Evolution of consumerism in rehabilitation counseling: a theoretical perspective."Ready or not, here comes the future" say Carlson & Goldman (1991) in 2020 Visions: Long View of a Changing World. Futuristic philosophers invite people to develop world views which enable them to be innovative and successful. Individuals gain a sense of empowerment and direction by projecting into the future and looking at social, technological, and environmental challenges. Trends often move with domino effect from one field to another; thus, increasing the predictability of new paradigms. Consumerism is a paradigm operating today with consumer power demonstrated unmistakably within the commercial marketplace. Grass roots grass roots pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity. Often used with the. 2. The groundwork or source of something. political efforts remain a mainstay in the democratic process. Rising consumer movements play important roles in most segments of society. Now, perhaps medical and allied health professionals will be ready to pay attention to a newly emerging brand of consumerism (Inlander, 1991). Increased awareness influencing the rise of health-related consumerism within the rehabilitation field will enhance professional effectiveness. Historical Perspective A cursory understanding of the history of disability leaves one with the impression that humankind has often responded to societal deviance with fear, denial, and devaluation devaluation, decreasing the value of one nation's currency relative to gold or the currencies of other nations. It is usually undertaken as a means of correcting a deficit in the balance of payments. . Rubin and Roessler (1988) cite examples of early negative attitudes toward disabled persons dominating Greek and Middle Age societies some of which still prevail. History teaches that when particular behaviors or attributes are perceived to be detrimental to a society ostracism ostracism (ŏs`trəsĭz'əm), ancient Athenian method of banishing a public figure. It was introduced after the fall of the family of Pisistratus. becomes the norm. Although one can acknowledge increments of positive change, studies reveal that negative responses to disabilities persist (Morrison & Ursprung, 1987). These attitudes reflect beliefs colored by the dualism dualism, any philosophical system that seeks to explain all phenomena in terms of two distinct and irreducible principles. It is opposed to monism and pluralism. In Plato's philosophy there is an ultimate dualism of being and becoming, of ideas and matter. of good fortune or evil intent given as justification for persistent stigmatization stigmatization /stig·ma·ti·za·tion/ (stig?mah-ti-za´shun) 1. the developing of or being identified as possessing one or more stigmata. 2. the act or process of negatively labelling or characterizing another. of people with disabilities. Prevailing ways of rendering services tend to be based on intrinsically destructive hierarchical models and tend to be delivered with paternalistic pa·ter·nal·ism n. A policy or practice of treating or governing people in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them rights or responsibilities. attitudes (Nosek, 1993). The New Paradigm: Consumerism Since people with disabilities are an integral part of society, a cornerstone of the movement projecting consumerism into the healthcare delivery system is acceptance of disabilities as a valued part of life. Marcel Proust n. 1. A French novelist (1871-1922). Noun 1. Marcel Proust - French novelist (1871-1922) Proust utilizes an appropriate metaphor in pointing out "that the real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes" (Barker, 1992). The essential rehabilitation task of renewing human lives remains the same, but a new way of viewing that task makes important differences in how it will be executed. An understanding of the future of rehabilitation counseling rehabilitation counseling, n counseling started in the United States in 1920 to assist individuals disabled by industrial accidents; originally included physical, psychologic, and occupational training; expanded over the next 70 years and laid the requires more than prediction of trends. Barker (1992) states that cognizance The power, authority, and ability of a judge to determine a particular legal matter. A judge's decision to take note of or deal with a cause. That which is cognizable to a judge is within the scope of his or her jurisdiction. of the future requires two abilities: (1) the ability to identify new paradigms, and (2) the ability to find ways to practice by new rules. Such a change occurred with passage of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which required use of the individualized in·di·vid·u·al·ize tr.v. in·di·vid·u·al·ized, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·ing, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·es 1. To give individuality to. 2. To consider or treat individually; particularize. 