Education

Counselor Education, Rehabilitation; Cognate: Computer Instructional Design
The University of Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa)

Teaching/Research Interests

Assistive Technology, Complimentary and Alternative Therapies,  Disability Studies, Healthcare technology, Virtual Reality

Biography

Robert Dawson serves as the Co-Director of the South Carolina Center for Assistive Technology and Educational Research (SC-CATER). The SC-CATER is a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment of faculty, professionals, and persons with disabilities working together to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities in the areas of school and transitioning to work. At the heart of the Center are the core values of equality, equity, and access. We hold the belief that no person should be deprived of services, benefits, or opportunities due to a disability. A main component of the center is the STEM focus. Students with disabilities are empowered to develop an interest in STEM fields through accessible applications of programming, robotics, and problem-solving.

He also serves as the Coordinator of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia Counseling and Rehabilitation Virtual Reality Lab. The virtual reality lab focuses on teaching, research, and clinical applications of virtual and smart technology in the healthcare setting.

Publications

Sacco, B. C., Walsh, M. J., Dawson, R. D., Petrino, J., & Boening, E. (2022). Virtual enhanced education in counselor education: Is this for real? Counselor Education and Supervision.

Tu-Keefner, F., Lankes,D. R., Liu, J., Hastings, S., Copeland, C., Dawson, R., Leach, D.,Ph.D., Karami, A., and Li, Z. (2016) Scholarship in Action: Researchers evaluate the social, environmental and health dimensions of the 2015 flood, Library and Information Science News. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

Estrada-Hernandez, N., Wheaton, J, & Dawson, R (2007) Current status of Assistive Technology Education: What do we know and what can we do? Rehabilitation Education. 

Engen, H. & Dawson, R. (2002) Counseling simulations: An interactive CD-ROM approach, Human Service Technology—Innovations in Practice and Education, Haworth Press, Inc.

Engen, H. & Dawson, R. (2001) Evolution of Counseling Simulation from Videodisc to CD-ROM. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 20(1-3)