In Part 1, we explored how AI can support VR counselors' daily work from reducing administrative burden to catching problems early and personalizing services. As projects like PRIME explore how AI can support job retention services, important questions about ethics, professional judgment, and the counselor's role are moving to the forefront.
As AI becomes part of VR services, counselors will take on new skills and responsibilities while keeping the human side of counseling at the center.
Building Confidence with AI Tools
Counselors don’t need to be AI experts, but they will need to understand:
- How an AI tool makes recommendations
- What data it uses
- When the tool may be biased or inaccurate
- How to explain the tool to clients in clear, plain language
Think of it like learning any new software system. You don't need to know how to code it, but you do need to know what it does, what its limitations are, and when to trust or question its outputs.
At the same time, core counseling skills become more important, not less. Trust, rapport, cultural competence, and critical thinking are essential for interpreting AI-generated insights in a way that respects the person and their goals.
Ethical AI Use in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
The current CRC Code of Ethics was developed before generative AI became widely available, meaning counselors are applying existing ethical principles to technologies that did not exist when the standards were written. Because AI tools handle sensitive client information, VR counselors play a key role in ensuring safe and ethical use. This includes:
- Using only secure, approved tools
- Explaining AI’s role and gaining informed consent
- Watching for bias in recommendations
- Ensuring clients remain in control of decisions
- Documenting how AI-generated suggestions were used
The goal is to keep AI helpful, not harmful.
When AI and VR Counselor Judgment Conflict
What happens when an AI tool recommends an approach that doesn't feel right to you as the counselor? Trust your professional instinct.
- AI provides data points, but you understand context, client preferences, and factors the algorithm can't see.
- Document your reasoning and move forward with the decision that best serves your client.
Your professional judgment always takes precedence over algorithmic recommendations. AI is a tool to inform your decisions, not make them for you.
Keep the Human Connection Strong
As VR agencies explore AI, counselors’ voices are essential. Their experience helps shape tools that:
- respect ethical boundaries
- reflect cultural and disability diversity
- Support, not override, professional judgment
- strengthen services rather than complicate them
What You Can Do Now
Whether your agency is already using AI tools or just beginning to explore them, here are concrete steps you can take:
- Ask Questions
If your agency is piloting AI tools, ask how they were selected, what data they use, how they've been tested for bias, and what training will be provided. - Start small
Try one AI-assisted task, such as using a transcription tool for case notes, and evaluate whether it actually saves time and improves your work. - Join the conversation
Look for opportunities within your agency or professional organization to discuss AI implementation. Your practical experience is invaluable in shaping policies and selecting tools that truly serve counselors and clients. - Prioritize training
Seek out professional development on AI literacy, algorithmic bias, and ethical AI use in human services. - Stay client-centered
Whatever tools you use, keep the focus on what serves your clients best. If an AI recommendation doesn't align with a client's goals, culture, or situation, your professional judgment takes precedence.
Interested in seeing one example of how AI is being explored in job retention services? Learn more about Anchor, the AI companion being developed through the PRIME project.
The most successful AI implementation will happen when counselors are active participants in shaping how AI tools are used, not passive recipients of new technology. Your expertise, your ethical commitment, and your understanding of what clients truly need are what will ensure AI strengthens rather than diminishes VR services.
Sources:
Skerritt, C., & Wolstein, D. (2023). Use of artificial intelligence to enhance case management and job development practices in rehabilitation counseling. The Rehabilitation Professional, 31(2), 19–26.
George Washington University Rehabilitation Counseling Research & Evaluation Center. "Ethics and Artificial Intelligence." Available at their website.
Tansey, T., Douglas, D., & Guimaraes, D. (2026, May 21). Job retention support for people with disabilities using AI [Webinar]. PRIME Project and Guideway Labs. AI Job Retention Support for People with Disabilities.
For more resources on quality employment and job retention for people with disabilities, visit Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC-QE).