Affiliations: Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Fatemeh Samiee, University of Isfahan. Hezar Jerib Ave. Isfahan. Iran. E-mail: f.samiee@edu.ui.ac.ir.
Note: [1] http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2235-7169
Note: [2] http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0559-6192
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Vocational rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Iran as one of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region is under-studied. OBJECTIVES:The purpose of this study was to explore the perspective of people with SCI and service providers about vocational rehabilitation challenges. METHODS:We used an ethnographic methodology to collect data. Observation (2018 –2020) and semi-structured interviews with 21 persons with SCI and 11 service providers were the data collection methods, and a thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. RESULTS:Results demonstrate that career self-knowledge (knowledge about capabilities, aspirations, and interests) and career knowledge (the importance of career exploration, vocational support and job characteristics) were the main two vocational rehabilitation resources. CONCLUSIONS:Knowledge (about the self and careers) is the main resource mentioned by the participants regarding the vocational rehabilitation. Implications for professionals and policy makers are presented.
Keywords: Vocational rehabilitation, empowerment, ethnography, SCI, Iran, MENA region
