ala@hpinddf.cup.hp.com (Alyson Abramowitz) (07/03/90)
Index Number: 9015 I read with interest Greg See-Kee's comments on counselors. I've had a friend of mine recently apply for a position counselling (primarily job related) disabilities. My experience with such positions (and what I've heard from others) initially made me want to disuade him from the job. That job should be an essential one. I believe we need some competent people in those kind of roles. So, I was wondering if people had some more positive feedback. What do you want a counselor to know and do for you? What kind of background do you consider appropriate? What could the person do if they didn't have the background to gain those credentials (whether formal or informal)? If you feel this question is too open, consentrate it on vocational/job counselling. Lets assume, for the moment, we have counselors which are motivated to do a really good job. They probably have a background in psychology or human resources but not necessarily disabilities (this has been my experience, at least). So what do you want/need such a counselor to do and know? What do you NOT want them to do? I look forward to the responces.
Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (07/18/90)
Index Number: 9223 AA> From: ala@hpinddf.cup.hp.com (Alyson Abramowitz) AA> Message-ID: <12599@bunker.UUCP> AA> Index Number: 9015 AA> That job should be an essential one. I believe we need some AA> competent people in those kind of roles. So, I was wondering if AA> people had some more positive feedback. What do you want a AA> counselor to know and do for you? What kind of background do you AA> consider appropriate? What could the person do if they didn't have AA> the background to gain those credentials (whether formal or AA> informal)? If you feel this question is too open, consentrate it AA> on vocational/job counselling. Let's assume that if the job requires the counselor to work with persons with disabilities then the counselor should also have a disability. Nothing is more discouraging then to have some able bodies person tell you you can't do that. I had that experience. I became the first elementary school teacher in my state in spite of my counselor. I later held a position as a rehab counselor and just encountered two of my former clients in the past year. One, a C-5 quad heads a security monitoring facility. The other, a T-6 para, faces jail time for illegal arms sales. Both very successful in their choosen fields. The point is the disabled cliet should be encouraged by disabled counselors to achieve. Encourage to try. Exort to their highest limits. Do not place any obstacles in their path with preconceived standards. Another former client works for a government syp organization in codes and cyphers. There should never be any limits except those imposed by the client, and even they should be clearly evaluated and questioned. Hope this helps. -=joe=- -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org
Steve.Bonine@p0.f777.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Bonine) (07/19/90)
Index Number: 9276 JC> Let's assume that if the job requires the counselor to JC> work with persons with disabilities then the counselor should JC> also have a disability. Let's not. What you're saying is that persons who are not disabled are incapable of providing encouragement, and that persons who ARE disabled are always infallible in deciding whether a disabled person can accomplish a given task. This is a stereotype at its best. It's a fine theory that someone with a handicap is better qualified to council handicapped folks. I think it's just that -- a theory. I am sure that there are many very-capable non-handicapped people who work with the handicapped. I am just as sure that there are some handicapped jerks out there in the field. This is the same mentality that says that handicapped people CAN'T do things; it's just applied in reverse. And it's just as wrong in that direction. JC> The point is the disabled cliet should be encouraged by JC> disabled counselors to achieve. Your sentence reads much better without either of the DISABLED's in it. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!115!777.0!Steve.Bonine Internet: Steve.Bonine@p0.f777.n115.z1.fidonet.org
Nadine.Thomas@p59.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Nadine Thomas) (07/19/90)
Index Number: 9278 In a message to Alyson Abramowitz <06 Jul 90 5:39:00> Joe Chamberlain wrote: JC> Let's assume that if the job requires the counselor to JC> work with persons with disabilities then the counselor should JC> also have a disability. JC> Nothing is more discouraging then to have some able JC> bodies person tell you you can't do that. I had that experience. Joe, there are counselors WITH disabilities that do the same discouraging that some of the TAB's do. For me it is difficult having a voc.rehab. counselor with a disability because I am continually comparing myself with her - look at her, in a wheelchair, limited use of hands, and she finished college, works full time, is married, has kids, has FOSTER kids, has clients come to her home on thanksgiving and christmas etc. and here I am.........42, no college degree, no job, no family, lucky if my dishes get washed and my floor swept and mopped - sigh. Nadine Alias: Fido Bandido *NUMERO UNO ON FIDONET MOST WANTED LIST* -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.59!Nadine.Thomas Internet: Nadine.Thomas@p59.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org
Greg.See-Kee@f631.n712.z3.fidonet.org (Greg See-Kee) (07/25/90)
Index Number: 9507 SB> What you're saying is that persons who are not disabled are SB> incapable of providing encouragement, and that persons who ARE SB> disabled are always infallible in deciding whether a disabled SB> person can accomplish a given task. I think that very few people know what "empathy of loss" is, until they have experienced the loss of a loved one. In my own caes, I still have not experienced the loss of a loved one. As many readers of my messages can plainly see, I really am not the best counsellor for someone undergoing traditional bereavement. There are several types of counselling. Not every type suits every person all the time. My approach is rational-emotive. Others use more Gestalt, or more behavioural approaches. Currently all rehabilitation training & rehabilitation treatment is Socio-illiterate". What this means is that practically everything being dished out to the clients by the so-called professional people, does not suit most people, most of the time. Ideally, the therapist should measure the psycho-sociology ofthe client, then custom-mould the matching treatment process. The flaw in the whole step is that very few, if any, professional do-gooders have the ability to mould themselves for the wide variety & the overwhelming numbers of clients. For a quick undersatanding of this process, I suggest you see the WOODY ALLEN movie or video-tape: "CHAMELEON". SB> Your sentence reads much better without either of the SB> DISABLED's in it. Being disabled has some similarities to other human traumas. But it is different, just as death, car-smashes, stroke, being-raped, losing-home are all very different. Experience shows that specialist counsellors, adapted to each speciality, are the best. Our "ideals" unfortunately often clash with reality. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!3!712!631!Greg.See-Kee Internet: Greg.See-Kee@f631.n712.z3.fidonet.org