Employment satisfaction of individuals with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: Community reentry after a spinal cord injury is a long-term integrative process, because individuals must adjust to an extraordinary new set of circumstances. In this study, quality-of-life and work satisfaction variables associated with employed or unemployed individuals with spinal cord injury were examined. METHODS: Quality-of-life and work satisfaction variables associated with 109 employed or unemployed individuals with spinal cord injury were examined by using an employment satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Most of those employed indicated that they would either change jobs or some employment variable such as duties, supervisor, or hours worked. Participants who were not working attributed unemployment to an array of factors including ongoing health problems, lack of transportation, and impact of and/or lost disability benefits. Both groups offered feedback related to information provided to them by medical professionals about return-to-work resources. CONCLUSIONS: The following three themes emerged from this analysis: (1) more comprehensive provider training about spinal cord injury is needed; (2) increased communication between consumer and family would be beneficial; and (3) an increase in the flexibility and availability of services would help to ensure access to essential care.

The impact of behavioral deficits on employment retention: an illustration from supported employment.

Supported employment has emerged as a viable alternative to conventional rehabilitation approaches for tens of thousands of individuals previously excluded from employment opportunities. However, the ability to retain a job in business or industry for an extended period of time remains a challenge for many supported employment participants. An exploratory investigation of the reasons for job separation of 1,484 individuals participating in supported employment programs in eight states was completed to investigate behavioral characteristics that facilitate or hinder employment retention. Results illustrate that employment retention is affected by a wide variety of vocational, behavioral, economic, and external factors. A number of different approaches currently used to address behavioral difficulties in employment settings are discussed, including compensatory strategies, self-management, and co-worker supports.