Vivienne C Riches | The University of Sydney (original) (raw)

Papers by Vivienne C Riches

Research paper thumbnail of The Importance of Economic Participation for Quality of Life

Research paper thumbnail of Awards Announcement

Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Transforming staff practice through active support

journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 2011

Background Active support is being introduced in many residential and respite homes in an effort ... more Background Active support is being introduced in many residential and respite homes in an effort to improve engagement in meaningful activity of people with intellectual disability. Method A train-the-trainer approach was used in a large government organisation that supports people with intellectual disability in Australia. Five apprentice trainers were trained to provide active support training to 65 staff associated with 6 group homes. These 5 trainers were then monitored to provide training to 54 staff in another 6 group homes. Staff evaluated their interactive training experiences, and pre and post outcome data were collected for a small number of service users from the second set of group homes, along with staff outcome data regarding residential working practices, group home management, and staffi ng practices. Results The train-the-trainer model proved to be an effective strategy for training large numbers of staff. The interactive training component was particularly effective and was associated with improvements in service user engagement in domestic tasks and decreased depression levels. Staff job satisfaction increased and signifi cant improvements were recorded in residential working practices. Conclusions Active support training is an effective strategy for empowering staff to better support people with an intellectual disability to be meaningfully engaged in daily activities. There are implications for organisations related to ongoing implementation and practice improvement.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating a transition model for people with intellectual disability and complex behaviour : what works and what doesn’t

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Complex support needs ID transitioning to NDIS funded

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, 2020

Background: People with intellectual disability and chronic and complex support needs often requi... more Background: People with intellectual disability and chronic and complex support needs often require unique models of care that are intensive and expensive. How these supports can be continued within a rapidly changing policy and funding context in Australia, has not been fully determined.
Method: This descriptive study utilised a retrospective electronic case-file audit design. Demographic details, chronic health conditions, medications, behaviours of concern, and overall support needs profile were mapped for 41 participants.
Results: The profile is one of an ageing cohort, with high levels of chronicity and polypharmacy that requires a specialised workforce to fully meet their support needs.
Conclusion: As the people with ID in this cohort age, the training needs of the current and future workforce will need to adapt as different issues become more prominent. How the national disability health and policy settings can best accommodate these support needs remains unclear.

Research paper thumbnail of Running head: INTEGRATION IN THE WORKPLACE Social Integration in the Workplace for People with Disabilities: An Australian Perspective

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 2003

Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they ar... more Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they are physically and socially integrated into the work environment. This study sought to explore the extent to which workers (N = 71) with disabilities were experiencing integration from the perspective of Supervisors (N = 65), Co-workers (N = 63) and Employment Specialists (N = 67) located in 64 open and supported employment sites across Australia. The participants completed questionnaires that addressed the following areas: workplace conditions, social interaction in the workplace, appropriateness of particular social behaviors, and attitudes to employees with disabilities. Overall, the findings revealed a considerable amount of agreement between the three groups of participants. The results showed that people with disabilities who were employed in entry level jobs across a range of work-places were considered to be valued members of the workforce. The majority of supervisors and co-workers indicated that the person with a disability was engaged in the social life of the workplace, although co-workers were less positive. Perceived differences on task related social skills and actual job performed appeared likely contributors to this finding. Finally, the positive attitudes being expressed towards those people with disabilities in this study by all three groups suggest that having direct experience with employees with disabilities in open employment situations can have a positive effect. The findings are discussed in light of the need for further research that seeks to understand the formation of friendships by adults with disabilities. Social integration in the workplace is only the first step toward the formation of reciprocal friendships.

Research paper thumbnail of DSQ Volume 13 Issue 1 and 2 Double Issue

The current emphasis on understanding and planning education and treatment for adults with Down s... more The current emphasis on understanding and planning education and treatment for adults with Down syndrome is strongly in uenced by the idea of age and social appropriateness and ideology of equal civil rights. This has improved the opportunities and lifestyles for many adults with Down syndrome but this paper argues that developmental appropriateness is at risk of being neglected and requires equal attention. This opinion is illustrated with studies from three areas: self-talk, routines and compulsivelike behavior; and self-awareness and self-esteem. The results con rm that knowledge of typical developmental processes is applicable to older children and adults with Down syndrome and should be an essential part of training those responsible for their care and management.

Research paper thumbnail of A REVIEW OF TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN NSW, AUSTRALIA 1

It is now evident that students, parents, schools, communities and various departments and agenci... more It is now evident that students, parents, schools, communities and various departments and agencies at central and local levels need to work in partnership to improve the transition experiences and post-school outcomes of students with disabilities. A transition initiative began in NSW in 1989 to help students with disabilities in transition as they moved from school to the community. A number of changes and refinements have occurred, and the transition process is now being implemented in various ways in NSW and other states. Evaluations of various parts of the project have been carried out by the

Research paper thumbnail of A review of transition from school to community for students with disabilities in NSW, Australia

Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 1996

... A major role of school-based and community-based transition teams, therefore, has been theide... more ... A major role of school-based and community-based transition teams, therefore, has been theidentification, collection and dissemination of information to students with disabilities and their families about the avail-ability of adult services in a range of areas. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Program Development for the Acquisition of Work and Social Skills

Australian Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1980

ABSTRACT A series of experimental programs have been developed within the Granville Work Preparat... more ABSTRACT A series of experimental programs have been developed within the Granville Work Preparation Centre (GWPC) with the co-operation of the GWPC Research and Development Project, based at Macquarie University. Programs cover social competency, language development, instruction following, skill development, conceptual style, reading and task construction. Principles of instruction, training strategies and techniques are discussed in relation to programs developed to run concurrently with regular GWPC programs.

Research paper thumbnail of APPLYING MEDICINE 2.0 TO THE I-CAN - Managing the Needs and Rights of End Users

Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technology, 2010

This paper considers how Medicine 2.0 features can be added to an existing e-health application k... more This paper considers how Medicine 2.0 features can be added to an existing e-health application known as the I-CAN (Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs). One of the biggest problems with a social networking feature based around health concerns is the issue of privacy. Even though participation is on a completely unsolicited, opt-in basis, there are access and privacy issues involved in such a tool. A preliminary design proposal is presented which takes into account the needs, responsibilities, rights and abilities of the (direct and indirect) users.

Research paper thumbnail of A study of caregiver support services: Perspectives of family caregivers of persons with intellectual disabilities in Singapore

Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting the Outcomes of -4 Work Preparation Program

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment and Classification of Support Needs

Assessing and classifying the support needs of people who have disabilities is a critical issue, ... more Assessing and classifying the support needs of people who have disabilities is a critical issue, as appropriate, effective and efficient resource allocation is contingent upon correct assessment and classification. The Centre for Developmental Disability Studies (CDDS) has been undertaking research and development activities in this area for several years, investigating both process and instrumentation issues and identifying a profile of the support resources, functions and intensities required in key environments. These are based on environmental factors and individual preferences for support. CDDS has now joined with the University of Sydney and other industry partners in a collaborative

Research paper thumbnail of Making the move: Information for families of children with a disability making the move from primary to secondary school

Making the move provides information to help families support their son or daughter with a disabi... more Making the move provides information to help families support their son or daughter with a disability in making the move from primary school to secondary school. The information has been developed from: research findings, focus group meetings held across NSW, input from parents and service providers to a website forum, advice from a Project Advisory Group established by Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW (ADHC). This resource is not intended to be exhaustive. Children and young people with a disability and their families are diverse and have wide ranging needs, interests and talents. For this reason the booklet gives general information only. Readers are encouraged to use the links and contacts to seek more specific information that will be relevant to their own needs and interests. Contacts, including phone numbers and websites, are located in the Useful contacts section at the end of this booklet.

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting the Outcomes of a Work Preparation Program

Australian Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1981

This paper discusses results from analyses of various data concerning the characteristics of 178 ... more This paper discusses results from analyses of various data concerning the characteristics of 178 mildly intellectually handicapped adolescents who were selected for training in the Granville Work Preparation Centre between 1974 and 1978. From the results of predictive ...

Research paper thumbnail of A Comparison of Two Methods of Teaching A Reading Task to Mildly Intellectually Handicapped Adolescents

Australian Journal of Mental Retardation, 1979

A group of eight mildly intellectually handicapped trainees at a Work Preparation Centre were tau... more A group of eight mildly intellectually handicapped trainees at a Work Preparation Centre were taught to read two lists of words of equal difficulty by different methods. A pilot experiment had indicated that trainees had learned to read a list of difficult tool names ...

