Building Competence in Disability: The Role of Life Experience and Specialised Courses in Trainee Counsellors

Despite the offer of counselling services for persons with disabilities by government agencies in Malaysia since 1998, many counsellors still struggle with low competence in handling disability cases. Given the rising demand for these services, it is essential to assess the competence levels of trainee counsellors and identify factors contributing to their readiness. This study aims to examine the relationship between self-perceived disability competence among trainee counsellors in Malaysia and several key factors, including life experiences related to disability and the completion of rehabilitation and multicultural counselling courses. Utilising a correlational research design, a standardised questionnaire was administered to 201 participants. Statistical analysis revealed strong positive relationships between self-perceived disability competence and the completion of both types of counselling courses, as well as prior disability-related life experience. These findings highlight the importance of integrating life exposure and comprehensive training in rehabilitation and multicultural counselling into counsellor education programs, which is crucial for enhancing counsellors' ability to effectively support individuals with disabilities.