Rehabilitation for employment. The Rehabilitation Centre of the Association for the Physically Disabled at Bridgetown, Athlone, CP.
Results of rehabilitation of physically disabled people for employment on the open labour market over the period 1975-1985 are presented. Out of 680 eligible clients, 53% were successfully placed. When corrected for uncontrollable withdrawals and uncontrollable dismissals the success rate rises to 77% (363 of 471 clients). The drop-out rate of 16% for preventable reasons and a partially preventable wastage of 31% are highlighted for potential action and improvement. The main reasons for admission were trauma (motor vehicle accidents, assaults and industrial injuries), poliomyelitis and congenital abnormalities in a ratio of 4:3:1. These groups accounted for 82% of all admissions. The problem of adequate evaluation and screening to predict outcome reliably is discussed and the use of a modified version of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps of the World Health Organisation is advocated. Of those clients who were successfully placed, 75-80% remained in employment for more than 1 year and 55-60% for more than 2 years. On the whole, the rehabilitation process appears to lead to successful re-integration into the working community for most of the physically disabled persons admitted to the Centre.
Mets
J T
JT
Department of Community Health, University of Cape Town, Athlone, CP.
Wilson
C R
CR
D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000639:trends*; D013019:South Africa