Research paper thumbnail of Intellectual disability and mental illness in the NSW criminal justice system

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 2006

There has been increasing international, national and local recognition of the need for more appr... more There has been increasing international, national and local recognition of the need for more appropriate responses and services for individuals who come in contact with the criminal justice system and who have an intellectual disability and mental health issues. This article provides an overview of prevalence data that indicates a significant over representation of people with intellectual disabilities in correctional facilities and reviews the problems facing this population. Findings from two specific evaluation studies undertaken by the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies are presented, along with recommendations for future provision based on these results. One of these projects trialled a case management approach to supporting offenders with an intellectual disability upon their release from prison. The 20-month follow-up found that a number of serious barriers were encountered within the overall system of provision for this population; the most serious of which related to lack of adequate accommodation upon release. The second project involved a two-stage evaluation of one model of provision for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are sex offenders, only some of whom were on parole. This service provided both residential and therapy services in a small group home located in the community. Residents were found to have high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties, in addition to offending behaviour, that continue to require support and supervision. Critical issues, including guardianship involvement, restrictive practices and retrieval, therapy provision, and risk management issues are discussed in relation to overall clinical and lifestyle outcomes.

Research paper thumbnail of The I-CAN: Using e-Health to get People the Support they Need

electronic Journal of …, 2009

Background: The I-CAN is an innovative, rigorous and robust system of identifying and classifying... more Background: The I-CAN is an innovative, rigorous and robust system of identifying and classifying support needs of people with disabilities based on the conceptual framework of the International Classifi cation of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (WHO 2001a), and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disability (AAIDD) supports concept (Luckasson et al., 1992, 2002). Coming from an Intellectual Disability background, the I-CAN's unique application of internet technologies is currently being trialled in Rehabilitation Medicine and other disciplines. Method: ICF based domains covering Health & Well Being and Activities & Participation have been refi ned over several versions. A total of 1012 individuals with disabilities across the eastern states of Australia were assessed using the fi rst three versions. Studies investigated reliability, concurrent and predictive validity and user satisfaction. A fourth internet-based version has been implemented and is under continuing investigation and refi nement. Results: The I-CAN instrument demonstrated good reliability and validity in studies to date. Domain scales effectively discriminated a range of intensities of support for people with various disabilities, with highest support needs generally recorded by individuals with multiple disabilities and ageing issues. Correlations between I-CAN and adaptive behaviour scales were mixed. Attempts to explain current support hours against the I-CAN scales suggest organizational factors apart from individual needs can play a signifi cant role. There was general satisfaction with the assessment process from stakeholders and participants groups. Several brief case examples shall be presented. Conclusions: The I-CAN provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing and reporting on the support needs of people with disabilities using a process that involves the person, their family, friends and staff as appropriate. Several possibilities exist for this unique tool and the application of the ICF framework to e-health.

Research paper thumbnail of Social integration in the workplace for people with disabilities: An Australian perspective

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 2003

Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they ar... more Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they are physically and socially integrated into the work environment. This study sought to explore the extent to which workers (N = 71) with disabilities were experiencing integration from the perspective of Supervisors (N = 65), Co-workers (N = 63) and Employment Specialists (N = 67) located in 64 open and supported employment sites across Australia. The participants completed questionnaires that addressed the following areas: workplace conditions, social interaction in the workplace, appropriateness of particular social behaviors, and attitudes to employees with disabilities. Overall, the findings revealed a considerable amount of agreement between the three groups of participants. The results showed that people with disabilities who were employed in entry level jobs across a range of work-places were considered to be valued members of the workforce. The majority of supervisors and co-workers indicated that the person with a disability was engaged in the social life of the workplace, although co-workers were less positive. Perceived differences on task related social skills and actual job performed appeared likely contributors to this finding. Finally, the positive attitudes being expressed towards those people with disabilities in this study by all three groups suggest that having direct experience with employees with disabilities in open employment situations can have a positive effect. The findings are discussed in light of the need for further research that seeks to understand the formation of friendships by adults with disabilities. Social integration in the workplace is only the first step toward the formation of reciprocal friendships..

