Steven Shedlin
Steven's path to becoming a rehabilitation professional...
I was sitting in a McDonald's and ran into a woman that I had known from a previous job. She told me that her husband had just gotten a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I was working in the field and was unaware (shame on me) that such a program existed. I looked into the program that week, applied to the program, got accepted, and enrolled for the following semester.
Steven's rehabilitation education
I have a Master of Education degree from Kent State University in Rehabilitation Counseling, earned in 1981. I have a post graduate certificate in Life Care Planning from the Rehabilitation Training Institute earned in 1995.
How Steven developed his practice
I initially worked in a private, non profit agency in Akron, Ohio serving individuals with disabilities. I provided job seeking skills training and job placement. Upon receiving my masters degree, I moved to the Washington DC area and with the exception of a little over a year, in which I worked for the Epilepsy Foundation of America as the assistant director of a national project, I have worked in the private for profit sector. I moved from being a case manager, to a district manager to the owner of my own small company, which I started in 1989. I entered into the forensic arena at that time and have been working almost exclusively in that field for 20 years.
Steven's "Ah-Ha!" moment that shaped his rehabilitation career path
I actually turned down a job with a start up cable television company, started by a former co-worker of mine, in 1985. For better or worse, that tiny company, known then as Cable Education, turned out to be the Discovery Channel. A month later I was offered a job with a regional private, for profit, rehabilitation company. They were great folks for which to work and my career as a rehabilitation professional really took off from there.
Outside interests that influenced Steven's work
I had a friend in high school whose older sister had paraplegia as a result of an auto accident. Seeing the adjustments that she needed to make to her life was eye opening. I had been in my field for almost 13 years when I realized that my young son was disabled. He was diagnosed at that time with pervasive developmental delays and I begun to experience first hand the challenges that go along with having a family member with a disability.
How IARP has served Steven through his career
I have been a member of IARP since 1985. I have developed very close friendships through the years with professionals all across the country by attending conferences, being part of section and full association boards, and participating on list serves. I have had the privilege of serving on the NARPPS Board and IARP board and am a past president of the association. In that capacity I have enjoyed being part of defining the direction of the association and working collaboratively with other caring professionals. My career is a successful one, and has been enhanced significantly by my experiences as a member of IARP.
Steven's advice to someone who is thinking about a career as a rehabilitation professional
This is a career that will be defined by very fulfilling moments as you have an opportunity to work with a segment of society that is often overlooked. Work and basic life care needs are intrinsic portions of our lives that many of us take for granted, but others of us have dificulty managing. To help those for whom life and work is more challenging is exceptionally rewarding.
