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Work capacity assessments and efforts to achieve a job match for claimants in a social security setting: an international inventory

SENGERS, Johan H
AMBA, Femke I
BROUWER, Sandra
STAHL, Christian
2020

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Purpose: Many high-income countries are witnessing a shift of focus on eligibility for disability benefits towards promotion of work reintegration. However, little is known about how countries assess work cap- acity, and how a job match is then obtained. The current study aims to compare work capacity assess- ments and available efforts to achieve a job match in eight high-income OECD countries.

 

Methods: A survey was conducted among key stakeholders concerning organization of work capacity assessments in social security settings, and efforts made to obtain a job, across eight OECD countries: Australia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

 

Results: In most countries, work capacity is assessed at several time points, with variations in moments and in information used for job matching. In countries obtaining information on personal and work levels, the search to find a job match usually begins with the persons who have disabilities.

 

Conclusion: Although a shift towards a holistic focus in work capacity assessment has been recognized, medical factors still prevail. Limited emphasis is placed on the implications of functional limitations for the possibilities of work. A holistic approach to assessment needs to be coupled with holistic support measures through provision of coordinated and high quality job matching services.

Loneliness in life stories by people with disabilities

TARVAINEN, Merja
2020

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This study investigates loneliness in life stories by people with disabilities. By approaching loneliness from a relational perspective, this study attempts to illustrate how loneliness and disability are intertwined in the life course. The research question was as follows: How do people with disabilities understand loneliness in their life stories? Life story data ‘Life of Disabled Persons in Finland 2013–2014’ was analysed with a narrative life course approach. Loneliness was narrated in accordance with normative life course expectations. People with disabilities narrated loneliness as unbelonging in childhood, disjointed youth and disaffiliation to normative institutions in adulthood. This study suggests that relation between loneliness and disability concern the conditions of inclusion that is the conditions of living and telling.

  • Loneliness involves both unwanted emotions and social isolation. 
  • In many societies, both loneliness and disability bear a stigma. This so-called double stigma affects the lives of people with disabilities.
  • This study explores loneliness and disability in life stories by people with disabilities in Finland from a life course perspective. Although scholars have widely studied loneliness in Finland, they have not studied loneliness in people with disabilities in any great depth.
  • Loneliness in life stories by people with disabilities was narrated in relation to a sense of bodily difference and occurred as a disconnection from a socially ‘standard’ life course. Loneliness was located within three main phases: childhood, youth and adulthood. Negative attitudes towards disability feed social isolation and emotional loneliness.
  • Further research on disability and loneliness throughout the life course as well as more discussion about the conditions of inclusion and the emotional patterns of social relations are needed.

Leaving No One Behind: A Nordic movement for change

Kroglund, Andrew
January 2019

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This report assesses the policies of the Nordic country governments on international disability issues following the Global Disability Summit in London, July 2018. The SDGs requirement for new focus on inclusion is highlighted and the report aims to strengthen the cooperation between civil society organisations and government in order to fulfill the ambitious 2030 agenda

2030 Agenda for sustainable development: Selected SDG indicators disaggregated by disability status

WASHINGTON GROUP ON DISABILITY STATISTICS
October 2018

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In light of the importance of disability data collection and the disaggregation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcome indicators by disability status, the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG) undertook an exercise to review, among WG member countries, the extent to which data on SDG indicators currently available can be disaggregated by disability status. Requests for disaggregated SDG data for 13 selected indicators were sent to 146 member countries. 48 countries responded and 39 provided data. Response data is tabulated and discussed.

‘Everyone needs love’ – an interview study about perceptions of love in people with intellectual disability (ID)

MATTILA, Jenni
MÄÄTTÄ, Kaarina
UUSIAUTTI, Satu
2016

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How do people with intellectual disability (ID) perceive love and its role in their lives? The purpose of this study was to give voice to people with ID themselves and provide information about their needs for love. The study analysed how seven Finnish young adults with mild ID (5 women and 2 men) aged between 18 and 31 years described love and the meaning of love in their lives in semi-structured, qualitative theme interviews. The analysis was theory-led content analysis. The findings showed that the young adults with ID could describe love primarily as emotions and concrete acts, but perceived love as knowledge and skills more difficult to describe. However, the meaning of love was considered crucial and important for everyone’s well-being. The study suggests that the views and opinions of people with ID should be given more attention so that the support and guidance they are given would better need their needs. In addition, the study highlights everyone’s right to love? As per the style. Please suggest.

Do reading disabilities explain the increase of depressive symptoms in late adolescence?

HAVERINEN, Kaisa
SAVOLAINEN, Hannu
HOLOPAINEN, Leena
2014

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The present study examined how depressive symptoms change in late adolescence and whether reading disabilities (RD) affect the level or change of the symptoms. The sample consisted of 293 Finnish adolescents (150 girls, 143 boys; 58 with RD). Participants completed a screening test for reading and spelling skills in ninth grade (age 15), and a depression screening test three times during upper secondary education (ages 16–18). Longitudinal data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Adolescents’ self-reported level of depressive symptoms increased in late adolescence ( p , 0.001). RD did not directly affect the level or change of depressive symptoms. Girls reported a greater increase in depressive symptoms than boys, and this interaction effect held especially for girls with RD.

Children’s rights for all!|Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for children with intellectual disabilities

SISKA, Jan
LATIMIER, Camille
October 2011

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This publication provides an overview of the situation of children with intellectual disabilities in twenty two European countries, with a particular focus on five areas: protection against abuse, family support and (de-)institutionalisation, health, education, and participation of children. It recommends steps to be taken to remove barriers to their inclusion. The publication is based on a series of country reports that were prepared by national experts

Holistic and interactive communication methods

LAHTINEN, Riitta
2005

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This research article examines the strategies and theoretical models of the function of language for improving communication for acquired deafblind people, their family members and interpreters. Different methods and techniques are examined to improve the quality of communication. This resource would be useful for professionals working with people with sensory impairments at community level

Roles and functions of the deafblind interpreter - an overview

HASSINEN, Leena
2005

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This article describes the roles and functions of the deafblind interpreter, as divided into three core elements including language transmission, guiding, and transmitting visual information. This is a useful training tool for deafblind interpreters and for people wishing to improve their communication skills for working with people with sensory impairments

Definition of disability in Europe : a comparative analysis

MABBETT, Deborah
September 2002

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This resource provides an overview of the definitions of disability found in anti-discrimination laws and social policies of member states of the European Union. The aim is to show how different definitions of disability are relevant to different policies and the importance of specificity to avoid poorly targeted programs. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in legislation, advocacy and policy development. It is also available in French and German

The Finnish Deafblind Association

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This website highlights the work of the Finnish Deafblind Association including details of their services provided, organisational activities, international activities and publications

International disability rights monitor (IDRM) regional reports

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL REHABILITATION

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These regional reports are the primary focus of the International Disability Rights Monitor (IDRM) project and have been compiled by local IDRM researchers. Each report focuses upon several key areas such as legal protections, education, employment, accessibility, and health and housing services for people with disabilities. The reports include a detailed report on each country and a report card that compares the progress made by countries across the region. Reports are available on the Americas, Asia and Europe, as well as two thematic reports, in downloadable pdf format. They are useful for people interested in research on disability and development

Handbook on Disability Services

FINNISH INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE

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The Online Handbook on Disability Services in Finland supports social workers in their work with persons with disabilities. Information is available on disability rights and legislation, disability services and research and statistics

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