Research paper thumbnail of The Importance of Economic Participation for Quality of Life

Research paper thumbnail of Awards Announcement

Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Transforming staff practice through active support

journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 2011

Background Active support is being introduced in many residential and respite homes in an effort ... more Background Active support is being introduced in many residential and respite homes in an effort to improve engagement in meaningful activity of people with intellectual disability. Method A train-the-trainer approach was used in a large government organisation that supports people with intellectual disability in Australia. Five apprentice trainers were trained to provide active support training to 65 staff associated with 6 group homes. These 5 trainers were then monitored to provide training to 54 staff in another 6 group homes. Staff evaluated their interactive training experiences, and pre and post outcome data were collected for a small number of service users from the second set of group homes, along with staff outcome data regarding residential working practices, group home management, and staffi ng practices. Results The train-the-trainer model proved to be an effective strategy for training large numbers of staff. The interactive training component was particularly effective and was associated with improvements in service user engagement in domestic tasks and decreased depression levels. Staff job satisfaction increased and signifi cant improvements were recorded in residential working practices. Conclusions Active support training is an effective strategy for empowering staff to better support people with an intellectual disability to be meaningfully engaged in daily activities. There are implications for organisations related to ongoing implementation and practice improvement.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating a transition model for people with intellectual disability and complex behaviour : what works and what doesn’t

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Complex support needs ID transitioning to NDIS funded

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, 2020

Background: People with intellectual disability and chronic and complex support needs often requi... more Background: People with intellectual disability and chronic and complex support needs often require unique models of care that are intensive and expensive. How these supports can be continued within a rapidly changing policy and funding context in Australia, has not been fully determined.
Method: This descriptive study utilised a retrospective electronic case-file audit design. Demographic details, chronic health conditions, medications, behaviours of concern, and overall support needs profile were mapped for 41 participants.
Results: The profile is one of an ageing cohort, with high levels of chronicity and polypharmacy that requires a specialised workforce to fully meet their support needs.
Conclusion: As the people with ID in this cohort age, the training needs of the current and future workforce will need to adapt as different issues become more prominent. How the national disability health and policy settings can best accommodate these support needs remains unclear.

Research paper thumbnail of Running head: INTEGRATION IN THE WORKPLACE Social Integration in the Workplace for People with Disabilities: An Australian Perspective

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 2003

Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they ar... more Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they are physically and socially integrated into the work environment. This study sought to explore the extent to which workers (N = 71) with disabilities were experiencing integration from the perspective of Supervisors (N = 65), Co-workers (N = 63) and Employment Specialists (N = 67) located in 64 open and supported employment sites across Australia. The participants completed questionnaires that addressed the following areas: workplace conditions, social interaction in the workplace, appropriateness of particular social behaviors, and attitudes to employees with disabilities. Overall, the findings revealed a considerable amount of agreement between the three groups of participants. The results showed that people with disabilities who were employed in entry level jobs across a range of work-places were considered to be valued members of the workforce. The majority of supervisors and co-workers indicated that the person with a disability was engaged in the social life of the workplace, although co-workers were less positive. Perceived differences on task related social skills and actual job performed appeared likely contributors to this finding. Finally, the positive attitudes being expressed towards those people with disabilities in this study by all three groups suggest that having direct experience with employees with disabilities in open employment situations can have a positive effect. The findings are discussed in light of the need for further research that seeks to understand the formation of friendships by adults with disabilities. Social integration in the workplace is only the first step toward the formation of reciprocal friendships.

Research paper thumbnail of DSQ Volume 13 Issue 1 and 2 Double Issue

The current emphasis on understanding and planning education and treatment for adults with Down s... more The current emphasis on understanding and planning education and treatment for adults with Down syndrome is strongly in uenced by the idea of age and social appropriateness and ideology of equal civil rights. This has improved the opportunities and lifestyles for many adults with Down syndrome but this paper argues that developmental appropriateness is at risk of being neglected and requires equal attention. This opinion is illustrated with studies from three areas: self-talk, routines and compulsivelike behavior; and self-awareness and self-esteem. The results con rm that knowledge of typical developmental processes is applicable to older children and adults with Down syndrome and should be an essential part of training those responsible for their care and management.

