[nfbmi-talk] Rehab Counselling

Fri Apr 15 04:08:11 UTC 2011

hi Cheryl,

2 things.

First, what you have said about relating to clients is the model which
differs from NFB's approach.  of course, we believe in ethics and equal
treatment, but there is a higher level of relationship which exceeds these
standards and that is believing in clients as equals and first-class
citizens.  An artificial cold and aloof style of rehabilitation does not
foster the optimum outcome.  again, I beg you to read Blindness Handicap or
Characteristic.  The debate between Father Carroll and Dr. Jernigan lays out
the whole array of points.

Second, I was referring to the counselor as leader in managing the
relationship between the client and counselor.  I was agreeing with you that
a negative relationship in all probability, means that the counselor has not
found the best tool in the counseling tool box to work on the relationship.

With regard to placement, I am a firm believer in The Richard n. Bolles
approach to job hunting.  I firmly believe the client must without a doubt,
be the leader and the agency and counselor must be a support system with
resources to address issues outside the applicant's ability to resolve, such
as making computer systems accessible, or assisting with expensive costs
associated with getting hired.  Bolles  wrote the What Color Is Your
Parachute" series of books.  I have most always gotten every job I have
applied for.  this is not bragging.  I have prepared myself and the employer
for my application and this generally works out.  As I said, I have mostly
gotten every job I have applied for.  There have been exceptions as is
always the case when one is involved in such a subjective effort as job
finding.  With Bolles, the job-hunter drastically increases their chances by
preparation and seeking only those jobs which they have concluded they are
best qualified for.  of course, it is more complex than this simplistic
explanation, but generally this is how it works and I am an example of its
efficacy.  

Boy on rereading this sounds more arrogant than I mean it.  I simply believe
that pre-planning and careful selection of employers and jobs drastically
increase one's chances to be hired.  Style, setting, personality, lifestyle
and a myriad of other factors must be considered prior to the application.
We all need to find employers that match, to the best extent possible, our
styles and interests.  I believe this applies to all levels from manual
labor to top management.  

As a caution, as we in the NFB have experienced with MCB a change in
leadership in the organization can change the atmosphere and the employee
then needs to decide how to cope.  This is not easy and in Christine's and
Dave's cases, can be devastating to a career plan. There are bad employers
as well as bad employees.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Cheryl Wade
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 11:23 PM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Rehab Counselling

Hello,

Fred, you mentioned how, at NFB programs, counselors invite students to
their homes for meals. That's a great idea for a program that's
self-contained, and I think I would feel comfortable doing that in such a
situation. But for ethical reasons, counselors feel they might compromise
their relationships with clients if they become too friendly outside the
office. It's kind of like my reporting career: if your beat is city hall and
you hang around at the city manager's house for BBQ, some might consider you
suspect.

Of course, counselors should above all be caring, loyal to their clients,
considerate of clients' needs above those of the status quo or outside
parties. They should, and indeed are commanded to, practice beneficence and
justice toward clients. That sometimes means treating all clients in a
similar way -- though not alike. So, if there are cuts and prioritization of
services, we must handle emergency situations but must not push some clients
ahead of others

You guys are tough, and I like that. But I hope you give some of us newly
emerging counselors a chance. I would encourage clients to tell their
counselors when they're unhappy.

Fred, you also mentioned how counselors should take the lead role in finding
jobs for clients. There is considerable discussion about that. I believe
that counselors should encourage clients to take as much responsibility as
they are comfortable doing, but prepare them for that level of independence.

The reason is that, if we don't encourage that kind of personal
responsibility in the counseling venue, we might unwittingly be making
clients more dependent, not less so, and patronizing them by making them
feel that the job search is the counselor's agenda. It is the client, after
all, who will be working at that job for awhile and should be comfortable
and happy as possible with it.

Cheryl Wade
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 9:33 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Rehab Counselling

> Great points Mary and Fred!  I was thinking of the general counselling 
> program at Eastern Michigan University.  It is a generic program that 
> teaches the skills of counselling to a wide variety of proffessions.  What

> I have found out is that yes, you can come out with many of the essentials

> but some of the specifics not so much.  Fred, we sure do need a center 
> like that one in Michigan!  Joe, we need to change the system here in 
> Michigan because everyone shouldn't have to leave the state to become self

> reliant.  Right now I see you are entirely correct but my hope is that we 
> can change it before there is nothing at all!
> Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
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du 

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