This chapter reviews how the practice of Vocational rehabilitation (VR) counseling has facilitated or encouraged employment of people with disabilities since the establishment of a national policy on employment of people with disabilities. It examines the intent and the impact of Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The chapter presents an overview of key legislation with implications for employment to provide a cursory understanding of the purpose and significance of these laws for people with disabilities. It presents basic information on the Ticket and amendments to its regulations and program components. The chapter provides a labor force characteristics of people with disabilities. It presents a discussion of policy and practices of one state VR agency and reviews the impact of the Ticket and implications. The chapter discusses the recommendations for future directions.

This chapter provides an overview of delirium and dementia, including primary dementias, secondary dementias, and reversible dementias. The distinction between mild and major neurocognitive disorders is described. An in-depth description of Alzheimer’s disease, including etiology, treatment, and general guidelines for care, is included. Other dementias including Huntington’s disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Lewy body disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and vascular dementia are also briefly covered. Secondary dementias (e.g., dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease) and reversible dementias (e.g., normal pressure hydrocephalus) conclude the chapter.

Entering or reentering the workforce can be a challenging task for individuals following disabilities. Appropriate use of vocational interest measures in career counseling, however, can facilitate this process. This chapter reviews and familiarizes the readers with the construct of vocational interests, to update them with the most recent advances and new findings in interest research, especially with regard to gender differences in interests and the relationship between interests and performance. It provides a brief description of appropriate interest measures for rehabilitation counseling, their psychometric properties, and their usage. The assessment of interests is the starting point and a critical component in career counseling for clients with disabilities. Following interest assessment and assessments of other important individual characteristics, such as work values, aptitudes, and skills, additional information and resources are provided based on clients’ needs to facilitate their career entry or reentry after disabilities.

For over a century since the beginning of career counseling, the role that primary and secondary occupational and labor market data play in the career counseling and placement process has been recognized. This chapter places occupational and labor market information into a visual model called Labor Market Search to serve as a framework for discussing such data as are applied to individuals with disabilities. It helps to understand the theoretical constructs upon which these data are developed are defining terms emanating from the disciplines developing such information so that rehabilitation professionals and students could be better consumers of such data. The chapter explains occupational and labor market primary and secondary data and sources as they apply to the econometric, ergometric, and ergonometric information needs in career counseling, placement, or related activities. It offers conceptual and analytic methods for integrating such data into the career counseling process for individuals with disabilities.

An overview of the gastrointestinal system as it relates to the nutritional status of the older individual is presented. The anatomy and physiology and age-related changes of the system are reviewed. Selected common age-related disorders are discussed along with their incidence, presenting symptoms, diagnostic measures, and interventions. The American Cancer Society’s 2020 screening recommendations for the intestines are then outlined.

Women who have disabilities face many challenges that, in combination, can have a unique impact on workforce entry, career decision-making, and employment outcomes. In light of these direct outcomes and the critical roles that work can play in alleviating poverty and increasing quality of life, this chapter adapts a client-focused considering work model to highlight the barriers to work for women with disabilities; discuss ways to assess these barriers; and provide a framework for evaluating the considering work process and incorporating varied interventions to address the unique psychosocial, financial/legal, vocational, and medical barriers to employment for women with disabilities. The chapter provides a broad overview of the demographics of women with disabilities. The client-centered considering work model provides a solid framework for exploring and assessing the career decision-making process for women with disabilities.

An overview of the anatomy, physiology, and functioning of the respiratory system is provided. Age-related changes in the respiratory system along with selected specific disorders commonly experienced by older adults and measures useful in preventing and living with respiratory dysfunctions are explained.

It is well documented that youth and adults with mental health disabilities have poorer academic and employment outcomes than their peers without disabilities as well as other groups of individuals with disabilities. It is clearly a complicated path to trace the progression of mental health disorders from childhood into adulthood; so this chapter, views the specific status, challenges, and promising practices from the separate perspectives of youth and adults. It reviews the current vocational status of adults and youth with mental health disorders and identifies challenges to career and employment. The chapter describes promising practices and programs and provides recommendations for future research and practice. Youth and adults with psychiatric disabilities can benefit from a range of policies and programs to empower and support career development and employment opportunities. However, systemic, programmatic, and attitudinal barriers continue to present barriers to full participation in learning and work environments.

Significance of changes in biological, psychological, and social aging and their impact on lessened reserve capacity; the importance of understanding slowness, stress, pacing, and accidents in working with older adults; and the role of health promotion, disease prevention, and health maintenance in successful aging conclude the chapter.

An overview of the anatomy, physiology, and function of the urinary system and age-related changes is provided. Selective disorders common in older adults with description and common symptoms are discussed. Useful diagnostic procedures and treatments frequently prescribed to maintain urinary health in older age were elaborated.