3. rehabilitation plan (IWRP IWRP Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan IWRP Institute of Water Resources Planning IWRP Individual Waste Reduction Program ); thus, ways to practice rehabilitation counseling by new rules were found (Kuehn, 1991). People with disabilities were mandated to decide which services they would consume. Clients became consumers. Consumerism: Pros and Cons pros and cons Noun, pl the advantages and disadvantages of a situation [Latin pro for + con(tra) against] A feature in the April/May/June 1993 Journal of Rehabilitation provided a commentary on a significant paradigm shift A dramatic change in methodology or practice. It often refers to a major change in thinking and planning, which ultimately changes the way projects are implemented. For example, accessing applications and data from the Web instead of from local servers is a paradigm shift. See paradigm. within the context of rehabilitation counseling and services - the shift from clientism to consumerism. In the lead article, Thomas (1993) endorses the use of the word "client" and argues strongly for the old paradigm of the professional/client relationship. He points out that Webster's dictionary Webster's Dictionary - Hypertext interface. defines a consumer as one who spends, wastes or destroys. By contrast, the word "client" signifies a person who engages another to act on his or her behalf. The old paradigm views the client as the one receiving rehabilitation, the recipient of professional services (job) professional services - A department of a supplier providing consultancy and programming manpower for the supplier's products. . The new paradigm envisions consumers empowered to choose and purchase services. Therefore, definitions may influence one's choice of the word client or consumer. Yet, the focus of the new paradigm becomes one of empowering those with disabilities rather than supporting the old hierarchial system of professional/disabled person. Nosek (1993), in providing support for the word "consumer", says that rehabilitation has a paternalistic past and goes on to suggest that rehabilitation is in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a revolution toward a more humane and creative discipline that focuses on both independence and productivity. She suggests that use of the word consumer symbolizes that progress and maintains that use of the word will destroy the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. . Consumer empowerment may be the primary focus of the future. Factors Influencing Consumerism In considering the prospect of full access to housing, Carling car·ling n. One of the short timbers running fore and aft that connect the transverse beams supporting the deck of a ship. [Middle English, from Old French calingue and from Old Norse (1989) believes that profound changes in our country's political institutions and economic priorities must occur. All individuals will be required to take an active role for full participation in all segments of society to become reality. It requires a long term commitment. Taylor, Biklen, and Knoll (1987) have begun the job of discovering what community integration for people with disabilities means. Their research establishes that: (1) all people belong in community, regardless of their type or degree of disability, (2) people with disabilities should run their own programs, (3) people with disabilities should be integrated into typical neighborhoods, work environments and community settings, (4) people with disabilities need to have ongoing social relationships with those who do not have disabilities and, (5) community integration involves participation, community living skills, and advocacy. Consumers will be asking questions along with professionals about what it means to be a full participant in the community. Cultural and Racial Diversity Articles such as those by Dodd, Nelson, Ostwald, and Fisher (1991) and Wright (1988) highlight the growing cultural diversity among those accessing rehabilitation services. The special needs of ethnic minorities are highlighted by the significantly larger percentage of black adults with disabilities (14.1%) compared to whites (8.4%) (Wright, 1988). Asian Americans This page is a list of Asian Americans. Politics
Aging of the Population Older members of society facing adjustments to aging require services extending beyond traditional views of rehabilitation. Merging the needs of the aging population with those of disabled persons as advocated by Zola (1989) adds strength to consumers' role. Universal policies recognizing that the entire population is at risk for chronic illness and disability will prevent perpetuation of segregated, unequal parts of society. Recognition that everyone with a disability will age, and everyone who ages will acquire one or more disabilities is yet another challenge which broadens the view of those persons providing and receiving services. Older individuals receiving future rehabilitation services will not be, nor do they view themselves as, a minority or disadvantaged group. The present day strength of such groups as the American Association American Association refers to one of the following professional baseball leagues:
Betty Naomi Friedan, Betty Naomi Goldstein Friedan, Friedan (1993) captures the evolving spirit of the aging in her recent book entitled The Fountain of Age. The older age group intends to have a voice regarding public policies and speak loudly on . issues that concern them (Friedan, 1993). Life beyond fifty no longer means ill health and isolation. The Women's Movement women's movement: see feminism; woman suffrage. women's movement Diverse social movement, largely based in the U.S., seeking equal rights and opportunities for women in their economic activities, personal lives, and politics. With more money to spend and with more women in political and decision-making positions, women's consumer power is beginning to command attention (Aburdene & Naisbitt, 1992). The voices of women have been muted for centuries and women's place has been largely in the home. Now the greater numbers of women in the workplace put them at greater risk for work-related injury. The presence of women will increase their eligibility for rehabilitation services. Women's