CAREER COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS WITH A

DISABILITY

NEARLY 1 IN 5 PEOPLE HAVE A DISABILITY IN THE U.S

- CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS, 2010

• About 56.7 million people - 19% of the population – ½ severe.• 41% of those age 21 to 64 with any disability were employed, compared with

79% of those with no disability.• Among people age 15 to 64 with severe disabilities, 10.8% experienced

persistent poverty; the same was true for 4.9% of those with a non-severe disability, and 3.8 percent of those with no disability.

• 80 and older were about eight times more likely to have a disability than those in youngest group.

• The probability of having a severe disability is only one in 20 for those 15 to 24, while it is one in four for those 65 to 69.

CENSUS BUREAU STATISTICS CON’T• 8.1 million people had difficulty seeing; 2.0 million who were blind or unable to see.• 7.6 million people experienced difficulty hearing.• 1.1 million whose hearing difficulty was severe.• 5.6 million people use a hearing aid.• 30.6 million had difficulty walking or climbing stairs, or used a wheelchair, cane, crutches or walker.• 19.9 million people had difficulty lifting and grasping. • 9.4 million non-institutionalized adults had difficulty with at least one activity of daily living.• 15.5 million adults had difficulties with one or more instrumental activities of daily living. Of these, nearly 12

million required assistance.• 2.4 million had Alzheimer’s disease, senility or dementia.• 7.0 million adults reported being frequently depressed or anxious such that it interfered with ordinary

activities.

“MOST NEGLECTED, MISUNDERSTOOD, AND MARGINALIZED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS”… • More than 49 million individuals age five and older have a disability.• Disability does not discriminate; all ages, genders, religions, SES, and ethnic background. • Individuals with disabilities constitute the largest minority group.• Barriers faced by individuals with a disability are considered attitudinal and environmental, not physical or internal.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013)• 17.6 percent persons with a disability were employed • 13.2 percent unemployment rate for those with a disability (higher than those without a disability)

(McAuliffe, 2013, p. 506-508)

DEFINITIONS OF DISABILITY •Mobility and Physical • Sensory • Health

•Psychological• Intellectual• Learning• Disorders of Attention

MOBILITY AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES(MCAULIFFE, 2013, P. 512)• Related to mobility: upper and lower limbs• Manual dexterity disability or a disability involving coordination with bodily organs. • A physical disability includes either neurological or musculoskeletal in nature.• Examples include:• Spinal cord injuries• Amputations• Muscular Dystrophy• Restriction of Limb movement (i.e. Stroke or disease)• Spascity or rigidness of muscles (i.e. Cerebral Palsy)

SENSORY DISABILITIES(MCAULIFFE, 2013, P. 512)

• Includes vision and hearing. • Visual impairment includes a continuum of loss of sight. • Hearing impairment includes either hard of hearing or deaf. • Definition of being deaf: the “inability to hear and understand speech through the ear alone.”

HEALTH DISABILITIES(MCAULIFFE, 2013, P. 512-513)

•Includes impairments that limits one’s endurance or are considered to be life threatening. • For children: a chronic or acute health condition that limits one’s strength, vitality, or alertness. • Examples include: • Asthma• Sickle Cell Disease• Cancer• Kidney Disease• Cystic Fibrosis

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISABILITIES(MCAULIFFE, 2013, P. 513)•Generally, individuals experiences problems in relations with others, the perceptions of the world, perceptions and attitudes towards the self. • Specific/workable definition:• experience fears, worries, and/or discomfort and are not easily resolved by self• displays behavioral deficits or overly engages in behaviors that interfere with functioning• engages in behaviors that are considered deviant and result in severe consequences

Examples Include: Anxiety disorder Bipolar disorder Schizophrenia Eating Disorders

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (MCAULIFFE, 2013, P. 513)

•Includes cognitive/Intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and disorder of attention.• An Intellectual disability: • Before age of 18• characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior• Also must consider the individual’s social, practical, and community context.

LEARNING DISABILITIES(MCAULIFFE, 2013, P. 513-515)

Processing Information•Two main characteristics:• Problems processing information.• Difficulty handling phonology or sound of

language. • Seven domains:• Motor problems• Perceptual Deficits • Attention Deficits• Memory Disorders• Language Disorders• Social Perceptual Disorders• Emotional Overlay

Disorders of Attention• ADHD• Problems with:• Self control• Impulse control• Level of activity • Disorganization• Poor time management• Difficulty paying attention for long periods

of time• Difficulty starting tasks, completing tasks,

and meeting deadlines• Act impulsively – impulsive decisions

GOVERNMENT PROVISIONS• Individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination in employment primarily by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. •Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)• “The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. The ADA also establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services.”

www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm

DEFINING INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITY• “An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”

www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335

THE ADA…• Requires employers of 15+ employees to provide equal opportunity for full range benefits of employment to individuals with disabilities• Prohibits discrimination in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, and social activities• Restricts questions asked about disability before a job is offered• Requires employers to make reasonable accommodations

THE REHABILITATION ACT • “…prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors.”• Standards are the same as those under the ADAwww.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:• Complaints are filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) www.eeoc.gov• United States Department of Labor www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm• U.S. Department of health and human services www.hhs.gov• Americans with Disabilities Act www.ada.gov

AGENCIES THAT HAVE ADA RESPONSIBILITIES• U. S. Equal Opportunity Commission• U. S. Department of Transportation• Federal Communications Commission• U. S. Department of Education• U. S. Department of Health and Human Services• U. S. Department of Labor• U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development• U. S. Department of the Interior• U. S. Department of Agriculture(Search ADA.gov)

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES• CareerConnect, American Foundation for the Blind• Free resource, specifically for the blind or visually impaired to learn about jobs performed by others who are blind or visually impaired• “Users explore careers, review tips on finding work, getting hired, and making that job work, and examine information on technology to assist in the job.”• Helps clients examine their strengths, build resumes, and find mentors• Has links to employment opportunities(The National Career Development Association)

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES• Entry Point• “Program of the American Association of the Advancement of Science”.• Offers internship opportunities for students in STEM areas

(The National Career Development Association)

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES• Getting Hired• Free, must register to use site• Creates employment opportunities and lists many different employers/employment opportunities

(The National Career Development Association)

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES• Hire Disability Solutions• Full-service staffing and consulting firm• Works with individuals and employers to find the best fit• Individuals can search the site, but must have a Monster.com account to apply for positions• Individuals can also post their resumes on the website after registering

(The National Career Development Association)

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES• Workplace & Employment: American Association of People with Disabilities• “Largest national nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States”• Partners with several employers to offer internships to young people with disabilities

(The National Career Development Association)

ASSESSMENTS• Enderle-Seversen Transition Rating Scales (ESTRS)• Preliminary Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ)• Transition to Work Inventory• Vocational Decision Making Interview• Work Adjustment Inventory (WAI)

• Depending on the Disability, accommodations can be provided

REFERENCESMcAuliffe, G. (2013). Culturally Alert Counseling: A Comprehensive Introduction (2nd

ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.The National Career Development Association (n.d.). The National Career Development Association. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from http://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/resources#list_resources_all-R160-NCDASearch ADA.gov. (n.d.). Federal and ADA Disability Resources. Retrieved July 15, 2014 from http://www.ada.gov/ada_fed_resources.htmUnited States Census Bureau. (2012, July 25). Nearly 1 in 5 people have a disability in the U.S.. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from United States Census Bureau Web Site: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/miscellaneous/cb12-134.htmlWood, C. & Hays, D. G. (2013). A counselor’s guide to career assessment instruments (6th ed.). Broken Arrow, OK: National Career Development Association.