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BACKGROUND: People with advanced cancer constitute an emerging vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumer population. OBJECTIVE: Following an overview of the nature and needs of Americans who have advanced forms of cancer, the authors present strategies to meet the service and support needs of these individuals across the phases of the VR process. METHODS: The authors present the sequential stages of the VR process, including implications for working with advanced cancer survivors during each stage. RESULTS: The importance of individualized case planning, employer consultation, workplace accommodations, interface with medical and mental health professionals, and adherence to self-care and symptom management regimens is emphasized throughout the article. CONCLUSION: Growing numbers of people worldwide are surviving advanced cancers for longer periods of time than ever before, which makes them an emerging disability population and rehabilitation clientele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Although African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently cite workplace discrimination as a major concern, the specific nature of this discrimination is not yet well understood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate racial/ethnic differences in allegations of workplace discrimination by Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx American individuals with MS. METHODS: The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Integrated Mission System (IMS) database was used to describe and compare the frequency and characteristics of discrimination allegations filed by people with MS in the three race/ethnicity groups. Quantitative analyses, including a one-way analysis of variance and Chi-square tests, were used to examine 2009–2016 Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) Title I complaints. These complaints were received by the EEOC from people with MS who identified themselves as Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx American (N = 3,770). RESULTS: Both African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx Americans tended to encounter discrimination at a younger age than Caucasian Americans. African American and Hispanic/Latinx American charging parties were more likely to be women than were Caucasian charging parties. The size and location of employers against whom allegations were filed varied significantly among the three racial/ethnic groups. The EEOC was more likely to resolve allegations in the charging parties' favor when the allegations were filed by Caucasians. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed modest but significant differences in the workplace discrimination experiences of the three groups under study. More research is needed to determine why racial/ethnic status bears on the discrimination experiences of Americans with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure of satisfaction ratings on a collection of 38 employment concerns items among people with Multiple sclerosis (MS). RESULTS: Analyses included a cross validation to establish and confirm a factor structure. The original 38 items were reduced to 17, which were found to form three distinct factors during the calibration portion of the cross validation. These three factors were Environmental/Personal Resources, Fair Treatment, and Legal Rights, which were confirmed during the validation portion of the cross validation. CONCLUSION: It appears that the three-factor structure of these 17 items is suitable for use with individuals with MS in the evaluation of their employment-related concerns and in the subsequent delivery of rehabilitation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has received considerable attention as a model of disability in recent years. Within the ICF framework, community integration and participation are considered one of the most important outcomes of health and rehabilitation interventions. Participation is a very complex and subjective concept and therefore very difficult to measure. Most participation measures are relatively long and not ideal for public health and rehabilitation surveillance or for testing complex models using structural equation modeling. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to report the psychometric validation results for the brief Multiple Sclerosis Community Participation Scale (MSCPS) with 256 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). RESULTS: Participants indicated that living independently; getting around; participating in recreational and social activities; and engaging in health promoting behaviors are highly important and meaningful life roles, followed by participating in meaningful life roles as children, spouses, parents, and full-time workers. Being a student, church member, and a part-time worker were the least important life roles for people with MS in the present study. IMPLICATIONS: Because of its brevity, the MSCPS has an advantage over other long form participation measures, making it suitable for public health surveillance, community follow-up of patients recently discharged from hospitals, and for researchers who are searching for abbreviated measures to test complex ICF models. CONCLUSION: The MSCPS appears to be a promising rehabilitation/health assessment and public health surveillance tool for individuals with MS, one that can be used by rehabilitation counselors to assess levels of community participation in their interview, assessment, and rehabilitation planning protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: One of the most challenging questions faced by individuals with emerging or episodic illnesses is how and when to make critical decisions regarding employment. Research indicates that people with disabilities often experience higher rates of career indecision and challenges to their vocational identity development compared to peers without disabilities. To help guide this complex process, Goldblum and Kohlenberg (2005) developed the client-focused considering work model to help guide vocational counseling for people living with HIV (CFCWM PLWH). This model provides a strong foundation for both professionals and clients to better understand this complex decision-making process and to have a framework to assess key issues and factors that may influence or help to inform the process. