Community-based training after acquired brain injury: preliminary findings

Persons entering or returning to the workforce after brain injury often require assistance to identify, locate, secure and maintain employment. This is especially true for workers from economically disadvantaged environments who may have limited pre-injury work experience. Supported employment, the use of natural supports, and community-based approaches are helpful for the process of identifying, securing and maintaining work. However, reports are limited as to how these approaches are helpful for economically disadvantaged persons, especially in identifying meaningful work. An approach is described here which combines work adjustment training and supported employment; which is helpful in identifying consumer interest, and in improving position attainment, job retention and work satisfaction. A sample of persons (n = 38) with brain injury were contacted after completing the programme. A total of 59% of these persons remained employed at follow-up, compared to 32% at time of injury. Additional outcome data are presented to describe the usefulness of this approach.