People of Hispanic origin are the United States’ largest ethnic or racial minority. Hispanics make up 18.5% of the nation’s total population. Given these numbers, it is very likely vocational rehabilitation professionals will work with this diverse group throughout their careers.
Every vocational rehabilitation client is unique and each person's background and culture has an enormous impact on their worldview — including beliefs about work. When you are counseling someone from a culture different to yours, tapping into resources about the client’s culture can help lay a foundation for a good vocational rehabilitation relationship.
Engaging Hispanic Job Seekers
The use of the terms “Hispanic” and “Latinx” have sparked controversy in recent years. How we identify personally and culturally is a personal choice that deserves respect; misusing the term could create an unintended barrier when vocational rehabilitation professionals begin working to build a therapeutic relationship with a job seeker. In general, these terms can be defined as:
- Hispanic: People born or descended from Spanish-speaking countries.
- Latino/a: People descended from Latin American countries, but whose language may not be Spanish.
- Latinx: a gender neutral label.
As with any label, it is best to avoid applying them without knowing the person or group’s preference.
Here are some resources to get you started as you prepare to provide services that result in quality employment for the Hispanic/Latinx population.
Recommended Resources from TACQE
On-Demand Training
- TACQE U Training on VR Services for Hispanics with Disabilities
This online training provides a greater understanding of employment and vocational rehabilitation experiences in Hispanics with disabilities, and discusses the strengths, challenges, and opportunities that should be considered in promoting the number and quality of employment outcomes for this population.
- Outreach to Rural and Migrant Communities - TACQE U
This webinar discusses migrant farmworker demographics and lifeways, as well as the special barriers to vocational rehabilitation for unauthorized workers. Strategies for vocational rehabilitation outreach are discussed, and examples of successful programs are provided.
More Resources
- Outreach and Engagement of Underserved Populations - TACQE
Effective community engagement and outreach takes careful planning and acknowledgement that each population that we work with is unique and offers us opportunities to broaden our understanding of what makes a community. Here are some strategies to consider when building your outreach and engagement approaches.
- Factsheet: VR Outreach to Migrant Farmworkers - TACQE
Migrant workers are defined by the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) as a person who travels more than 75 miles between jobs or who has traveled more than 75 miles in a 12-month period to secure a farm job. Learn more facts about migrant farm workers.
- Research Summary: Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Experiences of Latinos with Disabilities - TACQE
This study gave voice to Latinos with disabilities concerning their experiences with acculturation, employment, and vocational rehabilitation. Results suggest that acculturation and related variables may play a key role in shaping the experiences of Latinos with disabilities seeking employment and using vocational rehabilitation services.
- Employment, VR, and the Ticket to Work Program: Perspectives of Latinos with Disabilities - TACQE
Latinos with disabilities may be difficult to outreach because of language and culture. This study explored the employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and Ticket to Work (TTW) experiences of Latinos with disabilities.
- Data Spotlight - U.S. Department of Labor
The Department of Labor provides workforce data on Hispanic Americans with disabilities: