Qualitative approaches to career assessment with people with disability

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Considering the times we are living in, we can say that change is a significant actor. Even if it has always characterised human beings’ history, change is now going so fast that new ways of thinking about society, well-being, the future and work are emerging (Nota, Soresi, Ferrari & Ginevra, 2014). During recent years, at least in Western countries, life expectancy has increased, people are faced with less illnesses, hunger and cruelty; children tend to be born in a planned way and live in multicultural contexts. Professional activities are changing, as well as working life, which tends to be characterised by the simultaneous presence of different activities which take place in different contexts, with different people. The new technologies and the virtual world play a predominant role in our society, with diverse advantages for all (Serres, 2012). At the same time, however, we are thinking increasingly about the future in a negative way, with concern that opportunities and possibilities are decreasing. And all of this seems to affect particularly the most vulnerable populations of the youth, the elderly, those with lower educational levels, and those with health problems and disability (Nota, Ginevra & Santilli, in press).