15 Careers Working To Help Clients With Disabilities

November 2, 2023

For those who are committed to service, a career devoted to helping others allows them to fulfill their passion. Jobs helping people with disabilities span across industries and experience levels. By taking the time to review the unique opportunities available to you, you can determine which career path is right for you and the steps you need to take to achieve it.

In this article, we define disabilities, review the categories used to classify disabilities and list 15 jobs that allow you to assist people with disabilities, along with salary expectations and key job responsibilities.

What are disabilities?

A disability is a form of impairment that causes individuals to perform daily tasks differently than others. Individuals may be born with certain disabilities while others develop or acquire them during the course of their life. Still, with the right treatment and support, people with disabilities can learn to live with their conditions. Here are the four main categories of disabilities used to organize the different conditions people can have:

Physical disabilities

Physical disabilities can be either permanent or temporary and can be a result of an accident or pre-existing condition. They can impair an individual's ability to stand, walk or perform daily tasks like driving, cooking or writing. Some examples of physical disabilities include:

Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Tourette syndrome
Spinal cord injury (SCI)
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
Limb loss

Learning disabilities

Learning disabilities cause individuals to have trouble communicating, understanding social cues and performing tasks like reading and writing. They may also have trouble interpreting and retaining information. Learning disabilities can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, living environments, injuries and other situations. Some examples of learning disabilities include:

Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
Down syndrome
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Fragile X syndrome

Mental disabilities

Mental disabilities affect an individual's mind. They can further affect an individual's perception of reality. Some individuals are born with mental disabilities as a result of genetic conditions. However, they may be caused by traumatic events or unhealthy living situations. Here are a few examples of mental disabilities:

Anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Depression
Eating disorders
Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder

Sensory disabilities

Sensory disabilities affect a person's senses. This includes sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. Individuals may be born with sensory disabilities or acquire them from an injury during the course of their lives. Some examples include:

Autism
Sensory processing disorder
Full or partial blindness
Color-blindness
Full or partial deafness

15 jobs that involve working with the disabled

Here are 15 examples of jobs that involve assisting people with disabilities, along with responsibilities, education requirements and salary expectations. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on each salary link below:

1. Home health aide

National average salary: $29,020 per year

Primary duties: A home health aide works as part of a care team to perform household chores, prepare meals, administer medications, run errands and keep residents company. Home health aides may work with clients who have physical or mental disabilities clients to help them complete tasks they otherwise could not. To become a home health aide, you should partake in a specialized training program. No formal education is required.

2. Disability support worker

National average salary: $31,638 per year

Primary duties: A disability support worker works exclusively with patients with disabilities to improve their daily lives. They cook meals, run errands, take patients to appointments, maintain a patient's home and act as a source of guidance and support. Disability support workers should have at least a GED or high school diploma to qualify for a position. They may also need to complete specific training to cater to patients with disabilities.

3. Rehabilitation specialist

National average salary: $41,609 per year

Primary duties: A rehabilitation specialist helps patients with disabilities to adapt to their new lifestyle. They may refer them to doctors, help arrange work placements and offer encouragement for their situation. To become a rehabilitation specialist, a master's degree in psychology, counseling or a related area is required. A doctoral degree may also be preferable in some states.

4. Counselor

National average salary: $29,640 per year

Primary duties: A counselor may work as part of a private practice, hospital, school or support center. Counselors can specialize in a number of areas such as mental health, disability and learning impairments. Their goal is to help clients cope with either short- or long-term disabilities to help promote a positive outlook. Most counselors have a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology, counseling or social work. They should also obtain state licensure where they want to practice.

5. Learning disability nurse

National average salary: $39,963 per year

Primary duties: A learning disability nurse, also called a special needs nurse, is a health care professional who specializes in caring for and aiding development efforts for those with conditions like Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and others. Learning disability nurses should have at least a bachelor's degree in nursing and should have passed the NCLEX licensure exam.

6. Developmental disability case manager

National average salary: $36,687 per year

Primary duties: A developmental disability case manager provides support to patients newly diagnosed with disabilities. They help them file disability claims, choose health care services, set up appointments and establish a time frame for recovery and returning to their former place of employment (if reasonable). To become a developmental disability case manager, you need to obtain a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology or a related area.

