Vocational rehabilitation resources from the perspective of people with spinal cord injury and service providers

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vocational rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Iran as one of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region is under-studied.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspective of people with SCI and service providers about vocational rehabilitation challenges.

METHODS:

We used an ethnographic methodology to collect data. Observation (2018 –2020) and semi-structured interviews with 21 persons with SCI and 11 service providers were the data collection methods, and a thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS:

Results demonstrate that career self-knowledge (knowledge about capabilities, aspirations, and interests) and career knowledge (the importance of career exploration, vocational support and job characteristics) were the main two vocational rehabilitation resources.

CONCLUSIONS:

Knowledge (about the self and careers) is the main resource mentioned by the participants regarding the vocational rehabilitation. Implications for professionals and policy makers are presented.

Keywords

Vocational rehabilitation empowerment ethnography SCI Iran MENA region

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