M Samuelsson-Almén, Y Tidbeck, K Holmberg, L Westerlund
Employment Office, For the Hard of Hearing, Deaf and Visually Impaired, Uppsala, Sweden
Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of vocational rehabilitation services at the employment office for visually impaired persons in Uppsala, Sweden.
Methods: During 1999, 48 persons with visual impairment or visual disability underwent sight and work situation assessment. They all met a low vision teacher, ophthalmologist, optician, and when needed, computer counsellor and psychologist. Each assessment resulted in an individual action-plan and, when needed, visual and technical working aids assessment, study and vocational counselling and/or workplace adjustment. During October and November 2001, 43 persons, 21 men and 22 women (age range 20-59), could be reached for telephone interviews. A special questionnaire was used, including questions about their working-situation, wage subsidy and the use of working aids.
Results: In 1999, when the group underwent sight and work situation assessments, 17 of 43 (40%) were unemployed, 13 (30%) were at work, 11 (26%) were on long-term sick leave and 2 (4%) studied. At the time of the interview, 3 (7%) were unemployed, 22 (51%) were at work, 17 (40%) were on long-term sick leave or received disability pensions and 1 (2%) was studying. 13 of the 22 (59%) in the working group had part-time work and 6 (27%) had wage subsidies. 59% of the working group had been provided with visual and technical working aids as a result of the sight and work situation assessment and all but one used them regularly at work.
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