Research paper thumbnail of A REVIEW OF TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN NSW, AUSTRALIA 1

It is now evident that students, parents, schools, communities and various departments and agenci... more It is now evident that students, parents, schools, communities and various departments and agencies at central and local levels need to work in partnership to improve the transition experiences and post-school outcomes of students with disabilities. A transition initiative began in NSW in 1989 to help students with disabilities in transition as they moved from school to the community. A number of changes and refinements have occurred, and the transition process is now being implemented in various ways in NSW and other states. Evaluations of various parts of the project have been carried out by the

Research paper thumbnail of A review of transition from school to community for students with disabilities in NSW, Australia

Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 1996

... A major role of school-based and community-based transition teams, therefore, has been theide... more ... A major role of school-based and community-based transition teams, therefore, has been theidentification, collection and dissemination of information to students with disabilities and their families about the avail-ability of adult services in a range of areas. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Program Development for the Acquisition of Work and Social Skills

Australian Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1980

ABSTRACT A series of experimental programs have been developed within the Granville Work Preparat... more ABSTRACT A series of experimental programs have been developed within the Granville Work Preparation Centre (GWPC) with the co-operation of the GWPC Research and Development Project, based at Macquarie University. Programs cover social competency, language development, instruction following, skill development, conceptual style, reading and task construction. Principles of instruction, training strategies and techniques are discussed in relation to programs developed to run concurrently with regular GWPC programs.

Research paper thumbnail of APPLYING MEDICINE 2.0 TO THE I-CAN - Managing the Needs and Rights of End Users

Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technology, 2010

This paper considers how Medicine 2.0 features can be added to an existing e-health application k... more This paper considers how Medicine 2.0 features can be added to an existing e-health application known as the I-CAN (Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs). One of the biggest problems with a social networking feature based around health concerns is the issue of privacy. Even though participation is on a completely unsolicited, opt-in basis, there are access and privacy issues involved in such a tool. A preliminary design proposal is presented which takes into account the needs, responsibilities, rights and abilities of the (direct and indirect) users.

Research paper thumbnail of A study of caregiver support services: Perspectives of family caregivers of persons with intellectual disabilities in Singapore

Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting the Outcomes of -4 Work Preparation Program

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment and Classification of Support Needs

Assessing and classifying the support needs of people who have disabilities is a critical issue, ... more Assessing and classifying the support needs of people who have disabilities is a critical issue, as appropriate, effective and efficient resource allocation is contingent upon correct assessment and classification. The Centre for Developmental Disability Studies (CDDS) has been undertaking research and development activities in this area for several years, investigating both process and instrumentation issues and identifying a profile of the support resources, functions and intensities required in key environments. These are based on environmental factors and individual preferences for support. CDDS has now joined with the University of Sydney and other industry partners in a collaborative

Research paper thumbnail of Making the move: Information for families of children with a disability making the move from primary to secondary school

Making the move provides information to help families support their son or daughter with a disabi... more Making the move provides information to help families support their son or daughter with a disability in making the move from primary school to secondary school. The information has been developed from: research findings, focus group meetings held across NSW, input from parents and service providers to a website forum, advice from a Project Advisory Group established by Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW (ADHC). This resource is not intended to be exhaustive. Children and young people with a disability and their families are diverse and have wide ranging needs, interests and talents. For this reason the booklet gives general information only. Readers are encouraged to use the links and contacts to seek more specific information that will be relevant to their own needs and interests. Contacts, including phone numbers and websites, are located in the Useful contacts section at the end of this booklet.

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting the Outcomes of a Work Preparation Program

Australian Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1981

This paper discusses results from analyses of various data concerning the characteristics of 178 ... more This paper discusses results from analyses of various data concerning the characteristics of 178 mildly intellectually handicapped adolescents who were selected for training in the Granville Work Preparation Centre between 1974 and 1978. From the results of predictive ...

Research paper thumbnail of A Comparison of Two Methods of Teaching A Reading Task to Mildly Intellectually Handicapped Adolescents

Australian Journal of Mental Retardation, 1979

A group of eight mildly intellectually handicapped trainees at a Work Preparation Centre were tau... more A group of eight mildly intellectually handicapped trainees at a Work Preparation Centre were taught to read two lists of words of equal difficulty by different methods. A pilot experiment had indicated that trainees had learned to read a list of difficult tool names ...

