Type of Project: Funded project Scientific Work Study
Investigating current procedures and potential of needs assessments in vocational rehabilitation with particular regard to ICF (Feasibility study)

The Federal Rehabilitation Council (German: Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Rehabilitation - BAR), the Federal Association of Vocational Training Centres (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Berufsbildungswerke - BAG BBW) and the University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal (Prof. Dr. Matthias Morfeld) commonly conduct a feasibility study to investigate current procedures and potential of needs assessments in vocational rehabilitation with particular regard to ICF. The 18-month-project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales - BMAS). The objective of this study is to collect and assort actually utilized methods and instruments for assessing needs of vocational rehabilitation. Furthermore, possibilities to improve the targeted process control of vocational rehabilitation will be analyzed. Therefore, possibilities and limits of the ICF will be regarded particularly. Perspectives of different vocational rehabilitation stakeholders are taken into account. Study results will be discharged into recommendations for a more person-centered, effective and efficient vocational rehabilitation. The project focuses on adolescent or adult persons with present or impending severe disability (according to German law) and selected vocational rehabilitation service types. Main issue is the beginning of rehabilitation process, though its further development will be considered as well. Above all, allowance of individual rehabilitation targets, employer requirements and convenience are provided as important factors.