The presence of a physical or developmental disability is often a negative influence on career development; learning as well as other functions may be inhibited by the presence of such disabilities, which can be addressed by means of the ecological model of career counseling (Szymanski, 1996). However, there is no definitive theory of career development and disability. Career development for most individuals is a lifelong process of getting ready to choose, choosing, and then continuing to make choices from among many occupations (Szymanski, 1996). For the disabled individual, such choices are often limited by factors that cannot be controlled by the individual and which are therefore best addressed through an ecological model.
Szymanski (1996) stated that the ecological model poses that career development is a developmental process, that interests are learned, and that career development is influenced by the context in which people live. Consequently, this particular model recognizes the dynamic interaction of individuals and their environments. It calls for counseling interventions that take into account the specific needs of the individual, the interests exhibited by the individual, and the possibility of linking the individual's interests to job opportunities and/or training programs.
The disabled individual functions in an environment described by Shupe and O'Connell (2005) as directly influenced by innate competencies presented by the individual as well as other variables. In assisting the disabled individual in developing a career trajectory, one invariably moves from an analysis of the individual to an analysis of his or her environment at both the micro and macro levels. The environment in which the disabled person lives is a significant element in this process as is the larger societal environment in which work is likely to be found. One recommendation by Shupe and O'Connell (2005) is developing service...