health Women's Health Definition Women's health is the effect of gender on disease and health that encompasses a broad range of biological and psychosocial issues. concerns differ from those of men. They have higher rates of chronic physical conditions, more diagnoses of major depression, and specialized needs related to reproduction (Roth & Robinson, 1992; Strickland, 1988; Lewis, 1992; McCrath, Keita, Strickland & Russo, 1990). More visibility for women will require responsiveness to and integration of women's ways of thinking and more attention to women and family issues (Tarvydas & Danek, 1992). Legislative Initiatives The activation of the consumer axiom resulted in enactment of civil rights legislation protecting minority concerns. Most recent federal rehabilitation legislation has been enacted largely through the efforts of empowered consumers. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA Ada, city, United States Ada (ā`ə), city (1990 pop. 15,820), seat of Pontotoc co., S central Okla.; inc. 1904. It is a large cattle market and the center of a rich oil and ranch area. ) are prime examples of this kind of unified effort (Kuehn, 1991). The ADA is the latest legislative effort to provide civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. It includes assurance of equal opportunity for employment, provision of certain public services and transportation, public accommodation, and telecommunication (Reed, 1992). Even with this progress, Kilbury, Benshoff, and Rubin (1992) cite ineffectual, paternalistic public policy as a primary barrier to disability rights. Technological Factors The communication and technological revolutions also influence consumerism. Technological advances enable persons with disabilities to function independently (Fullmer & Majumder, 1991) with computers and telecommunications providing access to otherwise unaccessible information. These tools increase opportunities for achievement, information access, and networking. Consumerism requires information; thus, increased access to information accelerates the trend toward rehabilitation consumerism (Inlander, 1991). As technological advances enhance opportunities for disabled people, rehabilitation counseling needs to keep pace in effectively matching consumers to technological aids. These advances have brought to the forefront the need for professionals to participate more extensively in rehabilitation assessment and training (Hale & Shipp, 1989). Environmental Factors With technological advances come environmental problems (Gordon & Suzuki, 1991). Machines use energy, much of which is in limited supply. Yet, consumers continue to demand quality and excellence in service delivery, sometimes losing sight of these environmental issues. Quality assessments such as the one undertaken by the Texas Commission (Schwab & Fenoglio, 1992) highlight the necessity of developing ways to define excellence and undertake innovative methods of responding to consumer needs. Attention must be paid to preserving natural resources while maintaining quality rehabilitation services. In his book, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit, Al Gore (1992) highlights the environment as a priority concern for everyone. The realities of diminishing resources, toxic waste toxic waste is waste material, often in chemical form, that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It usually is the product of industry or commerce, but comes also from residential use, agriculture, the military, medical facilities, radioactive sources, and , and global warming demand increased governmental and individual consciousness. Consumers and counselors together will need to address and drive governmental policy and service-provision toward conservative stewardship of valuable resources. Other environmental concerns include removal of transportation, educational, and architectural barriers. Empowered consumers will demand access to education (Donovan, 1988) to achieve their individual potential. To provide universal access, disabled persons must be considered in designing buildings, public transportation systems, and public services such as housing, medical care and employment opportunities (Carling, 1989; Hale & Shipp, 1989). These basic individual rights are part of the driving force behind consumerism. Conclusion The approaching twenty-first century brings challenging new ways of seeing the world, new paradigms which see "the fruitful darkness" (Turner, 1993). Attitudes and methods conveying a value for the full expression of life shift focus to egalitarian, consumer-oriented models of service delivery accentuating individual adequacy and acceptability. The new paradigm moves services along the continuum from provider-driven services to consumer-driven demands for quality and accessibility. Recognizing the new consumer-driven paradigm and its implications will help the rehabilitation counselor practice by the new rules. References Aburdene, P., & Naisbitt, J. (1992). Megatrends for women. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : Villard Books. Barker, J.A. (1992). Future Edge: Discovering the New Paradigms of Success. New York: William Morrow and Company William Morrow and Company is an American publishing company founded by William Morrow in 1926. The company was acquired by Hearst Corporation in 1981, and sold along to the News Corporation in 1999. The company is now an imprint of HarperCollins. . Carling, P.J. (1989). Access to housing: cornerstone of the American dream. Journal of Rehabilitation, Jul/Aug/Sep, 6-8. Carlson, R., & Goldman, B. (1991). 