Psychosocial Aspects of Disability : Insider Perspectives and Strategies for Counselors

What are the differences between individuals with disabilities who flourish as opposed to those who never really adjust after a trauma? How are those born with a disability different from individuals who acquire one later in life? This is the first textbook about the psychosocial aspects of disability to provide students and practitioners of rehabilitation counseling with vivid insight into the experience of living with a disability. It features the first-person narratives of 16 people living with a variety of disabling conditions, which are integrated with sociological and societal perspectives toward disability, and strategies for counseling persons with disabilities. Using a minority model perspective to address disability, the book focuses on historical perspectives, cultural variants regarding disability, myths and misconceptions, the attitudes of special interest and occupational groups, the psychology of disability with a focus on positive psychology, and adjustments to disability by the individual and family. A wealth of counseling guidelines and useful strategies are geared specifically to individual disabilities. Key Features: Contains narratives of people living with blindness, hearing impairments, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, polio, mental illness, and other disabilities Provides counseling guidelines and strategies specifically geared toward specific disabilities, including dos and don'ts Includes psychological and sociological research relating to individual disabilities Discusses ongoing treatment issues and ethical dilemmas for rehabilitation counselors Presents thought-provoking discussion questions in each chapter Authored by prominent professor and researcher who became disabled as a young adult 'What a marvelous and amazing textbook. Drs. Marini, Glover-Graf and Millington have done a remarkable job in the design of this highly unique book, that comprehensively and very thoughtfully addresses the psychosocial aspects of the disability experience. These highly respected scholars have produced a major work that will be a central text in rehabilitation education for years to come.'From the Foreword by Michael J. Leahy, Ph.D., LPC, CRCOffice of Rehabilitation and Disability StudiesMichigan State University'This is an excellent book, but the best parts are the stories of the disabled, which give readers insights into their struggles and triumphs.'Score: 94, 4 Stars--Doody's Medical ReviewsWhat are the differences between individuals with disabilities who flourish as opposed to those who never really adjust after a trauma? How are those born with a disability different from individuals who acquire one later in life? This is the first textbook about the psychosocial aspects of disability to provide students and practitioners of rehabilitation counseling with vivid insight into the experience of living with a disability. It features the first-person narratives of 16 people living with a variety of disabling conditions, which are integrated with sociological and societal perspectives toward disability, and strategies for counseling persons with disabilities.Using a minority model perspective to address disability, the book focuses on historical perspectives, cultural variants regarding disability, myths and misconceptions, the attitudes of special interest and occupational groups, the psychology of disability with a focus on positive psychology, and adjustments to disability by the individual and family. A wealth of counseling guidelines and useful strategies are geared specifically to individual disabilities. Key Features: Contains narratives of people living with blindness, hearing impairments, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, polio, mental illness, and other disabilitiesProvides counseling guidelines and strategies specifically geared toward specific disabilities, including'dos and don'ts'Includes psychological and sociological research relating to individual disabilitiesDiscusses ongoing treatment issues and ethical dilemmas for rehabilitation counselorsPresents thought-provoking discussion questions in each chapterAuthored by prominent professor and researcher who became disabled as a young adult Disability from a sociological perspective The history of treatment toward persons with disabilities / Irmo Marini Societal attitudes and myths about disability : improving the social consciousness / Irmo Marini Culturally different issues and attitudes toward disability / Michael Jay Millington Attitudes toward disability by special interests and occupational groups / Irmo Marini The psychology of disability surrounding the individual and family Theories of adjustment and adaptation to disability / Irmo Marini Family adaptation across cultures toward a loved one who is disabled / Noreen M. Glover-Graf Sexuality and disability / Noreen M. Glover-Graf The psychosocial world of the injured worker / Irmo Marini Pertinent topics concerning psychosocial issues of disability Disability and quality of life over the life span / Noreen M. Glover-Graf Implications of social support and caregiving for loved ones with a disability / Irmo Marini Thriving versus succumbing to disability : psychosocial factors and positive psychology / Irmo Marini Counseling strategies and insights for working with persons with disabilities Which counseling theories and techniques work best with different disability populations and why / Michael Jay Millington Counseling families / Michael Jay Millington Ethical responsibilities in working with persons with disabilities and our duty to educate / Noreen M. Glover-Graf Basic do's and don'ts in counseling persons with disabilities / Michael Jay Millington What we counsel, teach, and research regarding the needs of persons with disabilities: what have we been missing? / Irmo Marini. This textbook explores the psychosocial implications of living and working among persons with a disabling condition, with a focus on the sociological and societal perceptions toward disability