05/01/2023

Integrating Disability Competence into the Career Development of High School Students

By Allison Levine

Adolescents have some of the highest rates of disability among the United States population. Moreover, there is a mental health crisis taking place among school-aged students, with suicide ranking as the second-leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2023). Mental health concerns and other disability symptoms contribute to less successful post-school outcomes for high school students. In other words, career development is impacted by the experience of symptoms related to mental health or other disabilities and therefore, students are less successful in obtaining goals related to higher education, competitive employment, or other postsecondary areas of independence.

Understanding Mental Health as Disability

A person with a disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a person with 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 (ADA, 1990, Title I). This definition is applicable to the experiences of many students with mental health needs. However, discussions of mental health crises among students do not include disability. Separating mental health topics from a more complete discussion that incorporates disability is a shortcoming that can inhibit the success of many students.

Breaking down barriers to using terms such as disability or disabled (visit Lead4Inclusion’s module on identity-first language for more information), supports students in developing an identity that incorporates, rather than resists, being a part of the disability community. This identity shift also can facilitate student growth and success. For example, understanding mental health needs as possibly a part of a disability allows students and their caregivers to understand that they can receive accommodations and support at university disability services, which are attributable to student persistence in two and four-year postsecondary endeavors (Newman et al., 2021), as well as success in the workplace (Nevala et al., 2015). Students may also be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services, in which case they may be able to receive financial support, vocational training, and access to other opportunities that can lead to their success in postsecondary settings.

Competencies for a Disability Inclusive Practice

Developing an inclusive, disability-competent approach to career development will not only support students with disabilities, but also those without. While there are specific applications of multiple career development theories for different disability groups, a more practical approach is an overarching understanding of inclusive practices and orientations that are adaptable regardless of the preferred theoretical model one may use. These recommendations are, in part, informed by the American Counseling Association Disability-Related Counseling Competencies (Chapin et al., 2018).

Acknowledge Ableism

Ableism is "a system that places value on people’s bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normality, intelligence, excellence, desirability, and productivity...” (TL Lewis, 2021). When considering career development, counselors must acknowledge the role of ableism in their own perspectives about what they have been socialized to understand about work, professionalism, and disability. In order to develop a critical consciousness (Friere, 1974), counselors must recognize their own situated, internalized understandings and interactions with disability (not just people with disabilities) before they can fully move away from ableism. Starting with an inward look is essential, especially as it pertains to career development for high school students; work and education are two areas in which internalized ableism is prominent (e.g., notions of professionalism, ‘problem’ behaviors, etc.).

Understand Adjustment to Disability

Some of the most common reactions to a disability diagnosis or onset include shock, anxiety, denial, depression, anger/hostility, and adjustment (Livneh & Antonak, 2005). Counselors must be careful not to conflate representations of adjustment with setbacks or gaps in career development level. For example, a student who is experiencing feelings of anxiety or anger that manifest as avoidance of meetings or lack of engagement in future planning, may be labeled as unmotivated or with no direction. However, counselors must consider broader factors related to symptom onset, diagnosis, and finally, adjustment to disability. It is entirely reasonable for someone to be hesitant to project into the future when their current world has been turned upside down by a diagnosis (and possible requirement of additional services, moves to other classrooms, etc.). Even for those diagnosed from birth, adjustment to disability can shift over time and with new life stages.

Be Accessible and Inclusive

Inclusion is not the opposite of exclusion. Practices that are inclusive for students with disabilities include more than the simple act of not excluding them. While it is essential to understand and use physically accessible materials, spaces, and technologies, inclusion and accessibility can also be thought of simply as a way of being. Rather than being reactive to an inclusivity need, consider ways to be proactive. In most cases, the most accommodating and accessible format is ideal for all participants, not just the student with a disability. The TIES Center and their Inclusive Practice TIPS are resources for inclusive practices for students across ability levels.

Embrace Advocacy

According to the NCDA Code of Ethics (2015), career counselors have the ethical responsibility to advocate for student opportunities in schools, with employers, and with caregivers. Whether their advocacy takes the form of advocating for a single student in a specific situation or getting involved on committees or in groups that are taking up disability as a cause, counselors can make a tremendous difference by being advocates for their clients and their clients’ communities.

