(Des Moines, IA) Drake University is working to launch a new degree program aimed at preparing students who want to dedicate themselves to helping “people with disabilities in living full and self-directed lives.” The Des Moines private university announced in a news release it will offer a bachelor of science in disability and rehabilitation services in its school of education, with enrollment set to begin in spring 2026.

Academic work and hands-on training will be included in the program, the release stated, focused on the cores of advocacy, employment, disability, business and working with people. The degree program will train students to be able to gain employment at agencies handling community rehabilitation or mental health, government programs, school systems and corporate human resources branches.

With both full-time and part-time paths to the degree available, the release stated students can also select “emphasis areas” to tailor their program, in topics including advocacy, counseling, deaf culture, human resources, leadership and youth services.

Students hoping to further their education after earning their degree can specialize in school counseling, rehabilitation counseling or clinical mental health counseling and forge a “strong pathway” into graduate programs in areas like occupational therapy or counseling, the release stated.

If a student wants to join a “state vocational rehabilitation or nonprofit agency” once they’ve earned their degree, they can apply to receive as much as $10,000 in “additional scholarship funds.” Money for the scholarships comes from a Rehabilitation Services Administration grant, the release stated.

“Every state in the country has a critical workforce need for rehabilitation professionals, and this program offers the flexibility to customize a student’s emphasis in pursuit of any number of highly in-demand careers,” said Matt Bruinekool, director of the National Rehabilitation Institute at Drake University, in the release.