7. Disability support coordinator

National average salary: $31,638 per year

Primary duties: A disability specialist is someone who works with students or workers with disabilities to establish their needs in a new school or work setting. They may aid in the installation of ramps, prepare distraction-free learning spaces and identify other factors that could present problems to their happiness in their new environment. They may also help establish a route to and from a location as well as proper transportation.

Because their work may span a variety of areas, age groups and circumstances, disability specialists should have a bachelor's degree in special education, psychology, social work or counseling.

8. Special education teacher

National average salary: $49,847 per year

Primary duties: A special education teacher is responsible for using their love for teaching to aid students with disabilities to achieve learning initiatives. They may be responsible for developing lesson plans for one or more students with various physical and mental disabilities or sensory conditions. Special education teachers should earn a bachelor's degree in education with a specialty in special education.

9. Mental health case manager

National average salary: $40,804 per year

Primary duties: Mental health case managers can work as part of a hospital or psychiatric facility. Their many responsibilities include meeting with clients to discuss their conditions and establish goals for recovery. They help clients obtain appointments with experienced mental health professionals. To become a mental health case manager, you typically need a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or a related area. In some cases, a master's degree in psychology may be preferred.

10. Speech-language pathologist

National average salary: $80,992 per year

Primary duties: A speech-language pathologist helps children and adults achieve good communication tactics. They do this by meeting with clients to work on exercises for lisps and other conditions like swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists help those with hearing disabilities to speak in a comprehensive way. Speech-language pathologists should earn a master's degree in speech-language pathology in addition to licensure.

11. Prosthetist

National average salary: $73,209 per year

Primary duties: Prosthetists work with occupational and physical therapists to aid in patient recovery from an injury. They are responsible for meeting with the patient and fitting them for braces or prosthetic limbs to aid their mobility. Prosthetists need to earn a master's degree in orthotics and prosthetics followed by one year of a clinical residency before they can begin work as a prosthetist.

12. Occupational therapist

National average salary: $82,439 per year

Primary duties: Occupational therapists work as part of hospitals or clinical practices to administer treatment and support to patients with injuries or disabilities. Their main responsibilities include assessing a patient's needs and creating a plan for recovery or increased mobility. They meet with patients to help them perform exercises that will improve their mobility and confidence. To become an occupational therapist, you should earn a master's degree in occupational therapy. Some universities may offer an occupational therapy program that encompasses both the bachelor's and master's degree levels.

13. Physical therapist

National average salary: $82,249 per year

Primary duties: A physical therapist works as part of a hospital or clinic to help patients practice beneficial exercises. Physical therapists typically work with patients who suffer from chronic pain or illness, but they may also work with people with disabilities. Their job is to teach their patients how to exercise and stretch to alleviate pain and promote the longevity of a healthy body. Physical therapists need to earn a doctorate degree in physical therapy and obtain licensure to practice.

14. Psychologist

National average salary: $105,081 per year

Primary duties: Psychologists are health care professionals who can work in a number of settings and specialty areas. Psychologists often help diagnose and provide treatment methods for patients with mental health issues. These may include OCD, anxiety or depression to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. To become a psychologist, you need to obtain a doctorate degree in psychology, pass a state licensure exam and complete several practice hours.

15. Psychiatrist

National average salary: $225,096 per year

Primary duties: Psychiatrists work for hospitals, mental health facilities and private practices. They are responsible for meeting with patients with mental health issues, intellectual disorders and other conditions. They assess the patient and may administer medication to help them overcome their situation. They may also prescribe certain activities or habits to help a patient improve their livelihood. Psychiatrists should earn a doctorate degree in psychiatry before completing a few years of residency and obtaining state licensure.

Frequently asked questions

What are some best practices for working with clients with disabilities?

If you're pursuing a career helping clients with disabilities, there are some best practices, such as asking the individuals how they prefer you assist them. It's also vital to interact with them respectfully and with dignity. Additionally, be sure you're listening to understand their needs, how to support them and what makes them feel comfortable.

What skills or character traits make an ideal disability-support person?

Having excellent communication and customer service skills can benefit you as a disability support person, and so can patience and empathy. Communication and customer service allow you to listen, collaborate and accomplish tasks for your client. Patience and compassion enable you to build a positive rapport with your client while learning new life perspectives.

What should a disability-support person put on their resume?

