Horizontal expansion of the role of the rehabilitation counselor

Abstract

The United States labor market is undergoing rapid change as part of the global economy. New paradigm shifts are occurring that will shake traditional notions about how people earn living and participate in the world of work. Corporate perceptions and expectations of the labor force are changing as the corporate world becomes focused on international competition and profits that ensure survival. The authors believe that the profession of rehabilitation counseling has the potential to play an important role in this new environment, but the profession must engage in serious soul searching that may challenge current role definition. If the profession is to remain relevant, it must become less orthodox and see the future as challenge that includes expansion of our traditional role and function. Over-specialization is detriment in the new environment. However, if rehabilitation counselors develop broader approach, they will have much to offer business and industry. Although rehabilitation counseling has been identified as providing specific services to people with disabilities, the rehabilitation counselor's knowledge, skills, and service delivery are comprehensive and applicable to almost any group, including people who do not meet the definition of having disability. The authors believe that the marketability of rehabilitation counselors will suffer in the future if they remain niche players serving single, identified population. Corporate America is not likely to hire rehabilitation counselors who focus only on disability issues; corporate America is more likely to hire rehabilitation counselors who use broader service approach geared to increase productivity of the labor force in general. Labor market changes are occurring both demographically (i.e. fewer white males, more women and minorities, decreasing population of younger workers) and structurally (i.e., service versus manufacturing, technology including robotics, deregulation, corporate mergers, downsizing, global teams, Internet, outsourcing, and increased competition) (Goldstein, 1996). Additional issues impacting today's labor force include corporate firings, decentralization, legalism and litigation, morale, child and elder care, work place revenge by the disenfranchised, work place bias, creative benefits, quality of work life, job redesign, and need for flexibility and adaptational skills. These changes are so substantial that they may be considered paradigm shift. Ferguson suggested that a paradigm shift involves dislocation, conflict, confusion, and uncertainty. New paradigms are nearly always perceived with coolness, even mockery or hostility. Those with vested interest fight the change. The shift demands such different view of things that established leaders are often the last to be won over, if at all. The paradigm shift in the labor market will undoubtedly evoke similar responses. For example, there will be strong resistance on the part of workers directly affected, as well as host of other players including professionals who share the responsibility of helping others adapt to changes. Changes that will revolutionize where and how rehabilitation counselors work include, among others, the concept of placeless society. The placeless society is defined as world of everything and everybody being at once everywhere (Knoke, 1996). According to Knoke (1996), we are already seeing the beginning signs: banks that serve any customer from any branch, grocery chains that know the minute-by-minute sales of any cash register in any store, and airlines that electronically link hundreds of thousands of retail travel offices into its flight schedules and tariffs. The success of any organization will fundamentally depend on its people. While the mechanical aspects, such as the computers and the transportation systems, can often be changed overnight, the human element displays much more inertia. …