John O’Neill

Dr. O’Neill is Kessler Foundation’s Director of Employment and Disability Research. He has led numerous funded-research regarding employment and disability. Examples include: early inpatient vocational resource facilitation for individuals with spinal cord injury; evaluating the impact of Program Without Walls, a freelance community-based vocational rehabilitation team providing services to individuals with TBI; improving vocational rehabilitation services available to persons living with AIDS; evaluating the influence of state vocational rehabilitation services on the uptake of SSDI. Dr. O’Neill sat on the New York State Rehabilitation Council for nine years serving as the Council’s representative working with the State vocational rehabilitation agency to create a comprehensive system of personnel development and chairing Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee to conduct the New York State vocational rehabilitation agency needs assessment. Dr. O’Neill directed the graduate program in rehabilitation counselor education at Hunter College, CUNY for 25 years.