A Narrative Study: Career Counselling Service among Persons with Disabilities at Vocational Centre in Sarawak

Career development embodies a disposition of career maturity, requiring individuals to comprehend the developmental tasks and responsibilities they must undertake. Central to this journey is career counselling. This study focuses on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). This narrative study highlights the significance of career counselling as the intervention for PWDs’ career development at vocational centres. Out of 637537 registered PWDs under the Social Welfare Department, less than 12,000 registered PWDs are employed, as stated in the Malaysian Employer Federation report on November 2023. Therefore, this study uses narrative research focusing on conducting semi-structured interviews. The participants in this study consist of two PWDs: one with physical disabilities and one with learning disabilities. Through this exploration, the study aims to shed light on the challenges faced by each PWD in accessing career support and inform future interventions to promote PWDs vocational success and social inclusion. This study suggests that career counselling services are crucial for supporting the career development and self-concept of PWDs. This underscores the need for interventions to improve access to such services and promote the vocational success of PWDs.