Community Colleges as a Postsecondary Option for Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities: A Primer for Rehabilitation Counselors.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide rehabilitation counselors an overview of the benefits of the community college system as an option that veterans with service-connected disabilities should consider in helping to make the transition from military to civilian life. We describe veterans with service-connected disabilities, the reasons to consider community colleges instead of 4-year universities, and community college supports for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Method: Through a narrative review approach, we synthesized a collection of research articles, government reports, and websites to describe the academic and career development needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities and how community colleges are an effective option to meet these needs. Our approach toward analyzing the article's source materials was informed in part by our military/veteran-related lived experiences. Results: We provide six recommendations for rehabilitation counselors who support veterans with service-connected disabilities with educational goals. These include gaining knowledge of community college options; understanding funding options for veterans; knowledge of military-friendly community college settings; collaborating with institutional colleagues; understanding on-campus supports for disability-related needs; and continuing education on veterans' issues. Conclusions: We conclude rehabilitation counselors should be familiar with the benefits of the community college setting for veterans with service-connected disabilities to facilitate educational goals and transition to civilian life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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