Rehabilitation Counseling
Functional Assessment Assignment
Disorder: ____SPINAL CORD INJURY ______________
You are a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor working for a state VR agency office. You have been assigned this client, and are preparing for your first meeting by reviewing the client’s application for services. The application has the client’s diagnosis but, at this point, no further medical information is given. On the application, the client reports a desire to pursue training and/or employment. This is all you know for now.
1. Before meeting the client, you look it up. What can you find out about the medical disorder or condition given as a diagnosis? Do an online search of the disorder/condition, and write a SHORT (1 – 2 paragraphs) medical description of the disorder/condition presented. Include:
a) etiology (how/why it occurs) and
b) onset (when it typically occurs),
c) prevalence, or frequency of occurrence, nationally, and
d) symptoms of disorder
e) side effects of treatment, if any (e.g., medication) you expect to be present
when you meet your client. Finally,
f) include your references (online links) used.
2. You also realize there will be functional limitations connected with the disorder or condition, and will want to ask your client about each one of them. For each of the 5 factors, what do you expect MIGHT be impacted by this disorder/condition? Review the anticipated functional limitations (-) for each factor. What will the client be unable to do because of the disability? Be as detailed as possible. Then review the positives (+)—e.g., what functional abilities might remain, and what might be the positive impact of treatment (medication, therapy, etc.) or other interventions. Again, be as specific as possible.
a. Cognitive Functions: For example, attention/concentration, memory, problem solving/ability to adapt, or other executive functions. How do you expect this disability or disorder to compromise these brain functions?
(-):
(+):
b. Sensory Functions: These are Visual, Auditory, Tactile, Olfactory, and Gustatory capacities.
(-):
(+):
c. Motor Functions: Fine and/or Gross Motor, Balance, Left- or Right-Body strength/coordination, etc.
(-):
(+):
d. Emotional/Behavioral Functions: Attitudes, feelings, perceptions of self or others, resulting in behaviors. DSM-IV diagnoses, e.g., denial or depression during the course of recovery, or substance abuse inhibiting recovery.
(-):
(+):
e. Adaptive/Coping Functions: Issues or concerns related to personal adaptation or coping at home or work due to the disability. E.g., independent living adequacy (mobility to/from work, communication, money management, etc.); hygiene and personal cleanliness, or appropriate or adequate social interaction.
(-):
(+):
3. You’ve looked at personal, functional limitations. Now look at possible job barriers (-) and accommodations (+) for someone with this disability. For each of the following factors, list:
(-) Job functions/factors you might expect to be problematic for one of this disorder/condition? DO NOT LIST OR MENTION MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR FUNCTIONAL PROBLEMS (You already did that in section 2 above).
(+) Possible accommodations (+) to address the barriers (see Job Accommodation Network [JAN] (http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm) for help here).
a. Executive function factors: such as planning, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, rule acquisition, initiating appropriate actions and inhibiting inappropriate actions, and selecting relevant sensory information.
(-):
(+):
b. Physical demands: such as standing/walking, lifting/carrying, climbing, balancing, stooping/ kneeling, crouching/crawling, reaching/handling/fingering, feeling, talking, hearing, tasting/smelling, visual acuity, depth perception, color vision, or field of vision.
(-):
(+):
c. Environmental factors: such as exposure to weather, exposure to cold/heat, dust/smoke, wet/humidity, noise, vibration, atmospheric conditions, proximity to moving parts, exposure to electrical shock, working at heights, exposure to radiation, working with explosives, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, other issues
(-):
(+):
d. Work schedule: such as long hours, fast pace, minimal breaks, reduced break-times, shift work
(-):
(+):
e. Worksite (building) factors: such as parking proximity to entry; entry proximity to work station; spacing within entryways and passages in building; doorways, spacing and placement of sinks and stalls within restrooms; doorways and maneuver spacing in common/break rooms
(-):
(+):
f. Work station (desk, etc.) factors: such as proximity of tools, machinery, office equipment, computer/printer, etc. close to hand; ergonomic seating, etc.
(-):
(+):