Istock 1417921862 Credit Seventyfour

Disability competence is an important component of understanding and facilitating the career development of high school students with disabilities and mental health needs. Understanding ableism, adjustment to disability, and advocacy can help career counselors to better meet the needs of all students, and especially those who may need their support the most.

 

References

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2023). Suicide statistics. https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (1990). 

Chapin, M., McCarthy, H., Shaw, L., Bradham-Cousar, M., Chapman, R., Nosek, M., Peterson, S., Yilmaz, Z., & Ysasi, N. (2018). Disability-related counseling competencies. American Rehabilitation Counseling Association.

Freire, P. (1973). Education for critical consciousness. Seabury Press.

Livneh, H., & Antonak, R. F. (2005). Psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability: A primer for counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 83(1), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00575.x

 National Career Development Association. (2015). NCDA code of ethics. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/asset_manager/get_file/3395?ver=738703

Nevala, N., Pehkonen, I., Koskela, I., Ruusuvuori, J., & Anttila, H. (2015). Workplace accommodation among persons with disabilities: A systematic review of its effectiveness and barriers or facilitators. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 25(2), 432–448. 

Newman, L. A., Madaus, J. W., Lalor, A. R., & Javitz, H. S. (2021). Effect of accessing supports on higher education persistence of students with disabilities. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 14(3), 353–363. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000170

 

Allison LevineAllison Levine, Ph.D., CRC, NCC, is an assistant professor of counseling at the University of Iowa. Dr. Levine has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor since 2012 and has worked in psychiatric rehabilitation settings as well as in providing pre-employment transition services to students with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Levine completed her doctorate in Rehabilitation Counselor Education at Michigan State University in 2018. Dr. Levine's research uses social justice frameworks for improving counselor education and supervision, in particular with regard to professional disposition development, as well as improving understandings about disability bias within the helping professions. Dr. Levine serves as a committee member of the Counselor Education and Supervision Task Force with Counselors for Social Justice (a division of ACA). She can be reached at Allison-Levine@uiowa.edu

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26 Comments

Nancy Perez   on Saturday 06/03/2023 at 08:42 PM

As a counselor I hope to be an advocate for all of my students. Particularly an advocate for students with disabilities. These students grow up in a world where they are seen as different and often are mistreated and misunderstood. When in reality they go through so much more than one can understand, and because of this they often do not receive the help they need. I hope to make their lives at school a little easier by learning and addressing their needs.

Christopher J. Needham   on Sunday 06/04/2023 at 12:01 PM

There is no doubt, in my opinion, that the world has changed. The mental health struggles and the complexities of the world has made being a teenager very complicated. Mental health should be seen as a disability in some form and accommodations should be made for those who suffer. Anything we can do as future school counselors, to identify students with mental health issues/disabilities should be done. We need to be careful of our own biases as to what constitutes a disability though. We need to see the human condition as imperfect and find ways to help improve it. I have no delusions although, about how difficult this task will be when you are dealing with a student to counselor ratio of 250:1. Finally, we never want to allow a disability to become a crutch for inaction or personal improvement.

Nicole Krause   on Sunday 06/04/2023 at 08:20 PM

As someone who works with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I have learned the importance of breaking down barriers that prevent people with disabilities from being able to fully experience life. While there are some laws in place for people with disabilities, more action is needed to support this population to provide them with more opportunities. I was intrigued about the acknowledgment of ableism section of this article. I believe that more people need to view their own implicit biases to make them more aware of their views of disability and ableism. In the future, I hope to provide as much support as I can for my students who have disabilities and make all students aware of how to be proactive and inclusive with their classmates and to those around them.

CHRISTINE GRIFFIN   on Monday 06/05/2023 at 08:56 AM

Your statement that "inclusion is not the opposite of exclusion" stood out to me as it highlights how we must be proactive as counselors in our role as an advocate for the student. Addressing mental health as a disability is critical to understanding how to help students. By looking through a lens fine tuned to ableism, and using out time with students to identify mental health disabilities, we can be more thorough in understanding their needs and counseling them about opportunities in career development.

