Thinking About Ethics Our purpose tonight: Want to tie together Chapter 2 from your text with a review of formal Codes of Ethics from various Human Services career areas.

What is ethics? How would you explain the concept to someone who had just landed on our planet?

What is ethics? One explanation: It is the process/rules of doing the right thing as well as the knowing what the right thing is. What works or doesn’t work for you with this definition?

“Ethics, too, are nothing but reverence for life “Ethics, too, are nothing but reverence for life. This is what gives me the fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, promoting, and enhancing life, and that destroying, injuring, and limiting life are evil.” Albert Schweitzer Which of the following three quotes resonates with you best?

“We humans are social beings “We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.” Dalai Lama Which of the following three quotes resonates with you best?

“Always do right-this will gratify some and astonish the rest “Always do right-this will gratify some and astonish the rest.” Mark Twain Which of the following three quotes resonates with you best?

Why do we need a written code of ethics? Would one Code of Ethics be appropriate for all fields of Human Services? Do I need to carry a copy around with me to guide my behavior?

From simple issues… A parent of a special education student attends the same aerobics class as you, the paraeducator, do. The parent repeatedly asks about the child's progress at school.

From simple issues… A parent of a special education student attends the same aerobics class as you, the paraeducator, do. The parent repeatedly asks about the child's progress at school. NOTE: Parents have a right to obtain information about their child but paraeducators should refer parents to the supervising teacher for information about their children.

…to Complex Issues There was a dispute between the mother of a 8 year old girl with Down’s Syndrome and the local school system. Although the child had a current, signed IEP assigning her to a classroom for moderately MR students, with inclusion in a 3nd grade regular class about 25% of her day, the mother was demanding that her daughter’s placement be changed so that she was in the regular classroom 100% of her school day. The family had recently moved into the county, so none of the school personnel had met the student and the mother refused to cooperate with arranging a visit. The mother arranged to have two advocates at the mediation. The advocates were vocal critics of the local school system. The school was represented by the Special Education Supervisor (new to the position), a special education teacher, and a regular education teacher. CADRE Conference Nov. 2000

In this case: Power imbalance - two parent advocates, and the school system operating only with second hand knowledge from the previous jurisdiction Good faith participation (? Was the parent requesting an extreme position?) Confidentiality: the school system has some legitimate concerns that what is said and done in the mediation may be told to other parents

Given a Code of Ethics, you should be able to: Restate in your own words Know if someone supports these beliefs? Recognize when there might be a conflict? Understand which aspects may be the most challenging? Determine if this Code is similar to or different from others professional codes?

CEC Code of Ethics 1. Special education professionals are committed to developing the highest educational and quality of life potential of individuals with exceptionalities. Let’s do this one together…

CEC Code of Ethics 2. Special education professionals promote and maintain a high level of competence and integrity in practicing their profession.

CEC Code of Ethics 3. Special education professionals engage in professional activities which benefit individuals with exceptionalities, their families, other colleagues, students, or research subjects.

CEC Code of Ethics 4. Special education professionals exercise objective professional judgment in the practice of their profession.

CEC Code of Ethics 5. Special education professionals strive to advance their knowledge and skills regarding the education of individuals with exceptionalities.

CEC Code of Ethics 6. Special education professionals work within the standards and policies of their profession.

CEC Code of Ethics 7. Special education professionals seek to uphold and improve where necessary the laws, regulations, and policies governing the delivery of special education and related services and the practice of their profession.

CEC Code of Ethics 8. Special education professionals do not condone or participate in unethical or illegal acts, nor violate professional standards adopted by the Delegate Assembly of CEC.

What about other careers? ASL Teacher Association Code of Ethics (Carl S) Content Competence Teaching/Pedagogical Competence Dealing with Alternative Points of View Equitable Treatment for all Students Relationships with Students Confidentiality Respect for Colleagues Valid Assessment of Students Respect for Profession Respect for Institution

Interpreter Code of Ethics Keep all assignment-related information confidential Render the message faithfully using language most readily understood by the client Not counsel, advise, or interject personal opinions Accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and consumers Request compensation for services professionally Function in a matter appropriate to the situation Strive to further knowledge and skills Strive to maintain high professional standards.

Rehabilitative Counselors Counseling relationship Confidentiality Advocacy and accessibility Professional responsibility Relationships with other professionals Evaluation, assessment and interpretation Teaching, training, and supervision Research and publication Electronic communication Business practices Resolving ethical issues Sections of the Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors

CRCC Ethics Committee Actions Cases Adjudicated Cease & Desist Opinions Offered 2006-07 4 2 5 2005-06 8 13 2004-05 9 2003-04 15 2002-03 14 3 10 2001-02 2000-01 7 1999-2000 1998-99 12 CRCC Ethics Committee Report

Actions by category 1994 to date Letters of Instruction N = 11 Reprimands N = 8 Probation N = 3 Suspension N = 5 Revocation N = 15 Note that the majority of revocations issued were based on inappropriate dual relationships of a financial or sexual nature or based on fraudulent financial transactions. CRCC Ethics Committee Report

Topics that Arise in Connection with Cases Detrimental/Exploitive Relationships (sexual or financial) Professional Disclosure (or lack thereof) Confidentiality (failure to maintain or inform client of limits) Disclosure Informed Consent (failure to obtain in form that can be documented) CRCC Ethics Committee Report

What about as a student in a program here at WOU?