Supporting employment for adults with acquired brain injury: a conceptual model

Employment, or return-to-work, is a common goal for adults who have experienced brain injury. Unfortunately, many individuals suffer significant psychosocial, cognitive, and physical deficits as a result of the injury that negatively affect their ability to seek or maintain employment. Research points to the importance of addressing these deficits using a supportive vocational rehabilitation team approach that focuses on assessing a wide range of cognitive, physical, and functional variables. The purpose of this article is to describe the Brain Injury Assessment Model (BIAM) for use as a vocational assessment tool for clients diagnosed with acquired brain injury and who are seeking employment or are returning to work.