Vocational Predictions Compared With Present Vocational Status of 60 Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

SUMMARY A group of 97 cerebral‐palsied students between the ages of seven and 16 years were assessed in the 1960s and 1970s, and predictions were made as to their vocational status as adults. In 1983, 60 of the 76 over 18 years of age were contacted. 39 had been employed at some time since leaving high‐school, but only 17 were employed at the time of the survey. Of those who had worked, over half had achieved or exceeded their vocational predictions. Those in competitive employment were more likely to be mildly disabled, to have higher IQs and to have been educated in integrated schools. Those who had never been employed were older and less independent in self‐care and travel in the community. However, intelligence was not a major factor in distinguishing the employed from the never‐employed. Recommendations are made for integrated education and job training in competitive settings, for community‐based assessments and for family involvement in all aspects of planning to improve the vocational prospects of cerebral‐palsied children. RÉSUMÉ Insertion professionnelle prévue et réalisée chez 60 jeunes odultes IMC Un groupe de 97 élèves IMC âgés de sept à 16 ans ont été examinés durant les années 1960–1979 et une prédiction a été faite de leur insertion professionnelle comme adultes. En 1983, 60 parmi les 76 sujets de 18 ans ont été retrouvés. 39 avaient travailléà un moment quelconque après avoir quitté l'école mais 17 seulement étaient effectivement au travail lors de l'étude. Parmi ceux qui avaient travaillé plus de la moitié avait réalisé ou dépassé la prédiction sur l'insertion. Ceux qui étaient insérés dans le milieu normal du travail étaient plus vraisemblablement légèrement atteints sur le plan moteur, avec un QI plus éléve et une bonne éducation en intégration dans une école. Ceux qui n'avaient jamais travailléétaient plus âgés et plus dépendants dans l'autonomie sociale et les déplacements publiques. Cependant, l'intelligence ne s'est pas révélée un facteur majeur distinguant les sujets n'ayant jamais travaillé de ceux qui avaient travaillé. Des recommandations sont faites par les auteurs, en faveur d'une éducation intégrée, d'une préparation au travail en milieu compétitif, pour une evaluation basée sur l'insertion communautaire et pour une implication de la famille dans tous les aspects de prévision, dans le but d'améliorer le devenir professionnel des enfants IMC. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Berufsprognosen verglichen mit dem erreichten Berufsstand bei 60 jungen Erwachsenen mil Cerebralparese In den 60ger und 70ger Jahren wurde eine Gruppe von 97 Schülern mit Cerebralparese im Alter von sieben bis 16 Jahren untersucht und es wurden ihnen Berufsprognosen für ihr Erwachsenenalter gestellt. 1983 wurden 60 von 76 über 18 Jahre einbestellt. 39 waren nach dem Verlassen der Schule mal beschäftigt gewesen, aber nur 17 waren zur Zeit der Untersuchung im Beruf. Von denen, die gearbeitet hatten, hatten mehr als die Hälfte ihre Berufsprognosen erreicht oder waren sogar weiter gekommen. Die, die im beruflichen Wettbewerb standen,...

Functional status of adults with cerebral palsy and implications for treatment of children

“…However, after a period of adjustment, the overall organization has proved to be good enough in most regions of Italy and integration is generally accepted by families with and without a member who has a disability. The important effects on the functional outcome of those with CP as a result of integration into mainstream schools has been stressed by other authors (O'Grady et al 1985).…”

“…Different numbers concerning employment of people with CP are reported in the literature (Crothers and Paine 1959, Klapper and Birch 1966, Pollock and Stark 1969, Sillampaa et al 1982, O'Grady et al 1985, O'Grady et al 1995. Our numbers are generally lower (35% employed: about a half of these in sheltered employment and the other half competitively employed), but this discrepancy is likely to be related to several local factors, e.g.…”

“…the overall level of unemployment, which is higher in Italy than in many parts of Europe and the USA. If we analyse the factors that influence the level of employment among those with CP, most of the other studies reported a statistical association between employment and diagnosis, IQ, and motor impairment (Klapper and Birch 1966, Pollock and Stark 1969, O'Grady et al 1985, O'Grady et al 1995. However, many authors stress the importance of the family assisting with employment (Pollock andStark 1969, O'Grady et al 1995).…”

Vocational rehabilitation services and employment outcomes for adults with cerebral palsy in the United States

“…reported that young people with CP who were in school ranked getting a job as a top priority. However, for decades, adults with CP have continued to experience significantly lower rates in attaining and maintaining employment in comparison with their peers without disabilities . Furthermore, in the United States rates of employment for persons with CP have been cited to be considerably lower than employment rates of people living with other disabilities …”