Helping Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury of Minority Origin

Abstract

Racial and ethnic minorities have a disproportionately high rate of disability compared to white Americans, with African and Hispanic Americans overrepresented in all disability categories. Subsequently, the demand for quality employment and rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities from minority racial or ethnic groups is increasing. In order to meet the increasing demands of minorities who are severely impaired, vocational rehabilitation professionals and other team members assisting those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with employment need to become familiar with effective models of service delivery. This article reviews the literature related to return to work following TBI for minorities. A brief review of the supported employment for TBI and supported education literature is also provided. Afterwards, 2 case studies, illustrating the effectiveness of supported employment and educational services, are offered to show how minority individuals with severe TBI can return to work or college postinjury, when services are individualized to meet personal needs.

Return to work after traumatic brain injury: Systematic review

“…This study agrees with a previous review that the evidence of effectiveness of supported employment is insufficient [4]. It did not find any evidence of previously suggested effectiveness of supported employment [5,19,20] or adjustments at work sites [21] on improved vocational status after TBI. No support was found for the previously reported superiority of multidisciplinary community rehabilitation in reducing unemployment after TBI [19].…”

Inter-Professional Clinical Practice Guideline for Vocational Evaluation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic and Evidence-Based Approach

“…While still limited, evidence from the research literature reveals that individuals from minority groups are more vulnerable to suffering a traumatic brain injury, experience greater linguistic, economic, social and attitudinal barriers, lower access to vocational rehabilitation services, and lower rates of return to work [31,56,63,[123][124][125]. The meaning ascribed to work may also vary between individuals, cultural and ethnic groups.…”

Race and Insurance Disparities in Discharge to Rehabilitation for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

“…37 Our findings suggest that the racial disparities reported in post-TBI outcomes, including employment and productivity, might be driven at least in part by underlying racial disparities in access to appropriate rehabilitation services and continued post-acute care. 37,38 Further, the observed geographical differences in discharge disposition by region might be related to uneven representation of different racial and ethnic groups across different regions of the United States and with geographical challenges associated with getting to post-acute care. …”