VOCATIONAL COUNSELING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: PREPARING FOR 2030 AND BEYOND

IARP NEW ORLEANS 2015

PANEL:

Alan Bruce, Ph.D., Universal Learning SystemsJun Yaeda, Rh.D., University of TsukubaMichelle Marmé, Ph.D., CRC, LCPC, Northeastern Illinois UniversityLynne Tracy, MS, moderator

THEMES

• Decline in jobs that require technical skills ONLY: accounting, bookkeeping, bank tellers, some areas of engineering, law, technical writing, middle management white collar jobs

• Promise in areas requiring technical skills AND interpersonal expertise: physical therapy, emotional and relational servicessuch as artists, therapists, yoga instructors

• Automation is likely to result in greater disparity in income, very rich (> education, diversity & depth of skills/knowledge areas) & very low earners (< education, < diverse skill sets, <flexibility)

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WORK ENVIRONMENTS & REQUIREMENTS

• Flexibility: when, how, with whom, for whom, how long,

• Global business = global access… Available 24/7 or in emerging 4 x 10? Travel or virtual?

• Contracts rather than tenure; Project oriented > job with company

• Broader knowledge base, more integrative; more cognitive, more social

• Work teams, group outcomes

• Increased interdependence rather than independence

• Increased life-work balance integrated into work environment• The Intern. Robert DeNiro. Ann Hathaway.

• Massage therapists, open work spaces, work teams…

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SKILLS FOR 2030

Soft Skills

• Social skills

• Empathy

• Cooperation, sharing, negotiating

• Flexibility

• Character

• Dependability

• Perseverance

Gray Skills (machines may learn to do, but ? success)

• Creativity

• Cultural sensitivities

• Human touch

• Integrity

• Judgment

• Tact

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• Economic return of social skills (Deming), controlling for cognitive skill, years of education, occupation:

• 24 % increase in jobs requiring social skills between 1980-2012

• Jobs involving repetitive tasks, with minimal reliance upon teamwork declined

• Led to • Flipped-classrooms,

• Online collaborations for projects,

• Discussions, synchronous & asynchronous

• Greater independence, mixed in with greater interdependence

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CHALLENGES TO ENGAGEMENT OF PWD IN MEANINGFUL GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

Supports tied to not working must be reconsidered:

Education **IncomeHealth care, medicationHousingTransportationIndependent living

Family supports for optimal independence and/or understanding of interdependence, from earliest days

• Increase opportunities for all to learn, develop social skills• In every setting, at every turn

• Advocacy

• Conflict de-escalation, resolution, diplomacy

• Leadership

• Strengths based perspectives about skills acquired, skills desired

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IMPLICATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Access to healthcare &

healthy environments (clean

water, sanitation, electricity, etc.)

Education and training

Equitable access to technology

Social & soft skills,

environmental supports to active participation in community

from the start

Meaningful Gainful

Employment

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STRATEGIES (what must we do differently to prepare for 2030)

• Educate persons served (and their social system) about emphasis on Social Skills of work, shifts in work environments

• Explore (as we have always done) interests, skills, aptitudes for job market

• Integrate work-related soft skills in all your work with persons served (implications for your work… ?)

• Social Skills.

• Advocacy. Can role play in preparation. Client problem solves who, how to contact necessary individuals. Makes the call h’self.

• Leadership.

• Reflection, assessment, and specific plan for moving forward.

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REFERENCES• Gorman, C. (2015). The global workplace of 2030. www.greatplacetowork.com/publications-and-events/blogs-and-

news/the-global-workplace-of-2030

• Lopez Levers, L. (2012). Disability issues in a global context. In Maki, D.R. & Tarvydas, V.M. The Professional Practice of Rehabilitation Counseling, 165-192. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

• Miller, C.C. (2015). The upshot: The best jobs require social skills. NY: New York Times, October 18.

• Overview: Disability. (September 29, 2015). The World Bank. Geneva: World Bank. (http://www.worldbank.org/)

• Peyton-Jones, T. (2014). The future of work: Jobs and skills in 2030. UK Commission for Employment and Skills. www.iseek.org/news/fwFutureWork.html

• Roby, G. (2015). 5 key issues that will impact your future workplace. www.greatplacetowork.com/publications-and-events/blogs-and-news/3107-5-key-issues-that-will-impact-your-future-workplace#sthash.HHkRLRxH.dpbs

• Where will jobs be in 2020? www.careerprofiles.info/jobs-of-2020.html

• The future of jobs: The onrushing wave. (2014). The Nation. www.thenation.com

• World Report on Disability (http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/01/14440066/world-report-disability)

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