Download Career Counseling the Disabled

Career Counseling
PowerPoint produced by Melinda Haley, M.S., New Mexico State University.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
Why Is This Needed?
• Effective and responsive career counseling can significantly
impact and empower a person with a disability at the level of
choices, inclusion and independence.
• If a person with a disability has choices, is included and has
independence, he or she can have a satisfying and rewarding
career.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
Current Issues that Effect Employment
and Career Possibilities
• Disabilities and capabilities should be carefully considered
when assisting a person with a disability in a search for a
meaningful career.
• Due to globalization, increased technology and shifts in
population it is more difficult, rather than less difficult, for people
with disabilities to find jobs.
• Many disabilities hinder development of marketable job skills
which can lead to lower income, underemployment and lower
self-esteem.
• People with disabilities often experience (a) limitations in early
life experiences, (b) difficulty in making decisions, (c) a
negative worker self-concept.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
Current Issues that Effect Employment
and Career Possibilities
• People with disabilities are often limited in the types and
amounts of experiences they are allowed to have. They are
often specifically restricted in:
– Career opportunities.
– Social experiences.
• This lack of experience can lead to:
– Career development problems.
– Failure to develop a consistent and differentiated
personality.
– Failure to develop a career identity.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
Current Issues that Effect Employment
and Career Possibilities
• Many people with disabilities have decisions made for them
and do not have an opportunity to become experienced in the
decision making process.
• Many do not get the opportunity to test their own competencies.
• Many do not receive information that will aid in a realistic
perception of what opportunities might be available to them.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
Current Issues that Effect Employment
and Career Possibilities
• Social attitudes toward disabilities shapes the opportunities and
therefore the life of a person with a disability.
• Long term exposure to prejudice, negative attitudes and
paternalism may fundamentally undercut a person’s selfesteem and sense of self-efficacy.
• Classification Processes: Basically comes from the assumption
that people with disabilities are less human and less capable.
These are used to make decisions regarding services which
are made largely by people who do not have a disability.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
Legislation Affecting People with Disabilities
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
–
Removes barriers to employment, public buildings and
transportation, state and local government services.
– It guarantees equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination in all
aspects of the employment process.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
Legislation Affecting the Disabled
1992 Rehabilitation Act Amendments
– Client's have choice in the service provision process.
– Client’s have power in the selection of a vocational goal.
– Vocational Rehabilitation counselors must consider an individuals
strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities
when assisting the client in career exploration.
– The goal is empowerment, independence and self-determination.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
Legislation Affecting the Disabled
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999
– Designed to increase employment opportunities for individuals who
are on Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental
Security Income.
– Protects people from losing their health benefits if they work.
– Gives the client choice in the selection of employment related
rehabilitation service providers.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
The Empowerment Perspective
– People with disabilities should have the same degree of power and
control over their lives as people without disabilities.
– Each individual is worthy of respect ad dignity.
– Each person should have equal opportunity to maximize his or her
potential.
– People as a rule strive to succeed and grow in a positive direction.
– People should have the power and authority to make decisions that
affect their own life.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
Things to Remember When Career Counseling a
Person with a Disability
– Career counseling is something you do with the person, not do to or
for the person.
– Clients should be involved in the planning process and given
relevant information that will aid them in making their own
decisions.
– Clients should weigh alternatives, gather information, and explore
career options. The counselor can aid in this but should not do this
for the client.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
The Counseling Process
– Identify the client’s career goals taking into consideration any
specific issues or problems and whether or not the disability was
pre- or post- career. This will shape a client’s attitudes toward the
type of work he or she will prefer.
– Form a positive working alliance. Counselors emphasize the
client's role and responsibilities including decision making,
responsibility for his or her own actions and that he or she is an
active participant in the counseling process.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
The Counseling Process
– Gather client information. This includes information about the
client’s specific situation including how he or she views himself or
herself, his or her abilities, barriers, worldview, and decision-making
style.
– Understand and make hypotheses about the client’s behavior. How
does the information the client has presented relate to the client’s
career development process? Identify the specific disability
variables that will affect outcomes for the client.
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Career Counseling the Disabled
The Counseling Process
– Take action. Treat your client in a age-appropriate manner and
respect his or her values and beliefs. Client strengths should be
utilized to the fullest. Use client resources (family, friends, spouses
etc.) to the client’s benefit.
– Develop a career goal and plan of action. Decide on an
appropriate intervention that will best include the client in the
decision-making process, as well as, best assist the client in his or
her goals.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling the Disabled
The Counseling Process
– Evaluate the working relationship. Was the client as involved as he
or she should be in, (a) gathering information (b) generating ideas
and alternative courses of action, (c) devising a plan for action?
– Close the relationship. Establish a monitoring system to provide
follow-up and support. Do NOT foster dependency but give the
client freedom of choice. Teach client’s where to find other
community resources.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Career Counseling Presentation
Resources
Gysbers, N. C., Heppner, M. J. & Johnston, J. A. (2003). Career
counseling: Process, issues, and techniques, 2nd ed. Boston, MA.:
Allyn & Bacon.
Brown, D. (2003). Career information, career counseling, and career
development, 8th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn & Bacon.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”