Affiliations: [a] St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA | [b] Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Courtney Metzinger, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Therapy Services, 1 Children’s Place, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Tel.: +1 314 215 7009; Fax: +1 314 454 6035; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Young adults with chronic health conditions can experience barriers to work performance, ability, and their present and future worker roles. OBJECTIVE:Work readiness resources can expand individuals’ work skills, abilities, and interests. METHODS:Five work readiness tools are presented (1) building an occupational profile, (2) generating environmental strategies, (3) on-the-job strategy use, and exploration of online tools (4) O*NET® and (5) O*NET® Interest Profiler, along with two theories (Knowles’s Andragogy and Lawton’s Ecological Model) to guide tool use. RESULTS:Use of these tools can assist young adults to better manage their health and expand their vocational identities for success at work. CONCLUSIONS:These approaches and tools support health professionals, community partners, and vocational organizations in their efforts to help young adults with chronic conditions.
