About

SARA ELIZABETH GIBSON-HASTINGS, M.A., C.R.C.

Health Connection of Illinois, P.C.

24402 W. Lockport St. Suite 108, Plainfield, IL 60544

(815) 733-6940

EDUCATION

 Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois - Master of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, May, 2015

 Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois - Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, May, 2013

 CERTIFICATIONS

 Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, March, 2015 (exp. May, 2025)

 EMPLOYMENT

Health Connection of Illinois, Plainfield, Illinois

(Consulting firm for private rehabilitation sector)

2014-Present                           Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor        

·       Responsibilities include case management, personal vocational assessment, vocational testing, career counseling, job placement and job seeking skills training

·       Supervise job placement staff

·       Conduct job analysis and labor market surveys

·       Provide assistance with resume and cover letter revision along with developing appropriate interviewing techniques

·       Educate clients of the counselor/client responsibilities according to their vocational plan such as: job development, follow-up services, and participating in interviews within physical limitations and with consideration to client’s knowledge, skills, and abilities

·       Responsible for reviewing ADA job descriptions, transferable skills analysis, identifying barriers to employment, labor market potentials, and active job openings

·       Coordinate and monitor all clients involved in training sessions via Skillsoft/Percipio’s online learning platform, providing basic and advanced computer skill building

·       Create monthly progress reports including all job placement activity with a detailed list of employer contacts and vocational outcomes

 

Soaring Eagle Academy, Burr Ridge, Illinois

(Non-Profit, Autism Therapeutic Day School)

06/2013-09/2013                    Paraprofessional- Teacher Assistant 1:1

·       Assisted the Special Education teacher with duties including managing classroom behaviors, creating classroom materials, and working with a comprehensive team involved in social and academic programs

·       Specifically worked one-to-one with a student, providing Development Individualized Relationship (DIR/Floortime) techniques geared toward enhancing emotional interaction

PRE-PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

DeKalb Illinois WorkNet Center, DeKalb, Illinois

02/2014-05/2014                    Job Coach

·       Worked in conjunction with the Division of Rehabilitation Services to provide employment services to individuals with disabilities such as coaching coordination, training, and consultation.

·       Counseled clients one-to-one regarding current situation, desires, aptitudes, education, and employment history

·       Led workshops for job seekers to provide information on job searching, application completion, and resume building

·       Helped determine possible vocations and build application documents

 

CONSULTING POSITIONS

Social Security Administration Office of Hearings & Appeals

2016-Present                           Vocational Expert Witness

·       Provide impartial vocational expert testimony to Administrative Law Judge at hearings or via written responses to interrogatories. Provide factual information and expert opinion, based on up-to-date knowledge of the existence and incidence of jobs in the labor market, work settings, and skill level and physical demands of job, as well as the transferability of skills as defined by the Social Security regulations

AFFILIATIONS

  •   International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP)

  •   Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)

 

LEADERSHIP

Rehabilitation Counseling Student Association (RCSA)

08/2013-05/2014        Secretary Officer

 

ACHEIVEMENTS

·       Collaborated with graduate students in the creation of a video that raises awareness of rehabilitation counseling. The video was entered into a contest held by the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA) and won first place. It was nationally represented at the American Counseling Association (ACA) conference in Hawaii-2014

·       Link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sKRUiPZkbQ