Insights to Chapter 6 (Blog post 10)

While reading Chapter 6: "Clients with Special Needs” in the Brown (2012) text, I thought that she did a great job with highlighting all the important points of this very important topic.

She gives a disclaimer about reading the chapter, stating that one will not be an expert in providing career counseling to the vast population of clients who may request career counseling, though some of the topics discussed in the chapter are important points to consider for future clinical and professional practice. 

She breaks each of the populations down by category and addresses each one individually.

I thought it appropriate for this week’s blog post to talk a little more about some of the things she mentions in terms of 2 of the populations.

1. Disabled individuals - including those with physical and mental disabilities

2. Women

For Individuals with a Disability, some important things to consider are:

1.     First, for the disabled population it is important to be cognizant of the term "disabled" as it  the  implies deficits. In practice, you would always want to be careful of the language you are using so as to not offend, nor to disrupt the report between you and your client. Be mindful of the fact that the disability is not all encompassing of the individual. For example it is Individuals with a Disability, not Disabled Individuals. The client's disability is only part of what makes them who they are. However, there is much more to their story and narrative. 

2.     A disability is any restriction or lack of (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in a manner or within the range considered normal for a human being." The major classifications for disabilities include: Mobility, Hearing, Vision, Developmental Disorders, Seizure Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, and Cognition (Kraus, Stoddard & Gilmartin, 1996). 

3.   The CPS survey (2004) reported the percentages for people who were non-disabled, moderate disabled, and severely disabled were 85%, 81% and 29.5%, respectively. Workers who were severely disabled tended to be concentrated in service occupations and earned considerably less than their non disabled counterparts as a whole. 

For women, some important things to consider are:

1.     Determine whether the woman's preliminary choices were made as a result of socialization or if it is in line with her actual interests.

2.     As career counselors, it will be important to discuss with women clients about discrimination in the workplace and also inform them of their rights when subjected to sexual harassment.

3.     Career counselors should be mindful of the fact that single mothers may require some additional guidance and support in the career counseling process. 

Resources

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.


Kraus, L., Stoddard, S., & Gilmartin, D. (1996). Chartbook on Disability in the United States. An InfoUse Report. Washington, DC: U.S National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Retrieved from: http;//www.infouse.com/diabilitydata/disability/.