Affiliations: Department of Occupational Therapy, The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Department of Occupational Therapy,
The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia. Tel.: +61
7 3349 9682; Fax: +61 7 3349 9682; E-mail: Shelley.Allen@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Abstract: Disclosure is recognised as an issue for people of working age with
a mental illness. Disclosure may also be an issue for people of working age
with physical disabilities and chronic illness who are endeavouring to obtain
and retain employment within their diminished work capacity in the open labour
market. This paper is based on qualitative research into the employment
transition of 13 participants with a range of disabling conditions. The
conditions included rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, cancer, depression,
HIV/AIDS, fracture of the wrist, traumatic head injury, and intervertebral
lumbar disc prolapse. Despite loss of work capacity resulting in loss of
employment, the participants secured durable employment within their capacities
after periods of time sometimes extending to many years. Participants were
interviewed to gain insight into the disability-to-employment transition
experience regardless of their diagnosis. Of the 11 psychosocial themes that
emerged from the data, concealment was one that was frequently and
spontaneously identified by participants. In this paper the theme of
concealment in the disability-to-employment transition is explored in detail.
Relevant implications are identified for vocational rehabilitation
professionals.
Keywords: disclosure, concealment, employment transition, disabling condition, qualitative research
