joneil@hunter.cuny.edu
212 772-5188
1121 West

Dr. O'Neill was coordinator of the Graduate Programs in Counseling at Hunter College, CUNY  from1984 and 2008.  He also lectured in the Rehabilitation Counselor Education  Program at Syracuse University, where he received his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education, and was Adjunct Professor for several years in New York University's Rehabilitation Counseling and Occupational Therapy programs.

Teaching

Professor O’Neill is the Project Director of the Hunter College/ New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS) Work-Study program which is collaboration between the Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Counseling and OASAS. The project is designed to meet the increasing need for professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in the field of substance abuse. Work-Study students have an opportunity to develop their skills as professional Rehabilitation Counselors working in the area of substance abuse while taking graduate courses toward completion of a Masters degree. College tuition and salary are paid for by the grant.

Research and Service

Prof. O’Neill is the Co- Director of two National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) funded rehabilitation research and training centers (RRTC): the Statistics and Demographics RRTC (StatsRRTC) and the Individual Characteristics RRTC (IC-RRTC). The purpose of the StatsRRTC is provide valid disability data and statistics to support decisions related to policy improvements, program administration, service delivery and protection of civil rights to benefit persons with disabilities, leading to improved education and employment outcomes. The IC-RRTC will generate new knowledge about the role of individual characteristics in creating the high level of employment disparities between people with and without disabilities. The evidence base built through the IC-RRTC research activities will be used to improve strategies and interventions for attaining better employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

Prof. O’Neill  was also the Co- Director of the NIDRR funded Employment Service Systems Research and Training Center (ESSRTC) which was a five year grant to develop, enhance, and utilize partnerships to improve the quality of employment services, opportunities, and outcomes for people with disabilities.  Five research projects are designed to meet this goal. The research examines partnerships across public agencies, between not-for-profit and public agencies, and between rehabilitation agencies and businesses. The entire proposal creatively partners with stakeholders and systems to better meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Dr. O'Neill was a principal for 10 years within the NIDRR funded Research and Training Center on the Community Integration of People with Traumatic Brain Injury where he led a research project to expand and evaluate an innovative approach for providing vocational rehabilitation services to people with TBI.  Professor O’Neill also worked for over eight years with MTS on NIDRR funded research to improve the quality of vocational rehabilitation services available to persons living with AIDS.

Professor O’Neill sat on the New York State Rehabilitation Council for six years and was that Committee’s representative working with the State vocational rehabilitation agency to create a comprehensive system of personnel development.  As part of his Council involvement, Professor O’Neill also chaired the Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee.