Moges-Riedel, explains that, “I shared my past experience and they were dismayed. VR counselors can be a difficult part of the experience. They should be more open and willing to really engage in dialogue.” There are many opportunities for deaf people, but when a narrow selection of options are offered it can be limiting. For the Black deaf community, employment outcomes are statistically lower than that of their non-Black peers. These outcomes lead to a lack of representation in a variety of fields, continuing the struggle for students of color to get support. There are #DeafSuccess stories in every field, and they deserve to be told.

Full video description: https://tinyurl.com/3j763sjz

Video Description:

A black woman has long black dreadlocks. She wears a small black fedora, a navy blue collared shirt and a bright patterned tie.

Rezenet sits in a small office near a computer desk and some vertical blinds. She uses sign language.

Speech:

Another difficult issue is vocational rehabilitation. VR counselors and DOR or the Department of Rehabilitation can really swing the pendulum.

They hold the fate of students’ careers in their hands.  They can easily discount the student and say, “Oh, there isn’t much recruitment in this field. There aren’t many possibilities so it may be best to consider another field.” They can just destroy students’ dreams. They are the ones who really determine people’s careers.

I did not have good luck with VR while working on my bachelor’s and master’s. I had no support.

They didn’t see the vision I had for my future, so I had to do it on my own. But now, for my doctorate degree, I have an amazing VR counselor. I told them I wish there were more VR counselors like them.

Video Description:

A teal circle appears, crossed with a banner with text: “The Power of VR Offices.”