Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation - Volume 19, issue 1

Article Type: Review Article

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 1-2, 2003

Article Type: Miscellaneous

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 3-4, 2003

Authors: Rogan, Pat | Banks, Becky | Herbein, Michelle Howard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This article describes a qualitative study involving four organizations that provided supported employment. Employment specialist practices, including facilitating workplace supports, are examined, and implications for practice are discussed.

Keywords: supported employment, natural supports, workplace supports, employment specialists, typical business practices

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 5-18, 2003

Authors: Allen, Shelley | Carlson, Glenys

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Disclosure is recognised as an issue for people of working age with a mental illness. Disclosure may also be an issue for people of working age with physical disabilities and chronic illness who are endeavouring to obtain and retain employment within their diminished work capacity in the open labour market. This paper is based on qualitative research into the employment transition of 13 participants with a range of disabling conditions. The conditions included rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, …cancer, depression, HIV/AIDS, fracture of the wrist, traumatic head injury, and intervertebral lumbar disc prolapse. Despite loss of work capacity resulting in loss of employment, the participants secured durable employment within their capacities after periods of time sometimes extending to many years. Participants were interviewed to gain insight into the disability-to-employment transition experience regardless of their diagnosis. Of the 11 psychosocial themes that emerged from the data, concealment was one that was frequently and spontaneously identified by participants. In this paper the theme of concealment in the disability-to-employment transition is explored in detail. Relevant implications are identified for vocational rehabilitation professionals. Show more

Keywords: disclosure, concealment, employment transition, disabling condition, qualitative research

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 19-30, 2003

Authors: Kendall, Elizabeth

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This longitudinal study tested the utility of a psychosocial model of functional adjustment following traumatic brain injury (TBI). In addition to including the well-recognized relationships between neuro-cognitive and physical factors, the model suggests that subjective psychosocial variables (i.e., self-esteem and perceived social support) predict vocational adjustment through mediator variables, such as the severity of the individual's subjective appraisal of his or her situation. Ninety participants with TBI and their relatives participated in …the study. Considerable support was found for the proposed relationships in that the prediction of vocational adjustment was improved beyond initial vocational adjustment by both psychosocial factors. Further, these factors appeared to influence vocational adjustment as a result of their impact on subjective appraisal. However, there also appeared to be a neurological basis for persistent vocational adjustment difficulties. As proposed, lower levels of emotional distress were associated with better vocational adjustment. The current findings have significant implications for the rehabilitation and vocational treatment of people with TBI. In particular, the model can foster the development of a preventative focus in TBI vocational rehabilitation. Specifically, it is possible to provide a potentially cost-effective way of identifying those individuals who are most likely to experience difficulties in the future and assisting them to maintain and develop the psychosocial resources and subjective appraisals that will improve their emotional and vocational well being. Show more

Keywords: brain injury, predicting outcomes, work adjustment

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 31-45, 2003

Authors: Gamble, David | Moore, Corey L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study examined differences in closure status, occupational placements, weekly earnings, hours worked each week, expenditures, and time in rehabilitation for persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on the provision of supported employment services. Participant race, education level, age, marital status, gender, prior work experience, and disability severity were controlled for all dependent variables but occupational placements. Participants were 1,073 public vocational rehabilitation clients with TBI whose cases were closed in …the Southeastern United States. Seventy eight participants received supported employment services during the vocational rehabilitation process. Significant differences were found in closure status when comparing consumers who received supported employment services to those who did not. Most competitively employed participants in both groups were working in miscellaneous occupations at case closure. For competitively employed consumers, significant differences were found in weekly earnings, hours worked per week, and expenditures when comparing the two groups. Show more

Keywords: traumatic brain injury, vocational rehabilitation, TBI and supported employment

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 47-57, 2003

Authors: Millet, Patrick | Sandberg, Karl W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of locus of control on vocational rehabilitation. To do so, 143 persons on sickness leave were followed for 16 months during and after participation in a vocational rehabilitation program, where the psychological construct, locus of control, was used as a main variable to investigate the success of the program. The findings of the study suggest that the construct locus of control plays an important role in …the outcomes of vocational rehabilitation. Perceived health status, the type of rehabilitation program, the accumulated duration of both sick leave and unemployment at the start of rehabilitation and whether dwelling in an urban or a rural area are other factors that also influence. The outcomes development of methods and models that give the individual a greater sense of power and control during the rehabilitating process is indicated, therefore, to increase the individual's internal locus of control. Rehabilitation programs should also use workplace training as often as is possible, as this also increases the likelihood of success. Show more

Keywords: locus of control, vocational rehabilitation programs, outcomes

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 59-66, 2003