Relationship between Collaboration in Work Support and Knowledge and Skills in Providing Support for Individuals with Disabilities

Background: There has been growing hope for initiatives supporting the transition of persons with disabilities from employment-related welfare services to employees in companies. This is against the backdrop of a significant increase in employment among persons with disabilities in Japan. Objective: To improve the quality of this transition, this study examined the relationship between the collaboration of the Work Support Centers for Continuous Employment Type B (WSC-B) with vocational rehabilitation organizations (VROs) and knowledge and skills related to employment support. Methods: A survey including all 122 WSC-B in L-Prefecture was conducted by postal mail. The respondents were asked to rate items on the following six levels concerning collaboration with VROs and understanding of VROs. We used the Japanese version of the Self-Assessment for Students or Counselors (SASC-J) to assess knowledge and skills related to work support. Results: The t-test conducted on knowledge and skills status between WSC-B with a high degree of cooperation with VROs and those with low degrees confirmed significant differences among the various subsystems in VROs. Conclusion: Based on our results, we suggest that maximizing the use of collaboration in work support will enhance the support provided by WSC-B and promote transition support for people with disabilities

Efforts and Effectiveness in Improving Knowledge and Skills of Vocational Assessment for Teachers Supporting Career Decisions of Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Background: The number of options available to people with disabilities has gradually increased in Japan. At educational institutions where students with disabilities are enrolled, teachers must understand the various ways of life and provide appropriate guidance and support based on the actual conditions of individual students so that students can independently choose their career paths through self-selection and self-determination. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of an intervention using a vocational assessment training program on eight teachers at a special needs school in Japan. Methods: The level of knowledge and skills was assessed before and after the intervention. Intervention effects were analyzed through the Self-Assessment for Students and Counselors-Revised tool using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with corresponding samples for differences in mean scores before and after the intervention. In addition, the difference in the mean pre- and post-intervention scores for teachers with 10 or more years of upper secondary school experience (high experience group) and those with less than 10 years of upper secondary school experience (low experience group) was calculated. Principal Verdicts: Indicated that the training program intervention helped teachers recognize the importance of vocational assessment and subsequently improve their teaching. Furthermore, the number of years of experience in upper secondary schools influenced the effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusions: It was suggested that this training program would be effective for professionals who have acquired basic knowledge and skills in vocational rehabilitation

Support Needs and Service Provision for Social Participation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Background: Person-centered support based on self-determination is needed for persons with intellectual disabilities to participate in society in Japan. However, work supporters may be unable to provide sufficient support for this purpose. Objective: This study analyzes work supporters’ implementation of necessary support to understand persons with intellectual disabilities’ support needs. Methods: This study compared persons with intellectual disabilities’ support needs with the implementation of support from work supporters at vocational rehabilitation agencies (Survey 1) and the support needs of persons with intellectual disabilities (Survey 2). Results: The results showed that the persons with intellectual disabilities most required support related to daily living. This was consistent with the support provided by the work supporters. However, there were situations wherein the smooth transition of support was not provided, which was attributed to the lack of knowledge and cross-disciplinary involvement of the work supporters in the employment-related welfare services for persons with disabilities. Conclusions: Possessing the knowledge and skills required for vocational rehabilitation and working in vocational rehabilitation agencies could contribute to the smooth transition of support for persons with intellectual disabilities. Accordingly, the results can clarify the required role of work supporters for persons with intellectual disabilities future participation in society

Knowledge and skills of employment support possessed by Japanese vocational rehabilitation workers

departmental bulletin pape

Measuring Community Participation among Japanese with Serious Mental Illnesses

journal articl

Clinical Supervision Practices in Vocational Rehabilitation Settings

This study aimed to examine clinical supervision practices in vocational rehabilitation settings. Interviews with 8 vocational rehabilitation service providers were conducted. Qualitative data analysis was performed, and the following practices were identified: “Educational Function,” ”Supportive Function,” and ”Managerial Function.” Since clinical supervision practices in vocational rehabilitation settings have not been developed sufficiently in Japan, inadequate technical advice and mental health may exist. Implications include verifying evidence-based practice in vocational rehabilitation as the base for supervision practices, developing effective support techniques, and developing supervisory training programs.journal articl

企業で働く知的障害者の職業適応と 職場のサポートとの関係 -知的障害者本人への調査から-

The importance of support in the workplace for persons with disabilities to adjust to working life has long been recognized in the literature. However, the effects of workplace support on the work adjustment of persons with disabilities have not been well documented. This paper examines whether workplace support is related to job satisfaction, performance (as evaluated by employers), organizational commitment, workplace integration, and their intention to quit their jobs. A survey of people with intellectual disabilities was conducted, and 169 answers were collected. The results of analysis of the survey are as follows: (a) workplace support consists of three factors: education, negative feedback, and supports for work performance, (b) moderate correlation was found between education and job satisfaction, (c) moderate correlation was found between organizational commitment and job satisfaction, and between workplace integration and job satisfaction; a moderate negative correlation was found between intention to quit job and job satisfaction, (d) only a weak negative correlation was found between intention to quit job and workplace support