Work with brain injury
Reduce distance to work
health professional
Collaboratively with the individual with ABI, you define specific treatment objectives.
The process of reducing the gap to work involves continuously aligning the skills of the individual with ABI with the requirements and context of the job tasks.
The approach to training can vary based on whether it follows a 'first place then train' or 'first train then place' model, as well as the nature of the skills being developed. Various strategies can be employed, including:
- Training and enhancing (work) skills:
- Targeted physical, general, or task-specific (work) skill exercises like bending or lifting.
- Practicing communication skills such as listening, speaking, or conversational techniques.
- Developing work-related skills like presentation or organization.
- Providing, exploring, practicing, and advising on (compensation) strategies:
- Practicing functional skills such as energy management, achieving a work-life balance, or utilizing technology.
- Collaborating with the individual, their family, and the work environment to explore adaptations in work demands or context.
- Formulating advice considering the practicality and effectiveness of implementing strategies.
- Coaching and educating on opportunities and challenges:
- Emphasizing psychosocial skills like social interactions and exploring values.
- Focusing on mental well-being through self-regulation, mindfulness practices, and reflection.
- Strengthening the individual's overall capabilities.
⚠️Please note
- Consider the work environment, the individual's cognitive capacities, level of awareness regarding their condition, and their coping mechanisms for loss.
- Assess the individual's level of independence.
- Evaluate the individual's understanding of ABI and its implications.
- Determine the most suitable form of guidance or coaching based on the individual's functioning level.
- Define the roles of other pertinent stakeholders.
- Mitigate potential risks.
🧰 Useful tools
- To enhance the individual's comprehension, they can develop a diary or weekly timetable.
- This schedule can segment various activities such as work hours, personal time, relaxation, household tasks, meals, family interactions, therapy sessions, and rest periods.
- Collaborate with the individual to decide whether to disclose their brain injury to the employer, supervisor, and/or colleagues.
- The Coral 2.0 questionnaire aids in identifying crucial factors for the individual to consider.
- It assists in evaluating what information the individual chooses to share, with whom, and at what juncture.
🤝Together
During this phase, we place significant importance on collaboration and communication with relevant stakeholders.
- For instance, individuals with ABI can benefit from the support and insights of experience experts—those who have navigated or are currently undergoing a reintegration process themselves.
- Interaction with experience experts can occur informally, such as between treatment sessions or during downtime, or in a more structured manner.
- The treatment team may arrange group sessions or invite individuals with ABI who have successfully undergone AGR to share their journeys.
- This ongoing exchange could involve regular visits from experienced individuals to interact with new participants.
- Additionally, organizing informational sessions where both experienced individuals and newcomers engage in discussions, with or without family members present, can be valuable for sharing knowledge and experiences.
