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Sara Park

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services

Email: Sara.Park@unt.edu

Licensures and Certifications

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. (2025 - 2027).
  • Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. (2021 - 2026).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • RHAB 4100 - Rehabilitation Service Delivery Systems, 1 course.
  • RHAB 4300 - Introduction to Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 1 course.
  • RHAB 5718 - Transition Issues in Rehabilitation, 1 course.

Teaching at Other Institutions

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2024.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2024.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Summer 2024.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Spring 2024.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2023.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2023.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Summer 2023.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Spring 2023.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Spring 2023.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2022.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Summer 2022.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Summer 2022.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Spring 2022.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Spring 2022.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2021.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Fall 2020.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison / Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, Spring 2020.

Awards and Honors

  • Nominated for Graduate Student Award, Association for Rehabilitation, Research, Policy and Education (ARRPE). (April 2025).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Bishop, M., Park, S., Livneh, H., Rumrill, P. (2023). Psychosocial Adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disability: A Primer for Counselors. The Psychological and Social Impact of Chronic Illness and Disability. Springer Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826151117.0007

    • Instructor's Manual

  • Rumrill, S., Rumrill, P., Park, S., Zhou, K. (2025). The win-win approach to reasonable accommodations: A self-advocacy guide for autistic workers. Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky Human Development Institute.
  • Rumrill, S., Zhou, K., Park, S., Rumrill, P. (2025). The win-win approach to reasonable accommodations: A self-advocacy guide for workers with diabetes mellitus. University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, https://hdi.uky.edu/leadership-self-advocacy/the-win-win-approach-to-reasonable-accommodations-a-self-advocacy-strategy-for-workers-with-diabetes-mellitus-pdf/

    • Journal Article

  • Whittenburg, H.N., Taylor, J.P., McMahon, D.D., Park, S., Meyer, J., Anderson, C.A., Bonilla, Á. (2026). Exploring Technology Use to Facilitate Supported Employment Service Delivery to Individuals with IDD Living in Rural Areas. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 64 (2) 135-145. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/10522263251413800
  • Park, S., Sui, W., Celik-Zencir, A., Tansey, T.N. (2025). A Strategic Analysis of Generative Artificial Intelligence Simulated Client Role-Play Training in Rehabilitation Counseling Education. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education. 39 (3) 137-152. Springer Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1891/re-25-14
  • Park, S., Rumrill, S., Zhou, K., Rumrill, P. (2025). A “win-win” approach to workplace accommodations for autistic workers. Other. 82 (2) 454-464. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/10519815251344883
  • Castruita-Rios, Y., Park, S., Taylor, J.P., Whittenburg, H.N., Poppen, M., Avellone, L., Tansey, T. (2025). Investigating Demographic and Service Predictors of Hourly Wages and Weekly Working Hours of Youth With Disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552251378063
  • Zhou, K., Park, S., Qin, S. (2025). Agency in Defining Autism: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00343552251349504
  • Taylor, J.P., Whittenburg, H.N., Avellone, L., Castruita Rios, Y., Park, S., Poppen, M., Tansey, T. (2025). The Impact of Pre-Employment Transition and Individualized Vocational Rehabilitation Services on Employment Outcomes for Youth With Disabilities. Other. 48 (2) 128-139. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/21651434241239967
  • Chun, J., Curtiss, S.L., Richard, C., Zhou, K., Rios, Y.C., Park, S., Kim, J., Koc, M. (2025). Where Does Hope Lie? The Dialectical Tensions Between Hopes and Expectations of Vocational Transition Planning from the Perspectives of Autistic Young Adults, Parents, and Practitioners. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 55 (5) 1857-1875. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06348-9
  • Park, S., Rumrill, S., Zhou, K., Rumrill, P. (2025). A “win-win” approach to workplace accommodations for autistic workers. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation. 82 (2) 454-464.
  • Fry, H., Richard, C., Spillane, L., Ko, E., Park, S. (2025). “Taking Advantage of the Grace I Have Been Afforded”: A Thematic Analysis of Cancer Survivors’ Experiences of Priority Shift After a Cancer Diagnosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 106 (4) e122-e123. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2025.01.318
  • Bishop, M., Park, S., Ko, E., Koc, M., Zhou, K., Rumrill, P. (2025). Employment accommodation experiences among American workers with multiple sclerosis: A mixed-method analysis. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 62 (2) 141-153. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/10522263241310070
  • Meyer, J.S., Brinck, E.A., Weathers, M.D., Park, S., Qisti, D.A., Zencir, A.C., Fosu-Asare, L., Anderson, C.A., Tansey, T.N. (2025). Vocational rehabilitation outreach to diverse populations: Identifying underserved populations through demographic analysis. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 62 (1) 39-48. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/10522263241301196
  • Kim, J., Baumunk, M., Park, S., Tansey, T. (2024). Pathway to Trauma-Informed Rehabilitation Counseling: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ Training Experiences and Use of Trauma-Relevant Knowledge in Daily Practice. Other. 13 (2) Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association. https://doi.org/10.52017/001c.124002
  • Kim, J., Park, S., Castruita-Rios, Y., Weathers, M., Park, M., Inge, K., Riesen, T., Keeton, B., Avellone, L., Tansey, T. (2024). Customized employment for transition-age youth in state vocational rehabilitation program PY2017 - PY2020: Analysis of service outcomes and related factors. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 60 (3) 281-297. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-240013
  • Whittenburg, H.N., Avellone, L., Taylor, J.P., Park, S., Poppen, M., Rios, Y.C., Tansey, T., Taylor, J.P., Whittenburg, H.N. (2024). State-level characteristics and trends in pre-employment transition service delivery to students with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 60 (2) 185-195. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-240005
  • Castruita Rios, Y., Park, S., Chen, X., Tansey, T.N. (2023). Collaborations to Support Employment Outcomes of Youth With Disabilities. Other. 12 (1) Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association. https://doi.org/10.52017/001c.72655

