Employment programs and professionals with a disability

• Published in: Work (Reading, Mass.) Mass.), 2010-01, Vol.36 (2), p.217-225
• Main Authors: Donelly, Michelle, Given, Fiona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Australia; Career development planning; Disabilities; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons - legislation & jurisprudence; Employment; Employment - legislation & jurisprudence; Employment - psychology; Humans; Job Application; Mathematical models; Meetings; Pathology; People with disabilities; Professionals; Remediation; Studies
• ISSN: 1051-9815; 1875-9270
• DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2010-1022

It is unclear whether or not open (competitive) employment programs are meeting the needs of the growing numbers of people with a disability seeking professional employment. Objective: To understand and describe the experience of a newly graduated professional (Michael) who was seeking open employment support and to analyze those experiences in relation to principles of effective open employment support. Participant: Michael a recently graduated accountant who also has a physical disability. Methods: A review of the literature was undertaken to identify recommended principles and practices for the conduct of effective open employment and career development programs. A case study was used to describe Michael's experiences as he sought professional employment. Michael's experiences were analysed in relation to recommended principles and practice. Results: The analysis confirmed that the concerns Michael experienced about the supported employment program compromised the effectiveness of the support he received. Conclusions: Employment services based on models of independent living, disability service standards and remediation are likely to focus on the 'pathology' or performance 'deficits' of the person with a disability. Successful open employment models are more likely to place pre-eminence on the perspective of the person with a disability and effective practices for securing employment.