Affiliations: Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, ESTeSC Coimbra Health School, Physiotherapy Department, Rua 5
de Outubro, S. Martinho do Bispo, Apartado 7006 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal. Tel.: +351 239 802 430; Fax:
+351 239 813 395; E-mail: anabelacmartins@estescoimbra.pt
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF) was approved by the World Health Assembly in 2001.
Ten years later, strong arguments have arisen regarding the added value of ICF
to the policies on employment and the outcomes at the workplace. As a conceptual framework, ICF has universality because of its inclusive and
comprehensive view of human functioning. At a practical level ICF can be used
to quantify the impact of impairment on an individual's ability to act in
his/her environment and to assess interventions to minimize the impact of
disability and maximize functioning. OBJECTIVE: To explore key indicators
of social participation (life habits) of persons with disabilities,
particularly related to work, among environmental and personal factors. METHODOLOGY/PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected by self-administered
questionnaires from a convenience sample of 149 working-age persons with
disabilities. RESULTS: Social participation is a construct composed by
multiple components and employment domain is the strongest indicator of
participation. Correlations between social participation and personal factors,
such as self-efficacy and attitudes towards disability were moderate. Those who
are employed scored higher quality of life in terms of satisfaction with life,
more positive attitudes toward disabilities and higher self-efficacy than the
ones who are retired or unemployed. Persons using adapted wheelchair and those
who were involved in wheelchair selection scored higher in social participation
in general, performance at work, and quality of life. Age and disability
duration were not associated with participants' employment status. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that rehabilitation and
vocational agents, like physiotherapists and other professionals, should have
knowledge and understanding of the multiple factors that influence persons with
disabilities' participation at work. Programs should provide appropriate
wheelchairs, skills training, empowerment and problem-solving strategies in
labour activities and occupational environment to promote employment of working-age persons with disabilities.
Keywords: Assistive technologies, social participation, persons with disabilities, employment, personal factors
