The “Advocacy” Function of the Rehabilitation Counselor in Effecting Social Change

Abstract

The concept of “social change agent” will serve only to further confuse the role of rehabilitation counselor, both for the counselor and to others who work with the counselor. Not that the counselor should not act to bring about change, but that he do so under the concept of “advocate.” The counselor should be guided by professional standards and by client needs. These aspects of attitude change, removal of architectural barriers and acting as a link to the larger society, the counselor could best meet the client's needs. As the concept of advocacy becomes classified and delineated the rehabilitation counselor will recognize the delimiting role of the therapist model or the coordinator model and will focus on client needs. The final goal of rehabilitation efforts is for the client to become an advocate for himself.