Assessment of Functional Capacity: An Investigation on the Benefits of Combining Ability-Predicted and Work-Simulated Work Samples

Abstract

Rehabilitation professionals have long used work samples in assessing the ability and functionality of clients requesting rehabilitation services. Although there has been remarkable development in the type and scope of work samples, the incorporation of work samples into assessment has lagged behind that of other measurement systems. One logical reason is the prolonged time required to administer work samples. Despite this time commitment, work samples have usefulness and value for rehabilitation counselling and vocational evaluation. The purpose of this brief report is to provide evidence to indicate the usefulness of work-simulated work samples versus ability-predicted work samples. The authors discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both assessment approaches in demonstrating the benefits in vocational assessment for clients and professionals.

Transition to Labor Market among Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness

“…The placement is based on personal skills and challenges and is performed through the interactive and continuous process of prevocational services followed by supported employment services. The holistic vision of the person, occupation, and environment using the scope of tools to evaluate a range of personal, environmental, and occupational factors and their impact on occupational performance and participation are of importance to lead the processes of employment opportunity identification and person-centered workplace adaptation [46,48,49].…”