Africentricity and the Black Disability Experience: A Theoretical Orientation for Rehabilitation Counselors

Abstract

Due to theoretical orientation and training received, the rehabilitation counselor working with the Black disabled client may encounter a set of atypical client responses and requirements. This paper reviews some of the literature addressing counselor and client characteristics and prospective factors for failure in counseling Black disabled clients. The Eurocentric theoretical basis of training and practice is discussed, followed by an overview of the Africentric approach which potentially provides for rehabilitation counselors' improved service delivery to the Black disabled client.

The impact of stuttering on employment opportunities and job performance

“…Balser (2000) found that minorities with disabilities were more likely to perceive discrimination than were Caucasians with disabilities. Herbert and Cheatham (1988) stated that the combination of being disabled and a minority creates a double bias towards that individual.…”

Exploring the Vocational Rehabilitation Acceptance Rates for Hispanics Versus Non-Hispanics in the United States

“…Similar conclusions have been drawn by other research teams (Alston & Mngadi, 1992;Ficke, 1992;McNeil, 1993;Walker & Brown, 1996;Yelin, 1992). Finally, when looking at possible influences relative to VR outcomes for racial minorities, Herbert and Cheatham (1988) suggested that racial minority persons with disabilities are subjected to more bias when seeking rehabilitation services compared with White Americans. In support of Herbert and Cheatham's assertion, Butcher and Scofield (1984) and Elstein, Shulman, and Sprafka (1978) reported that vocational counselors may construct negative impressions regarding ethnic minorities at the beginning of the clinical process and that these initial observations are difficult to alter even when evidence emerges to the contrary.…”

Predicting Vocational Rehabilitation Acceptance Based on Race, Education, Work Status, and Source of Support at Application

“…Similar conclusions have been drawn by others (Alston & Mngadi, 1992;Ficke, 1992;McNeil, 1993;Walker & Brown, 1996;Yelin, 1992). Finally, when looking at possible influences within the VR system, Herbert and Cheatham (1988) suggested that minority persons with disabilities were subjected to more bias when they sought rehabilitation services. Years earlier, two research teams reported (Butcher & Scofield, 1984;Elstein, Shulman, & Sprafka, 1978) that vocational counselors may construct impressions at the beginning of the clinical process and that these initial observations may be difficult to alter even when evidence emerges to the contrary.…”