Affiliations: Kent State University, Department of Educational
Foundations & Special Services, 405 White Hall, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH,
44242-0001, USA. Tel.: +1 330 672 2294; Fax: +1 330 672 2512; E-mail:
[email protected] | University of Arkansas, Department of Rehabilitation,
346 West Avenue Annex, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. Tel.: +1 501 575 6428; Fax:
+1 501 575 3253
Abstract: The article describes the results of a survey of the employment
concerns reported by a random sample (N=227) of people with
multiple sclerosis (MS). From an item pool generated in previous research,
state chapter members of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society identified 34
employment concerns as most reflective of the career development implications
of MS. Survey respondents considered each item along two dimensions, the
importance of the item to career development and their satisfaction with the
adequacy of services to address that concern. Results regarding high importance
items indicated that respondents were most satisfied with issues such as health
insurance coverage, potential to work and take control of their lives, wages
and benefits, and workplace accommodations. They were most dissatisfied with
issues including fair treatment by employers in the hiring process, access to
service providers who understand their needs, access to adequate information
about Social Security programs, optimism regarding their future, and issues
related to re-entering the workforce. Implications for vocational
rehabilitation practice and future research are discussed.
