The healthcare professional or treatment team proactively investigates the work-related assistance request of individuals with ABI and collaborates with them to determine feasible and realistic goals.
Adhering to disability management principles, the treatment team aims to enhance the individual's functional capacity to the fullest extent possible.
Moreover, efforts are made to enhance the individual's understanding of the legal aspects and financial implications related to disability and labour (re)integration. This empowerment equips the individual to engage in discussions with pertinent stakeholders effectively.
Collaborate with the individual with ABI to determine the primary work goal and available support options.
One potential avenue is initiating a vocational rehabilitation programme, which can be explained to the individual and their family.
Through collaborative and holistic approaches, prioritise a comprehensive focus encompassing the individual, the work environment, and work capabilities.
Facilitate active information exchange with the individual's consent to establish a shared understanding of their functioning and work-related assistance needs.
Encourage the individual to maintain regular communication with relevant stakeholders.
Recognize that it can be challenging for the individual to navigate whom to contact, when, and for what reasons.
Therefore, educate the individual about the responsibilities and roles of various stakeholders.
When identifying work-related assistance requests, consider the individual's coping mechanisms for loss and potential challenges in disease insight post-ABI.
The individual may initially set unrealistic expectations for vocational rehabilitation, but through the process, they can develop a more realistic understanding of achievable goals.
A useful tool for establishing rapport and understanding individuals with ABI is the Interview Daily Routine guide.
Self-report questionnaires can aid in assessing support needs. Examples include
Effective communication is essential. As part of the project, two informational leaflets were created:
If you are interested in receiving these leaflets, please contact dorien.vandenborre@thomasmore.be.