Open AccessUnderstanding the impact of isolation due to COVID-19 on employment for Kentuckians with spinal cord injuries
Author(s) -
Chithra Adams,
Anthony Lobianco,
Emily Moseley,
Calisa Fitzpatrick
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of vocational rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.45
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1878-6316
pISSN - 1052-2263
DOI - 10.3233/jvr-201116
Subject(s) - workforce , isolation (microbiology) , covid-19 , reasonable accommodation , spinal cord injury , rehabilitation , work (physics) , accommodation , psychology , social isolation , population , mental health , nursing , medicine , business , environmental health , psychiatry , physical therapy , political science , spinal cord , engineering , neuroscience , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , biology , mechanical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , disease , pathology
BACKGROUND: Obtaining and retaining employment for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) is frequently a greater challenge than it is for the non-SCI population. It is particularly difficult during COVID-19 because all the barriers to employment are compounded for people with SCI as they have to take extra precaution to protect their health and wellbeing. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to understand how isolation related to COVID-19 has had an effect on the employment experiences for persons living with SCI. METHODS: Three virtual focus groups were conducted with Kentuckians who had SCI. RESULTS: The major themes were: the impact of disruption in routine on physical and mental health, importance of having the right accommodations, working from home as an accommodation, and the uncertainty of work. CONCLUSIONS: Accommodations are a critical component for people with SCI to be retained in the workforce. Employers should be proactive in offering various inclusive and accessible accommodations to employees so that people do not have to bear the additional burden of asking for accommodations. Rehabilitation professionals would serve the SCI population well by finding ways to help clients better advocate for themselves, provide adaptive home therapeutic equipment, and help identify diverse employment skill sets.