Danielle Arredondo advocates for others.
“We assist clients who receive Social Security benefits with seeking employment within a competitive job market,” said Arredondo, a Program Manager for Disability Services of America. “We begin by obtaining details through a vocational evaluation which helps us determine what services we can provide, and then we offer career counseling (that includes) creating resumes, establishing realistic job targets and interview preparation.”
As a Program Manager for Disability Services of America, Arredondo oversees a team of 13 case managers while managing a caseload of 275 clients. She is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. 
“Many people seek our services because they have been told that they can’t go back to work once they’ve received disability benefits,” she said. “It’s very rewarding when we can dispel the myths surrounding work and client’s benefits, and assist with supporting them in their return-to-work goals.”
Arredondo earned her bachelor’s in rehabilitation and disability services in 2020 and her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling in May 2021. NIU’s rehabilitation counseling graduate degree program was recently named as a Center of Excellence by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), making it the first university program in the nation to receive this designation.
“The experience I had while attending NIU surpassed all expectations,” she said. “The professors went above and beyond to help students manage their expectations and worked with them if they needed extra support.”
Arredondo said she benefited from being part of a small cohort, and that her advisors and graduate professors took the time to get to know each student.
“They ensured that we all were successful in preparing for our future careers,” she said. “The feedback that I received gave me strength and encouragement to get through even the toughest coursework.”
She suggests that students interested in helping others in a disability advocacy role should check out the undergrad RDS and graduate RC programs.
“My experience and time at NIU helped me achieve my career goals,” Arredondo said. “I’m proud to be a Huskie.”
Learn more about earning your rehabilitation counseling degree at NIU.
