Serving Refugees and Other Displaced Persons With Disabilities

ABSTRACT The current geopolitical climate has given rise to persecution, armed conflict, and public disorder in many countries around the globe. The United Nations Refugee Agency projects the global number of refugees to be 43.4 million. A notable subgroup within this larger group of refugees are those with disabilities. Models of disability provide counselors a framework for understanding the way individuals with disabilities are viewed by society. Applying Humanistic principles in counseling sessions with refugees and displaced persons who have disabilities helps practitioners conceptualize the needs of those with disabilities. Case conceptualization grounded in the Social Model of Disability and aligning with Relational Cultural Theory will enhance counselors’ ability to engage with individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the World Health Organization's Community‐Based Rehabilitation matrix is a framework sympatico with Humanistic principles and provides a model for conceptualizing the needs of refugees with disabilities. Recommendations for counselors are provided.