At the outset, social service agencies and numerous public agencies initiated as a result of the Economic Opportunities Act of 1965 were excluded from the scope of this paper. Several subtopics concerning paraprofessionals deserve consideration: (1) the need for paraprofessionals in public rehabilitation agencies; (2) the attitudes of rehabilitation counselors toward paraprofessionals; (3) the actual and desirable role of paraprofessionals; (4) the functions within the domain of the rehabilitation aide; (5) the function of the paraprofessional as an agency ombudsman; (6) the work motives of the paraprofessional; and (7) the question of whether the paraprofessional position should be a terminal position or one subject to career ladder procedures. Brief discussions of each of these topics utilizes pertinent research where applicable and provides answers where needed. (TL)