In addition to the basic content that should be on all resumes, as a disability-support worker you'll want to make sure to include a personal statement, sometimes also called a professional summary. This section of your resume will display your related work experience and best skills. Writing a personal statement introduces you to the recruiter, catches their attention, and lets them know how long you've been in the industry, your accomplishments, and your relevant job skills.

Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-working-with-disabled

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10 self-reflection questions for career growth

June 13, 2024

As the year draws to a close, it is vital to pause and reflect on your journey and relationships in your personal lives and careers. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for introspection, helping us understand our core nature and facilitating personal growth as we work towards a better version of ourselves. Whether you’re evaluating your work-life balance , personal development , or career progression , self-reflection can be incredibly empowering and beneficial for your overall well-being. The value of reflection and introspection Harnessing the power of reflection As we approach the end of the year, taking the time to reflect on the past twelve months is not just a ritual but a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Reflection allows us to pause in our fast-paced lives and examine our experiences, decisions, and actions. It allows us to celebrate our successes, learn from our mistakes, and acknowledge our growth areas. By looking back, we gain valuable insights that empower us to approach the future with a more informed and intentional mindset. Understanding ourselves better Introspection is a vital component of self-reflection. It involves diving deep into our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This process helps us understand why we do what we do, what drives our decisions, and how our actions align with our core values and goals. Understanding ourselves better is crucial for personal development and helps us make more authentic and aligned choices in the future. Setting the stage for future success Reflecting on the past year sets the foundation for setting realistic and meaningful goals for the new year. It helps us identify what we truly want, what areas need more attention, and what strategies worked or didn’t work. This clarity is essential for setting goals that are both ambitious and achievable and aligned with our personal and professional aspirations. Promoting well-being and reducing stress The act of reflection can be therapeutic. It allows us to process our experiences, both positive and negative, and can lead to a greater sense of peace and closure. This is especially important in today’s world, where we often rush from one task to another without taking the time to process our experiences. Reflecting on the year helps us close chapters, reduce stress, and approach the new year with renewed energy and optimism. Fostering continuous learning and adaptability The world is constantly changing, and adaptability has become a crucial skill. Reflecting on how we’ve navigated changes in the past year, both expected and unexpected, prepares us for future uncertainties. It reinforces continuous learning and adapting, essential in personal and professional contexts. Year-end review: 10 questions for self-reflection Here are 10 thought-provoking questions to guide your year-end reflection. These questions cover various aspects of your life, including work experiences, personal growth, work-life balance, and future aspirations. As you answer them, be honest and consider writing down your responses for a more tangible record of your thoughts and goals. Sample answers help guide and inspire you as you reflect upon your year. These example answers provide a glimpse into the kind of introspection and planning that can result from such reflective questions, helping you assess your current state and set meaningful goals for the future. 1. Best and worst work experiences What were your best and worst work experiences in the last 12 months? Be specific about projects, teams, roles, and activities. Sample answers Best: Leading a successful project launch, mentoring a new team member, and receiving positive client feedback. Worst: Facing a project delay due to miscommunication, struggling with a software tool, and experiencing a stressful team conflict. 2. Job success and satisfaction elements Can you identify three elements of your job that contributed to your success and satisfaction? Conversely, what three elements hindered your success and fulfilment? Sample answers Positive: Collaborative team environment, challenging tasks that foster learning, and recognition from management. Negative: Limited resources, unclear company direction, and infrequent feedback. 3. Skills development What five skills, talents, or pursuits would you like to develop or attain in the next 12 months? Sample answers Improve public speaking, learn advanced data analysis, enhance leadership skills, develop a new programming language, and cultivate creative problem-solving techniques. 4. Passion in work What topics in your work can you talk about non-stop? Does this energise you consistently? Is this your passion or something else? Sample answers I am passionate about designing user interfaces. Discussing design trends and user experience energises me and is a significant part of my job satisfaction. 5. Unachieved goals What’s one significant goal you didn’t achieve in the last 12 months, and why? How would you change the outcome? Sample answers I aimed to get a professional certification but couldn’t due to time constraints. I plan to manage my time better and enrol in a course next year. 6. Fearless ambitions What would you aim to achieve in the coming year if you knew you couldn’t fail? Sample answers If I knew I couldn’t fail, I would aim to start my own tech startup focusing on innovative educational tools. 7. Role evaluation How would you rate your current role out of 100%? What factors prevent you from reaching 100%, and how can you overcome them? Sample answers I’d rate my role at 75%. To reach 100%, I need more creative freedom and opportunities for professional development. With these, I could be fully satisfied. 8. Future aspirations Without any limitations, what experiences, skills, activities, and responsibilities would you like to have in the future? List up to 12. Sample answers Lead larger projects, develop expertise in AI, participate in international conferences, mentor others, work abroad, achieve work-life balance, publish industry articles, learn a new language, adopt sustainable work practices, engage in CSR initiatives, explore different company roles, and start a professional blog. 9. Personal growth and development How have you grown personally over the past year? What personal qualities or habits have you developed, and what would you like to work on? Sample answers I’ve become more resilient and patient over the years. I want to work on my time management and stress management skills. 10. Challenges and overcoming obstacles Reflect on the biggest challenge you faced this year. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn? Sample answers My biggest challenge was adapting to remote work. I overcame it by creating a structured daily routine, investing in a better home office setup, and improving my digital communication skills. Reflect to grow Remember, the purpose of these questions is not just to reflect on what has been but also to pave a path for what lies ahead. By understanding where you currently stand and identifying your goals and aspirations, you can approach the new year with clarity, purpose, and a renewed sense of direction. Source: https://www.pagepersonnel.com.au/advice/career-and-management/success/self-reflection-questions-for-career-growth

Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment

June 13, 2024

Both job enlargement and job enrichment are human resource strategies used to improve employees engagement and increase efficiency that helps to achieve organizational more effectively. Job enlargement refers to increase tasks and responsibilities to the existing role of the employees. On the other hand, job enrichment is a technique of motivating employees by adding extra responsibilities to make job more challenging and meaningful. Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment The main dissimilarities between job enrichment and job enlargement are as follows: 1. Introduction Job Enlargement: It involves increasing the number of tasks and duties to be performed by workers to an existing role. Job Enrichment: It involves increasing responsibilities and content in the job to increase challenges and scope that provides opportunity for growth. 2. Nature Job Enlargement: It is purely quantitative in nature because number of tasks are increased for employees. Job Enrichment: It is qualitative in nature. It means this technique is used to increase the content and quality of the job. 3. Objective Job Enlargement: The main objective of job enlargement is to increase employee motivation and engagement by decreasing monotony and boredom. Job Enrichment: The main objective of job enrichment is to promote growth and development by making jobs more challenging and exciting. 4. Additional Skill Job Enlargement: It does not require additional skill because tasks are increased as per the qualification and ability of employees. Job Enrichment: It requires some additional skills because it involves new responsibilities that require creativity, decision making and problem solving. 5. Authority Job Enlargement: It does not increase the level of authority as it only increases the number of tasks. Job Enrichment: It increases the level of authority as per the creativity and ability of employees. 6. Supervision And Control Job Enlargement: It requires more supervision, direction and control because it increases the workload of employees that increases the chance of errors and mistakes. Job Enrichment: It requires less supervision and control than job enlargement because workers exercise self-control. 7. Training Need Job Enlargement: It does not require additional training because employees are familiar with the jobs and responsibilities. Job Enrichment: It may require additional training to empower workers to increase creativity, decision making and control over the job. 8. Result/Outcome Job Enlargement: Results may be positive or negative depending on the motivation level and workload of the employees. Job Enrichment: Generally, it gives positive result because of increased morale and self actualization. Basis Job Enlargement Job Enrichment Nature It is quantitative by nature It is qualitative by nature Objective To reduce boredom and monotony To promote growth and development Additional Skills Not Required Required Increase In Authority No Yes Outcome Positive Or Negative Positive Supervision And Control Requires more supervision Requires less supervision Distinction Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment In Brief * Job enlargement refers to quantitative expanding of jobs. But job enrichment is qualitative improvement of the job. * Job enlargement does not require special training, but job enrichment requires training and development program to improve the performance. * Job enlargement requires more supervision than job enrichment * Job enrichment increases the level of authority but job enlargement increases the number of tasks only. * Job enlargement is horizontal expansion of job and job enrichment is vertical expansion. * Job enlargement does not promote growth and development but job enrichment helps in personal growth and career development Source: https://marketinglord.blogspot.com/2024/05/difference-job-enlargement-job-enrichment.html