From the Guidelines
Individuals with a medical condition can experience significant improvements in employment and non-employment outcomes through comprehensive rehabilitation approaches, including vocational rehabilitation services and targeted employment interventions. According to the most recent and highest quality study, 1, job training, vocational rehabilitation, and education can be particularly beneficial for individuals with congenital heart disease, as they often face lower educational attainment and employment rates compared to the general population.
Key Interventions
- Vocational rehabilitation services, such as job training and education, can help individuals with medical conditions to develop skills and adapt to the workplace.
- Targeted employment interventions, including accommodations and support, can increase hiring rates for underrepresented groups and reduce employment disparities.
- A combination of medication management, psychosocial interventions, and vocational rehabilitation services can yield the best results for individuals with various medical conditions.
Recommendations
- Healthcare professionals should consider the individual's medical condition, treatment regimen, and medical history when assessing their fitness for a particular job 1.
- Employment evaluations should be based on sufficient and appropriate medical data, and input from the treating physician should always be included 1.
- Work participation may have beneficial effects on health outcomes of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, and therefore should receive attention within healthcare consultations 1.
Outcomes
- Improvements in employment outcomes, such as increased hiring rates and job placement, can be achieved through comprehensive rehabilitation approaches.
- Non-employment outcomes, including independent living skills, social functioning, and quality of life, can also improve through integrated treatment approaches that address symptoms while building practical life skills.
From the Research
Employment Outcomes
- Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) can improve their employment outcomes through supported employment and the use of service dogs 2.
- People with intellectual disabilities (ID) can increase their employment rates through secondary education that includes work experience and personal support services, as well as supported employment 3.
- Those with developmental disabilities who enter integrated employment can work part-time in individual jobs, earn above federal minimum wage, and receive paid time off 4.
- Steady employment can lead to improved non-vocational outcomes, such as independent living, psychiatric symptoms, substance use disorder, healthy relationships, and life satisfaction, for individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders 5.
- Vocation-focused programs can have positive impacts on employment outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with examples including Project SEARCH and virtual reality job interview training 6.
Non-Employment Outcomes
- Individuals with SCI can benefit from vocational rehabilitation programs, although the evidence is mostly based on observational studies 2.
- People with ID can face barriers to employment, such as discrimination and deficient work experience, but can also be facilitated by factors like job coaching, a well-designed work environment, and support from family and employers 3.
- Those with developmental disabilities can achieve independent housing and stable remission of substance use disorders, regardless of employment status 4.
- Individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders can improve substantially over time, with steady workers achieving independent housing and higher quality of life faster than non-workers 5.
- Individuals with ASD can benefit from interventions that target employment outcomes, with a growing body of evidence suggesting the effectiveness of vocation-based interventions 6.