Rehabilitation counselors have long played a central role in helping persons with disabilities achieve their independent living and employment goals. Although the profession of rehabilitation counseling evolved from the state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling is no longer restricted to state VR agencies. This chapter helps the reader understand rehabilitation and the impact of related legislation on rehabilitation counseling practices and the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities. The chapter explains the evolution of rehabilitation counseling and professional issues related to the profession, including certification and licensure. The chapter also provides the basic principles of ethics, ethical behavior, and risk management related to the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling.

People with disabilities are one of the most stigmatized and marginalized groups in the United States. Traditionally, rehabilitation counselors use a supply-side employment approach to provide employment services for people with disabilities, with a focus on medical, psychological, social, educational, and vocational services to improve functioning, stamina, and job skills of people with disabilities. Demand-side employment, on the other hand, has a focus on workplace culture and disability inclusion practices (and the interaction of employer demands and the environment [e.g., the job economy]) as predictors of high-quality employment outcomes for people with disabilities. This chapter reviews the literature related to demand-side employment approaches to create employment opportunities and improve the quality of employment for people with disabilities. It also discusses employers’ perceptions about hiring people with disabilities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of effective disability inclusion policies, procedures, and practices that increase employment opportunities and quality of employment for people with disabilities.