Research paper thumbnail of Intellectual disability and mental illness in the NSW criminal justice system

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 2006

There has been increasing international, national and local recognition of the need for more appr... more There has been increasing international, national and local recognition of the need for more appropriate responses and services for individuals who come in contact with the criminal justice system and who have an intellectual disability and mental health issues. This article provides an overview of prevalence data that indicates a significant over representation of people with intellectual disabilities in correctional facilities and reviews the problems facing this population. Findings from two specific evaluation studies undertaken by the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies are presented, along with recommendations for future provision based on these results. One of these projects trialled a case management approach to supporting offenders with an intellectual disability upon their release from prison. The 20-month follow-up found that a number of serious barriers were encountered within the overall system of provision for this population; the most serious of which related to lack of adequate accommodation upon release. The second project involved a two-stage evaluation of one model of provision for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are sex offenders, only some of whom were on parole. This service provided both residential and therapy services in a small group home located in the community. Residents were found to have high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties, in addition to offending behaviour, that continue to require support and supervision. Critical issues, including guardianship involvement, restrictive practices and retrieval, therapy provision, and risk management issues are discussed in relation to overall clinical and lifestyle outcomes.

Research paper thumbnail of The I-CAN: Using e-Health to get People the Support they Need

electronic Journal of …, 2009

Background: The I-CAN is an innovative, rigorous and robust system of identifying and classifying... more Background: The I-CAN is an innovative, rigorous and robust system of identifying and classifying support needs of people with disabilities based on the conceptual framework of the International Classifi cation of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (WHO 2001a), and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disability (AAIDD) supports concept (Luckasson et al., 1992, 2002). Coming from an Intellectual Disability background, the I-CAN's unique application of internet technologies is currently being trialled in Rehabilitation Medicine and other disciplines. Method: ICF based domains covering Health & Well Being and Activities & Participation have been refi ned over several versions. A total of 1012 individuals with disabilities across the eastern states of Australia were assessed using the fi rst three versions. Studies investigated reliability, concurrent and predictive validity and user satisfaction. A fourth internet-based version has been implemented and is under continuing investigation and refi nement. Results: The I-CAN instrument demonstrated good reliability and validity in studies to date. Domain scales effectively discriminated a range of intensities of support for people with various disabilities, with highest support needs generally recorded by individuals with multiple disabilities and ageing issues. Correlations between I-CAN and adaptive behaviour scales were mixed. Attempts to explain current support hours against the I-CAN scales suggest organizational factors apart from individual needs can play a signifi cant role. There was general satisfaction with the assessment process from stakeholders and participants groups. Several brief case examples shall be presented. Conclusions: The I-CAN provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing and reporting on the support needs of people with disabilities using a process that involves the person, their family, friends and staff as appropriate. Several possibilities exist for this unique tool and the application of the ICF framework to e-health.

Research paper thumbnail of Social integration in the workplace for people with disabilities: An Australian perspective

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 2003

Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they ar... more Employment success for people with disabilities is closely related to the degree to which they are physically and socially integrated into the work environment. This study sought to explore the extent to which workers (N = 71) with disabilities were experiencing integration from the perspective of Supervisors (N = 65), Co-workers (N = 63) and Employment Specialists (N = 67) located in 64 open and supported employment sites across Australia. The participants completed questionnaires that addressed the following areas: workplace conditions, social interaction in the workplace, appropriateness of particular social behaviors, and attitudes to employees with disabilities. Overall, the findings revealed a considerable amount of agreement between the three groups of participants. The results showed that people with disabilities who were employed in entry level jobs across a range of work-places were considered to be valued members of the workforce. The majority of supervisors and co-workers indicated that the person with a disability was engaged in the social life of the workplace, although co-workers were less positive. Perceived differences on task related social skills and actual job performed appeared likely contributors to this finding. Finally, the positive attitudes being expressed towards those people with disabilities in this study by all three groups suggest that having direct experience with employees with disabilities in open employment situations can have a positive effect. The findings are discussed in light of the need for further research that seeks to understand the formation of friendships by adults with disabilities. Social integration in the workplace is only the first step toward the formation of reciprocal friendships..