The panel discussed challenges and opportunities for vocational counseling for persons with disabilities preparing for the future job market in 2030 and beyond. Some of the key themes discussed included: 1) A decline in jobs requiring only technical skills and a promise in jobs requiring both technical skills and strong interpersonal/social skills. 2) Automation may lead to greater income disparity between high-earners with more education/diverse skills and low-earners with less education/flexibility. 3) Future work environments will require flexibility, a broader knowledge base, strong social/soft skills, and increased interdependence rather than independence.

1. VOCATIONAL COUNSELING PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES: PREPARING FOR 2030 AND
BEYOND
IARP NEW ORLEANS 2015
PANEL:
Alan Bruce, Ph.D., Universal Learning Systems
Jun Yaeda, Rh.D., University of Tsukuba
Michelle Marmé, Ph.D., CRC, LCPC, Northeastern Illinois University
Lynne Tracy, MS, moderator

2. THEMES
• Decline in jobs that require technical skills ONLY: accounting,
bookkeeping, bank tellers, some areas of engineering, law,
technical writing, middle management white collar jobs
• Promise in areas requiring technical skills AND interpersonal
expertise: physical therapy, emotional and relational services
such as artists, therapists, yoga instructors
• Automation is likely to result in greater disparity in income,
very rich (> education, diversity & depth of skills/knowledge
areas) & very low earners (< education, < diverse skill sets, <
flexibility)
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 2

3. WORK ENVIRONMENTS & REQUIREMENTS
• Flexibility: when, how, with whom, for whom, how long,
• Global business = global access… Available 24/7 or in emerging 4 x 10? Travel or
virtual?
• Contracts rather than tenure; Project oriented > job with company
• Broader knowledge base, more integrative; more cognitive, more social
• Work teams, group outcomes
• Increased interdependence rather than independence
• Increased life-work balance integrated into work environment
• The Intern. Robert DeNiro. Ann Hathaway.
• Massage therapists, open work spaces, work teams…
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 3

4. SKILLS FOR 2030
Soft Skills
• Social skills
• Empathy
• Cooperation, sharing,
negotiating
• Flexibility
• Character
• Dependability
• Perseverance
Gray Skills (machines may learn to
do, but ? success)
• Creativity
• Cultural sensitivities
• Human touch
• Integrity
• Judgment
• Tact
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 4

5. • Economic return of social skills
(Deming), controlling for
cognitive skill, years of
education, occupation:
• 24 % increase in jobs requiring
social skills between 1980-2012
• Jobs involving repetitive tasks,
with minimal reliance upon
teamwork declined
• Led to
• Flipped-classrooms,
• Online collaborations for
projects,
• Discussions, synchronous &
asynchronous
• Greater independence,
mixed in with greater
interdependence
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 5

6. CHALLENGES TO ENGAGEMENT OF PWD IN
MEANINGFUL GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT
Supports tied to not working must be
reconsidered:
Education **
Income
Health care, medication
Housing
Transportation
Independent living
Family supports for optimal
independence and/or understanding
of interdependence, from earliest
days
• Increase opportunities for all
to learn, develop social skills
• In every setting, at every turn
• Advocacy
• Conflict de-escalation,
resolution, diplomacy
• Leadership
• Strengths based perspectives
about skills acquired, skills
desired
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 6

7. IMPLICATIONS FOR
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Access to healthcare &
healthy environments (clean
water, sanitation, electricity, etc.)
Education and training
Equitable access to
technology
Social & soft skills,
environmental supports to active
participation in community
from the start
Meaningful
Gainful
Employment
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 7

8. STRATEGIES
(what must we do differently to prepare for 2030)
• Educate persons served (and
their social system) about
emphasis on Social Skills of
work, shifts in work
environments
• Explore (as we have always
done) interests, skills, aptitudes
for job market
• Integrate work-related soft skills
in all your work with persons
served (implications for your
work… ?)
• Social Skills.
• Advocacy. Can role play in
preparation. Client problem
solves who, how to contact
necessary individuals.
Makes the call h’self.
• Leadership.
• Reflection, assessment, and
specific plan for moving
forward.
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 8

9. REFERENCES
• Gorman, C. (2015). The global workplace of 2030. www.greatplacetowork.com/publications-and-events/blogs-and-
news/the-global-workplace-of-2030
• Lopez Levers, L. (2012). Disability issues in a global context. In Maki, D.R. & Tarvydas, V.M. The Professional
Practice of Rehabilitation Counseling, 165-192. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
• Miller, C.C. (2015). The upshot: The best jobs require social skills. NY: New York Times, October 18.
• Overview: Disability. (September 29, 2015). The World Bank. Geneva: World Bank. (http://www.worldbank.org/)
• Peyton-Jones, T. (2014). The future of work: Jobs and skills in 2030. UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
www.iseek.org/news/fwFutureWork.html
• Roby, G. (2015). 5 key issues that will impact your future workplace. www.greatplacetowork.com/publications-and-
events/blogs-and-news/3107-5-key-issues-that-will-impact-your-future-workplace#sthash.HHkRLRxH.dpbs
• Where will jobs be in 2020? www.careerprofiles.info/jobs-of-2020.html
• The future of jobs: The onrushing wave. (2014). The Nation. www.thenation.com
• World Report on Disability (http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/01/14440066/world-report-disability)
MARMÉ IARP 2015 CONFERENCE 9