Anderson Nance   on Monday 06/05/2023 at 09:34 AM

In my school district we have had issues with individuals complaining that not enough is being done to advocate for the students with learning disabilities when it comes to career and future planning. Your article puts a spot light on the issue and highlights how we can be better to advocate for those students. This is a topic that needs more notoriety but sadly in the under funded and understaffed districts like the one i am in this will continue to be pushed aside. Thank you for a simple introduction to how we can be better as counselors to advocate for our student population with disabilities. A must read and a must be brought up topic.

Jillian Esposito   on Monday 06/05/2023 at 05:26 PM

I loved this article, and the attention it brought to students with disabilities in post secondary life. First, I appreciated the author highlighting that when mental health is considered a disability, students can access the accommodations they need to be successful in post secondary life. I also appreciated that the author pointed out that you can not just call something "inclusive" because students with disabilities are being including. As a previous special educator, at times I have seen inclusive being reactive, rather than proactive. It is important that not only school counselors, but everyone in the school system, is using always using inclusive practices through materials, spaces, and technology.

Kayla Wunder   on Monday 06/05/2023 at 09:59 PM

A person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts one or more main life activities, someone who has a history of such an impairment or a record of such an impairment, or someone who is thought to have such an impairment by others. The experiences of many students with mental health concerns are consistent with this definition. Understanding mental health needs to be top priority in schools, families, etc. In developing this kind of inclusivity, it will support students/individuals. By understanding ableism, adjusting to disability, being inclusive, and embracing advocacy, will help create better counselors and also have a safer more accepting environment.

Pucci Angell   on Tuesday 06/06/2023 at 08:46 PM

A statement that really stands out to me is the one about a student being labeled as unmotivated when that is not the true story at all. Often times you see professionals jump to conclusions without understanding what is going on with the student. You may think you have an unmotivated student but you must understand what factors are causing this such as anxiety or anger. I find that advocacy may be the most important role as a counselor, especially for those you cannot advocate for themselves.

Evan A. Cornell   on Wednesday 06/07/2023 at 10:07 AM

Mental health has jumped to the forefront of many conversations over the past few years. Recognizing mental health issues as disabilities provides those affected with legal protection and accomodations in school, which will help them to succeed.

Joana Joe Daou   on Wednesday 06/07/2023 at 02:12 PM

After reviewing this article, I agreed with how students need to understand their learning disability. When students I work with understanding their learning disability they can advocate for themselves academically, civically, and can develop the skills and responsibilities they need in order to get the accommodations and modifications to be successful.

Miranda Lilly   on Thursday 09/07/2023 at 09:20 AM

I enjoyed reading this article. Understanding what a disability diagnosis is highly important as a future school counselor. I think more people need to be more aware of what a disability is and not put their bias on the disability. It’s important for not just school counselors to be involved and know a student's disability but for teachers, and other staff in the building.

Courtney McEntee   on Thursday 09/07/2023 at 07:23 PM

I think the topic of both mental health and disabilities is such a strong one to understand. Unfortunately some words still have negative connotations and we need to break that habit. Mental health can definitely disable a person from moving past obstacles without some sort of assistance. I enjoyed your take on recognizing this and bringing it to our attention.

Jaymie Johnson    on Friday 09/08/2023 at 08:19 PM

This was a great read! As a future school counselor, I hope to minimize stigma surrounding disabilities while I work to support my students. I understand that stigma reduction is a large feat. Therefore, I appreciate your reminders for educators to remain aware of their biases and to be proactive instead of reactive in their practice. I also appreciate the time you took to illustrate students’ adjustment to disability diagnoses in the realm of career development. I think it is important we provide students with an empathetic and safe space to develop their identity.

Raquel Londono   on Friday 09/08/2023 at 09:45 PM

This article really highlights the positive impact that a strong support system can have on someone with a disability. A student with a disability may not have the knowledge and resources to know and understand the programs and services available to assist them. As a future school counselor, I understand it is crucial to advocate and be proactive for students with disabilities in an effort to give them the same opportunities as everyone else.

