Disability Management in the Workplace: Report from the Study Group. Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (16th, Savannah, Georgia, October 1989).

This guide is intended to aid rehabilitation agencies to plan, develop, and implement disability management programs. The study group which developed the guide looked at the impact of such programs on employers as well as on employees who become disabled. Chapter 1 provides a historical overview of disability management including motivating factors for disability management programs, program development, disability management and labor unions, and relevant legislation. Chapter 2 is on defining disability management and covers key premises of disability management and definitions. Considered in Chapter 3 are stakeholders in disability management including vocational rehabilitation, employers, and employees with a disability. Disability management models and industrial and agency applications are presented in Chapter 4. Exemplary programs are briefly described and suggestions offered to vocational rehabilitation agencies of methods for interfacing with disability management in business and industry. Chapter 5 offers strategies, positions, and options for vocational rehabilitation agencies. These include: the non-involvement option; the reactive option; and the proactive option, which requires changes in approaches to service delivery. The final chapter provides specific guidance on using this document as a basis for administrative decision making and program development regarding disability management programs at the workplace. (DB)