Rehabilitation is a multi-dimensional long drawn process- it includes
training, education and therapeutic management of persons with disabilities
to restore their physical, mental, emotional, social and vocational usefulness
as per their capabilities. Rehabilitation workers/personnel play an important
role in empowering and ensuring the full participation of people with
disabilities.
There are several types of disabilities which require the service of
rehabilitation professionals. Disabilities are generally categorized as
physical impairments i.e any disability which limits the physical function
of limbs or fine or gross motor ability; sensory disabilities such as
Blindness, Low Vision, Hearing Impairment etc, developmental disabilities
such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Down syndrome etc
and mental disorders. These disabilities may be resulting from birth defects,
illness, disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life.
People affected with different types of disabilities need different rehabilitation
measures or aids & appliances for their functional freedom and mobility,
such as medical intervention, therapeutic exercises, education in special
schools or inclusive settings, vocational training and employment etc.
Each individual faces unique challenge in overcoming their particular
disability- rehabilitation workers offer emotional support and professional
guidance to each one according to their needs. Rehabilitation counselors
may also provide general and specialized counseling to people with disabilities
in public human service programs and private practice settings.
In the past, rehabilitation workers primarily served working-age adults
with disabilities. Today, the need for rehabilitation extends to persons
of all age groups who have disabilities.
But every rehabilitation service professional cannot be trained in dealing
with all of these varied disabilities in different age groups. So
while considering a career in this field, one has to consider what category
of people they are interested to work with, such as people with mental
disability, physical disability, anti social behaviour and so on.
A rehabilitation worker identifies the client's specific difficulties
and develops a plan of action to remove or reduce the barriers the client
faces. The first step is to determine the nature and extent of the disability
and evaluate how that disability interferes with work and other life functions.
This determination is made from medical and psychological reports as well
as from family history, educational background, work experience, and other
evaluative information. The next step is to determine a vocational direction
and plan of services to overcome the handicaps to employment or independent
living. The rehabilitation counselor or worker coordinates a comprehensive
evaluation of a client's physical functioning abilities and vocational
interests, aptitudes, and skills. They deal with the whole person and
work with each client to develop an individualized rehabilitation plan
including training to increase the individual's capacity to live independently,
and in many cases help to develop job skills, obtain jobs, and be included
in the community.