Ashley Fleury    on Saturday 09/09/2023 at 12:11 PM

I really loved reading this article. The statement that made me reflect most was how counselors have to acknowledge their own understandings and interactions with disability. I think that is so important because you turtle have to be an advocate and the best way to do that is to reflect and understand.

Lauren Berolini   on Sunday 09/10/2023 at 10:10 AM

Counselors need to be aware of students' visible and invisible disabilities and their impact on students' and their opportunities for career development. That being said, achieving this reality is no easy feat. When working with students with anxiety and other mental health challenges, counselors must strike a balance between supporting students and also challenging students. Mental health challenges can be self-fulfilling prophecies, and often students do not realize their true capabilities due to intrusive, inaccurate thoughts.

Olivia Gasbarro   on Sunday 09/10/2023 at 05:16 PM

I enjoyed this read. I don't think enough people realize how important it is to include those with disabilities and create an environment where everyone feels welcomed. I really enjoyed the point being made that some students may not even be aware of the services they could receive for help. I feel like that is very relevant!

Diana Doorley   on Monday 09/11/2023 at 09:03 AM

Hi, Allison, thank you for this article. You propose an interesting challenge in diagnosing mental health concerns as 'disabilities.' On one hand, students may feel in denial and upset that they have been labeled as someone with a disability. However, putting a label on it allows the student to get the help they need. I believe that counselors must be very careful in how they approach this situation and must make sure that the student know that they are on their side and their only goal is to do what is best for them.

Brandyn Chace   on Monday 09/11/2023 at 05:31 PM

This article was excellent and as special education teacher and future school counselor this was very informative. My school district has an excellent program for students with disabilities in both academic and sports, but I often see students graduate with limited post-secondary success. I trust that as a school counselor I will develop an inclusive approach to career development that will help my students for years to come.

peyton maher    on Tuesday 09/12/2023 at 06:46 PM

Great article! this is a very important topic for people to learn. Mental health issues in students have grown greatly through the years and more people should be aware/ help students with that issue.

Jazlyn Contreras   on Wednesday 09/13/2023 at 04:06 PM

Thank you for all of this information! It is so important to be proactive and to be inclusive to all. And as you have mentioned, it is not just about not excluding a student. All students deserve fair access to their education and along with fair guidance from their school educators.

Alexis Arruda   on Wednesday 09/13/2023 at 08:53 PM

Thank you for this article, I really enjoyed reading it. There can be so much stigma revolving around both the words 'mental health' and 'disability.' Mental health can be so debilitating for students and it is our job as school counselors to acknowledge and break these barriers and provide support to the student and their families. I strongly believe that mental health should be discussed more within the school systems so students are aware of the support that can be provided to them, and to make it a safer environment for all students.

Cassandra Giarrusso   on Thursday 09/14/2023 at 09:35 AM

I really enjoyed reading this article! I think that it is very important for person to understand that mental health is considered a disability. I loved what you said about how inclusion is not the opposite of exclusion. It is also very important for schools to be proactive in helping these students, while being advocates for them as well.

Rachel Harraka   on Thursday 09/14/2023 at 05:13 PM

Thank you Allison for this article. What resonated with me is how the misunderstanding of disabilities primarily comes from societally constructed ideas of normality. Social media is a big part of our students lives today, and the thought of them feeling misunderstood based on these societal norms, and the constant comparing on these platforms is scary, especially when mental health enters the mix. My goal as a future counselor, is to constantly advocate for all my students, and hope if they feel misunderstood, they begin to feel the opposite.

Marilyn Santomaro   on Saturday 09/16/2023 at 06:28 PM

I think this article makes a strong point that school counselors need to advocate for all their students. Touching upon ableism is very important because it addresses the idea that school counselors also fall into this societal trap and it is very detrimental to the population who needs them the most.

Tomas McLaughlin   on Monday 10/02/2023 at 10:52 AM

Your emphasis on understanding mental health as part of disability is particularly interesting and valuable for counselors and educators.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the comments shown above are those of the individual comment authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of this organization.