| Vocational therapy is often used in combination with a structured rehabilitation program and is designed to enable the disabled individual to resume productive employment. Individuals who have experienced changes in their mental or physical function due to illness or injury may require vocational therapy to allow them to return to work. Vocational therapy works with individuals and their new physical or mental status to find an appropriate occupational match.
Vocational therapy involves an assessment phase where the individual's skills and aptitudes are evaluated through tests, which is an integral part of vocational therapy. These tests may take several forms and are used to assess an individual's general intelligence level, his of her aptitudes, interests, and work skills. For example, an individual's performance in a series of standardized tests may be compared to a list of essential aptitudes that are grouped by occupations and listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. If a match is obtained and the individual is willing, a job search may be initiated. Another method often used to assess an individual's vocational needs may be a work sample measure. This test measures characteristics such as eye, hand, and foot coordination, dexterity, and size discrimination abilities.
Following completion of the assessment phase, a list of goals is developed and the requirements of specific jobs are assessed. Finally, a determination is made as to whether the individual has the aptitude and skill necessary for a particular job of interest or whether additional training is required. Should additional training be required, the vocational therapist helps determine the types of training necessary.
Vocational training may involve business or vocational instruction, college or university education, and on-the-job training. If the individual qualifies, as in the case of veterans, state and/or federal funds may be used to pay for this training. Additionally, many employers participate in programs that use both state and private funds to cover the wages of the individual in training.
Vocational therapy may also involve re-training. Re-training in computers for example, may be essential for success in today's job market. As such, individuals who have lost jobs as a result of company downsizing, industry elimination, or whose skills are now obsolete are candidates for vocational therapy. Finally, structured workshops are also common methods of training individual with severe disabilities. These workshops focus on topics such as money management, communication skills, and appropriate business attire. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor
| Vocational therapy is used to help an individual develop skills that can be used to obtain employment, maintain income, and achieve some measure of financial stability and self esteem through regular work. In order to maintain employment, individuals may need to acquire new skills because of a progressive illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, an injury that changes functional level such as a spinal cord injury, or an injury that changes physical work tolerance such as a herniated disc. For these individuals, vocational therapy may direct individuals to technical or college courses.
Vocational therapy can also help individuals with new physical or emotional needs find new employment settings. For example, individuals with psychological illnesses such as schizophrenia may need to gain employment in settings with low distractibility levels. In addition, vocational therapy can help locate part-time job opportunities within the same field for those who cannot tolerate full-time employment but where part-time work is a viable option. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor
| Vocational counselors first ascertain an individual's abilities through intelligence testing, aptitude testing, job skill level, and physical skill level. Counselors help an individual choose career paths that are suited to their interests and abilities. Vocational counselors may consult with other therapy disciplines to ensure that the work being pursued is within the physical and mental capabilities of the individual. Once career paths are chosen, the vocational counselor prepares the individual for job re-entry through simulated interviews, resume and job application workshops, and job re-training (college courses, technical courses, trade school). Vocational counselors also address any concerns the individual may have about entering a new field or a new job description within their original profession. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor
| Individuals can reasonably be expected to re-enter a new profession via vocational counseling. However, vocational counseling may be less successful for individuals with decreased motivation. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor
| An individual's employer may need to provide transportation to and from job re-training. Additionally, work hours may need to be adjusted to accommodate for college or technical classes. If work hours cannot be adjusted, the individual requires leave from the current position. Employers may also need to provide funding for classes to allow continued employment. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor
| Beers, Mark H., and Robert Berkow, eds. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. Merck and Company, Inc., 2004. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor