Affiliations: Division of Clinical Health Psychology and Neuropsychology, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, MO
Note: [1] Address reprint requests to Kristofer J. Hagglund, PhD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 501 Rusk Rehabilitation Center, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212.
Abstract: Return to work following spinal cord injury is achievable for many individuals. Interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams are ideally suited to facilitate an individual's efforts at overcoming the numerous barriers involved in returning to gainful, competitive employment. Many of these barriers are person-specific (i.e., education level), and multifaceted assessment and comprehensive vocational planning are suggested. Other barriers, such as economic disincentives and poor access to needed services, are less easily overcome. Rehabilitation professionals are encouraged to become familiar with recent health and disability policy (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act) and become proactive in policy formation. There is a significant need for development and testing of model programs to enhance return to work for individuals with spinal cord injury.
