Diversity and Equity in Rehabilitation Counseling Professional Associations: An Evaluation of Current Perspectives and Future Directions

Abstract

Historically, research on professional association consolidation in the rehabilitation counseling profession has not been inclusive of issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). There is a long history of professional associations in rehabilitation counseling struggling to meet the diversity needs of professionals within the field. It is essential for the viability of the profession and its associations that DEI is always present in such conversations. The current study analyzed the data from 613 qualitative responses to a prompt about whether participants would like to see an organization focused on multicultural diversity and equity included in a hypothetical, consolidated professional association in rehabilitation counseling. Implications for professional association leadership, educators, and researchers are discussed.

Contemplating Consolidation: Acting on a Decades Old Call to Survey Professionals in the Discipline

“…It is possible that rehabilitation counseling professionals that identify as Black realize benefits (e.g., a sense of belonging) from their specific professional associations that may be threatened if consolidation occurs. The study by Levine et al (2022) in this special issue is aimed, in part, at illuminating this finding to better understand racial-ethnic elements of moving forward in our professional associations. Interestingly, those graduating from a rehabilitation counseling or closely related program were more than twice as likely to report being unsure about consolidation (49.3%) compared to those graduating from another program (24.0%), with the vast majority of those who are certainly in favor of consolidation coming from another type of graduate program.…”

Addressing the Sticky Issue of How to Consolidate Rehabilitation Counseling Professional Associations

“…On the topic of transparency, participants cited a need to better understand what currently exists, including similarities and differences in mission and purpose of the various professional organizations. Multiple respondents requested a consideration of potential pros and cons from multiple perspectives, something that is provided in Nerlich, Levine, et al (2022) in this special issue. Emphasis was placed on sharing information throughout any consolidation process through all rehabilitation counseling associations, divisions, and organizations.…”

Supervision and Ethics: Updates to the CRCC Code of Professional Ethics

“…Most importantly, supervisors must be able to develop a comfort with discussing issues such as oppression, discrimination, and marginalization with their supervisees and likewise model the ability and willingness to do so. There are those who enter the RC profession who harbor discriminatory beliefs and biases that are antithetical to our code of ethics and scope of practice (Levine et al, 2022). It is an essential ethical obligation of supervisors to acknowledge, identify, address and, if possible, remediate, or gatekeep these individuals as appropriate.…”