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to (a) provide an overview of the CFCWM PLWH, (b) evaluate the CDCWM PLWH, and (c) apply this model, with revision, to a broader range of individuals with episodic illness. Implications for rehabilitation research, service, program evaluation and policy are discussed. CONCLUSION: Implications for future rehabilitation research and practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, degenerative, neurologic condition affecting the central nervous system. The increasing prevalence of PD combined with the increasing economic need among older Americans to work later in life make employment an increasingly important topic of investigation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation is to examine the prevalence of articles in the literature addressing the association between PD and employment. METHODS: A literature review was conducted on peer-reviewed articles from 2000–2015 on PD and employment issues. RESULTS: Although PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and results in numerous sequalae that may negatively affect employment, very few articles specifically address this association. Moreover, PD has been and remains largely absent from the rehabilitation counseling literature. One possible explanation for this may that the typical age at diagnosis is 62 years-old. The literature clearly suggests that the number of Americans working past 65 is steadily increasing, which indicates that individuals with PD may still want and/or need to work. Rehabilitation counselors are uniquely qualified to provide holistic services to individuals with disabilities and provide guidance and support to assist them in gaining or maintaining their employment goals. CONCLUSIONS: PD is an increasingly prevalent chronic condition with roughly 60,000 new diagnoses annually, and the time has come that the rehabilitation counseling profession begin to address the challenges and consider opportunities for effective interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of children and youths are being diagnosed with learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and psychiatric disabilities. These youths are also enrolling in U.S. colleges and universities at increasing rates. In fact, in combination, they represent the largest group of students with disabilities in higher education. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to (a) summarize the demographic characteristics, in-college experiences, and persistence outcomes of students with and without learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and psychiatric disabilities and (b) examine the effect of having one of these disabilities on students’ three-year persistence outcomes at four-year higher education institutions. METHODS: Secondary data analyses were conducted for a sample of 7,750 students who enrolled at four-year institutions utilizing data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). Descriptive analyses were used to summarize demographic characteristics, in-college experiences, and persistence outcomes of students with and without learning disabilities, attention deficit hyper activity disorder, and psychiatric disabilities. Univariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the effect of having one of these disabilities on students’ three-year persistence outcomes at four-year higher education institutions. RESULTS: We discovered that students with these disabilities in our sample (a) did not have the background characteristics typically associated with non-persistence and (b) reported being more academically and socially integrated into their institutions than participants without disabilities. However, they still withdrew from college in higher rates both by the end of the first and second years of college. The results from the multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that when holding students’ demographic and in-college predictors constant, having one of these disabilities still increased the odds of non-persistence. Hierarchical multinomial logistic regression analysis further confirmed that the disability status significantly contributed to the likelihood of non-persistence over and above the combination of both the background characteristics and the in-college experiences factors. CONCLUSION: These findings have several important vocational rehabilitation practice and research implications for better facilitating the academic persistence of these students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There is entrenched exclusion of around half the working age people with disability in Australia and elsewhere. There also appears to be a lack of attention being paid to the ‘demand’ side of efforts to improve the employment of people with disability, particularly in relation to small and medium sized organizations. OBJECTIVE: To identify gaps in disability employment research, policy, and strategies in relation to small to medium employers; and to identify challenges and potential solutions for these employers in becoming disability confident and inclusive organizations. METHODS: A comprehensive search of literature was conducted including published articles, books, and reports. Searches were also conducted on relevant government and disability employment related web sites. RESULTS: First, although larger employers are contributing to the discussion of ways to increase the employment of people with disability, small to medium employers are largely missing from the discussion. Second, reliance on the broad business case argument alone for employing people with disability, is not enough to change attitudes and organizational cultures that are at the root of the workforce exclusion of people with disability. CONCLUSIONS: The major barrier to employment of people with disability is negative attitudes that result in discriminatory organizational cultures. Current initiatives in this area are not addressing the needs or potential role of small to medium organizations. Solutions to both these issues are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with unacceptably high unemployment rates that are impacted by the environment in which employment and vocational activities take place. To improve employment outcomes, we must continue to gather data allowing us to evaluate the effectiveness of policies and programs associated with successful employment from the perspective of persons with disabling conditions. OBJECTIVE: Identify key components of programs and federal and state level polices which support employment outcomes, as perceived by individuals with SCI who have worked since injury. METHODS: Qualitative approach using six focus groups at two sites. All participants (N = 44) had been employed at some point since injury. A semi-structured interview format asked questions about policies and program related factors influencing job attainment, maintenance, and advancement following SCI. Narratives were extracted into themes falling into the overlapping categories of policies, programs and awareness. RESULTS: Within programs, five themes emerged characterizing components of programs perceived to be significant in supporting employment: (1) support for education, (2) development of job seeking skills, including skills assessment; (3) job placement; (4) practical experience, and (5) instrumental support. Within policies, two themes were extracted related to policies focused on individuals and policies focused on changing the environment. Finally, within the category of awareness, themes reflect the importance of personal connections and self-advocacy. CONCLUSIONS: Policies and programs are not static factors but change and differ based on how they are understood, implemented, and reacted to in different places and by different groups. Researchers, program developers, and policy makers should consider how persons with SCI from diverse backgrounds and levels of impairment perceive and are supported by the varying programs and policies in their particular institution, region or state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]