Presentations Given

    Oral Presentation

  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Rumrill, S. (Author & Presenter), Zhou, K. (Author & Presenter), Rumrill, P. (Author & Presenter), 2026 Association for Rehabilitation, Research, Policy and Education (ARRPE) Conference, "Win-Win” Approach to Workplace Accommodations for Autistic Workers: AI Agent Demonstration, San Antonio, TX, United States of America. (2026).
  • Rumrill, P. (Author & Presenter), Zhou, K. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), 2026 Association for Rehabilitation, Research, Policy and Education (ARRPE) Conference, Emerging Vocational Rehabilitation Strategies for People with Diabetes Mellitus., San Antonio, TX, United States of America. (2026).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Tichy, N. (Author & Presenter), Zhou, K. (Author & Presenter), 2026 Association for Rehabilitation, Research, Policy and Education (ARRPE) Conference, Advancing AI-Technology Integration in Rehabilitation Counseling: Adapting the TPACK Assessment Framework, San Antonio, TX, United States of America. (2026).
  • Gafford, L.V. (Author & Presenter), Zhou, K. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), 2026 Association for Rehabilitation, Research, Policy and Education (ARRPE) Conference, Innovative Practices for Community Integration and Employment: The UNTWISE, San Antonio, TX, United States of America. (2026).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Rottier, H. (Author & Presenter), Chun, J. (Author & Presenter), Kratochvil, R. (Author & Presenter), Koc, M. (Author), Tekinarslan, G. (Author), College Autism Summit, Co-Creating Change: Building Campus and Community Collaborations Toward Autistic Advocacy, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Ko, E. (Author & Presenter), Goldsmith, H. (Author & Presenter), Huang, Y. (Author & Presenter), Kantor, N. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Chun, J. (Author & Presenter), Pell, D. (Author & Presenter), Martens, T. (Presenter), Halpop, E. (Presenter), INTEGRAL Adult Autism Conference, You are already an advocate: Collaboration, community, and autistic advocacy, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Castruita-Rios, Y. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Tichy, N. (Author & Presenter), Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) International Conference, ). One Story, Many Lessons: A Success Story of a Youth Receiving SSI Benefits and Her Family, Council for Exceptional Children (CDC), Denver, CO, United States of America. (2025).
  • Castruita-Rios, Y. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Taylor, J. (Author & Presenter), Whittenburgh, H. (Author & Presenter), Poppen, M. (Author & Presenter), Avellone, L. (Author & Presenter), Division on Career Development and Transition, National Trends and State Characteristics of Pre-ETS: Supporting the Employment of Students with Disabilities, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), National Symposium on Quality Employment, Association between rehabilitation counselors’ disability enculturation and perceived clients’ career readiness, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Weathers, M. (Author & Presenter), Almusytir, A. (Author & Presenter), Upchurch, S. (Author & Presenter), Salisbury, J. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Kim, J. (Author & Presenter), Anderson, C. (Author & Presenter), Tansey, T. (Author & Presenter), Brinck, E. (Author & Presenter), National Symposium on Quality Employment, Understanding job retention among recipients of state vocational rehabilitation services: A mixed-methods in investigation, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Ko, E. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Bishop, M. (Author & Presenter), National Symposium on Quality Employment, Work accommodation is critical to employment retention: The experiences of workers with Multiple Sclerosis, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Weathers, M. (Author & Presenter), Xu, K. (Presenter), Illinois Center for Transition and Work (ICTW) Symposium, Strategies to Engage Youths with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Careers in Technology, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Richard, C. (Author & Presenter), UW-Madison PACID Lab Conference, Disability Pride: A scoping review, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).
  • Curtiss, S. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting, Autistic Young Adults’, Parents’, and Transition Practitioners’ Perspectives of Vocational Transition Planning, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).

    • Poster

  • Zhou, K. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author), Qin, S. (Author), 2025 International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting, Agency in Defining Autism: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis, INSAR, Seattle, WA, United States of America. (2025).
  • Fry, H. (Author & Presenter), Richard, C. (Author & Presenter), Spillane, L. (Author & Presenter), Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Ko, E. (Author & Presenter), American Psychosocial Oncology Society 2025 Annual Conference, “Life is precious, and we are only guaranteed THIS moment”: A thematic analysis of priorities in life after cancer, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Minton, D. (Author & Presenter), Rumrill, P. (Author & Presenter), International Conference on Autism, Intellectual Disability & Developmental Disabilities, Activities and Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial to Promote Cognitive Support, Technology Use, Academic Success, and Quality Employment among Postsecondary Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, United States of America. (2025 - 2025).
  • Park, S. (Author & Presenter), Qisti, D. (Presenter), National Symposium on Quality Employment, VR employment and retention outcomes for transition-age young adults with subminimum wage referrals, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Park, S., "Fostering Disability Pride to Promote Self-advocacy and Career Adaptability in Young Adults with Autism: Randomized Control Trial of Internet-based Intervention," sponsored by National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Federal, $45000 Funded. (2024 - 2025).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, ELEVAR Admissions Committee. (January 7, 2026 - January 21, 2026).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Search Committee. (October 23, 2025 - January 15, 2025).

Professional Service

  • Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Rehabilitation. (January 2026 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. (October 2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation. (2025 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Counseling Bulletin. (2024 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Conference Paper, Association for Rehabilitation, Research, Policy and Education. (September 10, 2025 - November 7, 2025).