2020 Visions: Long View of a Changing World. Stanford, CA: Stanford Alumni Association. Dodd, J.M., Nelson, J.R., Ostwald, S.W., & Fisher, J. (1991). Rehabilitation counselor education programs' response to cultural pluralism. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 22 (1), 46-48. Donovan, M. (1988). How accessible is an education? Rehabilitation Digest, 19 (3). Reprinted in Nagler, Mark (1990). Perspectives on Disability, (pp. 377-380). Health Markets Research: Palo Alto, CA. Friedan, B. (1993). The Fountain of Age. New York: Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. . Fullmer, S., & Majumder, R.K. (1991). Increased access and use of disability related information for consumers. Journal of Rehabilitation, Jul/Aug/Sep, 17-21. Gore, A. (1992). Earth in the balance: Ecology and the human spirit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Gordon, A., & Suzuki, D. (1991), It's a matter of survival. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press The Harvard University Press is a publishing house, a division of Harvard University, that is highly respected in academic publishing. It was established on January 13, 1913. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. . Hale, P.N., Jr. & Shipp, M. (1989). Personal transportation: A challenge to the rehabilitation community. Journal of Rehabilitation, Apr/May/Jun, 8-9. Inlander, C.B. (1991). Trends in medical consumerism. In A.M. Rees (Ed.). Managing consumer health information services See Information Systems. (pp. 3-14). Phoenix, AZ: Oryx oryx (ôr`ĭks), name for several small, horselike antelopes, genus Oryx, found in deserts and arid scrublands of Africa and Arabia. They feed on grasses and scrub and can go without water for long periods. Press. Kilbury, R.F., Benshoff, J.J., and Rubin, S.E. (1992). The interaction of legislation, public attitudes, and access to opportunities for persons with disabilities. Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct/Nov/Dec, 6-9. Kuehn, M.D. (1991). An agenda for professional practice in the 1990s. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 22 (3), 6-15. Lewis, J.A. (1992). The hardy woman: Health issues in adulthood. In J. Lewis, B. Hayes, & L. Bradley (Eds.). Counseling women over the lifespan (pp. 155-178). Denver: Love. McGrath, E., Keita, G.P., Strickland, B.R., & Russo, N. (1990). Women and depression: Risk factors and treatment issues. Final report of the American Psychological Association's National Task Force on Women and Depression. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is a professional organization representing psychology in the US. Description and history The association has around 150,000 members and an annual budget of around $70m. . Morrison, J.M. & Ursprung, A.W. (1987). Children's attitudes toward people with disabilities: A review of the literature. Journal of Rehabilitation, Jan/Feb/Mar. Reprinted in Nagler, M. (1990). Perspectives on Disability (pp.158-164). Health Markets Research: Palo Alto, CA. Nosek, M.A. (1993). A response to Kenneth R. Thomas' commentary: Some observations on the use of the word "consumer". Journal of Rehabilitation, Apr/May/Jun, 9-10. Reed, L.L. (1992). History of federal legislation for persons with disabilities. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46 (5), 397-408. Roth, S.L., & Robinson, S.E. (1992). Chronic disease in women: The role of the mental health counselor A mental health counselor is a professional who provides counseling to individuals, couples, families, groups, or larger systems. A mental health counselor may also have training in educational and vocational counseling (MacCluskie & Ingersoll 2001). . Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 14 (1), 59-72. Rubin, S.E., & Roessler, R.T. (1987). Foundations of the Vocational Rehabilitation Process. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed. Schwab, A.J., Jr., & Fenoglio, J.A. (1992). The Texas rehabilitation commission system for measuring quality rehabilitation. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 23 (2), 21-25. Strickland, B.R. (1988). Sex-related differences in health and illness. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 12, 381-399. Tarvydas, V.M., & Danek, M.M. (Eds.). (1992). Women with disabilities: Issues of empowerment, influence and caring. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 23 (4). Taylor, S.J., Biklen, D., & Knoll, J., Eds. (1987). Community integration for people with severe disabilities. New York: Teachers College Press. Thomas, K.R. (1993). Consumerism vs. clientism: A reply to Nosek. Journal of Rehabilitation, Apr/May/Jun, 11-12. Thomas, K.R. (1993). Commentary: Some observations on the use of the word "consumer". Journal of Rehabilitation, Apr/May/Jun, 6-8. Turner, D. (1993). Editorial. Creation Spirituality, Nov/Dec, 2. Wright, T.J. (1988). Enhancing the professional preparation of rehabilitation counselors for improved services to ethnic minorities with disabilities. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 19 (4), 4-10. Zola, I.K. (1989) Aging and disability: Toward a unified agenda. Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct/Nov/Dec, 6-8. Donna R. Rhoades, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, University of South Carolina
• • , 1208 Bush River Road, Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city of South Carolina. As of 2006, estimates for the population of the city proper is 122,819[1]. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a small portion of the city extends into Lexington County. 29210. |
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