• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.54
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• pp.123-147
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• 2003

It is well known that one of essential features of psychiatric disability is vocational impairment. Since the year of 2000 when psychiatric disability was declared as one of disability categories in Korea, vocational rehabilitation programs have been actively administered. At this point, it is compelling that vocational evaluation serves as a means of screening out the most promising candidates, identifying their vocational deficits and strengths, designing the individualized vocational interventions, and evaluating vocational outcomes. Still, vocational evaluation for people with psychiatric disabilities has been more problematic than for any other group with disabilities. The authors argued that vocational evaluation for people with psychiatric disabilities should be based on a certain vocational rehabilitation model to address those problems. It is because there exists an indispensible relationship between the vocational rehabilitation model and vocational evaluation. In other words, the main purposes, measurement time points, and focus of vocational evaluation may depend on which of vocational rehabilitation models to make a choice of. In addition, the vocational rehab model(i.e., vocational readiness model or graduation model) underlying traditional vocational evaluation does not seem to work for people with psychiatric disabilities. Authors argued that accelerating model fits for psychiathric characteristics which are often unpredictable and turbulent. As a preliminary step of developing vocational functioning instrument incorporating the demand characteristics of the accelerating model, post-hoc analyses were done on data from a vocational functioning measure and the results were critically examined from viewpoints of accelerating model. For these purposes, discussions were made about a) general functioning of vocational evaluation, (b) relation between vocational rehabilitation model and vocational evaluation, (c) the reasons why the accelerating model is more appropriate to the characterstics of psychiatric clients than the graduation model, (d) post-hoc analytic results reviewed from viewpoints of accelerating model-based vocational evaluation This study is significant in that it attempted model-based, model-specific vocational evaluation as a preliminary step for developing vocational functioning assessment instruments ill future.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.55-75
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• 2021

This article examines the accessibility and usability of library websites to students with visual and physical disabilities in public universities in Kenya. The study used survey research design and adopted a mixed methods approach. Data were gathered using survey questionnaire, focus group discussions, structured interviews, and observation. The study population consisted of six public universities that had a longstanding tradition of enrolling students with disabilities. Census was used to obtain a study sample comprising of students with visual disabilities (86), students with physical disabilities (91), University Librarians (6), Personnel from Disability Mainstreaming departments (6), Systems Librarians (6) and Library Personnel who provided information services to students with disabilities (133). The Social Model of Disability and IFLA Access to Libraries for Persons with Disabilities checklist were used as conceptual and theoretical framework in the study. Study results revealed that all the libraries had library websites. However, the websites did not have disability services page or information specific to individuals with disabilities. Also a section of students with disabilities lacked awareness of the existence of library websites and e-resources available through them. Additionally, the website design posed various access challenges. The study concluded that people with disabilities were excluded from access and use of library websites in public universities. The authors recommended that library websites must contain disability services page containing information specific to persons with disabilities. Moreover, libraries should evaluate their websites to ensure compliance with W3C requirements for web content accessibility. Additionally, libraries should develop disability policy to provide guidance on provision of information services to persons with disabilities.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.115-127
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• 2019

This study aims to address the needs and effectiveness of performance measurement system for convenient facilities support project for people with disabilities performed by local government. In addition, it is also to develop performance measurement index based on logic model. The researchers conducted literature review and focus group interview to develop the performance measurement index. Then, through the project managers and related professionals, the researchers tested validity of the measurement. The final measurement consisted of 38 questionnaires in 8 sectors. With this performance measurement system, we expect to establish rationalization of overall disability services. Also the theoretical framework and approach of performance measurement will be applicable to diverse public social service sectors.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship nursing personal and workplace system factors (work disability) and work ability index scores in Ontario, Canada. Methods: A total of 111 registered nurses were randomly selected from the total number of registered nurses on staff in the labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum areas of four northeastern Ontario hospitals. Using a stratified random design approach, 51 participants were randomly selected in four northeastern Ontario cities. Results: A total of 51 (45.9% response rate) online questionnaires were returned and another 60 (54.1% response rate) were completed using the paper format. The obstetric workforce in northeastern Ontario was predominately female (94.6%) with a mean age of 41.9 (standard deviation = 10.2). In the personal systems model, three variables: marital status (p = 0.025), respondent ethnicity (p = 0.026), and mean number of patients per shift (p = 0.049) were significantly contributed to the variance in work ability scores. In the workplace system model, job and career satisfaction (p = 0.026) had a positive influence on work ability scores, while work absenteeism (p = 0.023) demonstrated an inverse relationship with work ability scores. In the combined model, all the predictors were significantly related to work ability scores. Conclusion: Work ability is closely related to job and career satisfaction, and perceived control at work among obstetric nursing. In order to improve work ability, nurses need to work in environments that support them and allow them to be engaged in the decision-making processes.

• 한국사회복지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.365-382
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to explore the concepts of health among people with mobility disabilities in order to develop a new holistic model of health and to identify implications for social work practice. A qualitative study based on face-to-face interviews with people with mobility disabilities was conducted. Nine consumers and nine social workers with mobility disabilities participated in the study. Social constructionism, heuristic paradigm, empowerment paradigm, and strength perspectives were used to form conceptual foundations to guide the study. Study participants' holistic descriptions of the concept of health encompassed five domains: biological/physical, mental/emotional, financial, relationships with others, and spiritual. Participants described health as harmony among these five domains. Harmony indicates that all five domains contribute to the concept of health, and that each domain is related to the others. Participants also viewed disability and health as an interconnected whole, not separate concept. The conceptual model developed in this study expands on the existing concepts of health by considering multiple factors at the personal and environmental levels, as well as interactions among the factors and between the levels. The personal level has five domains: biological/physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, financial, and relationships with others. The environmental level has also five domains: relationship with others, financial, social programs, social attitudes toward peoplewith disabilities, and physical environment. All factors under the personal and environmental levels also affect each other. The holistic concept of health for people with disabilities is not solely a part of the person, but rather is a function of the interaction between the person and their environment. The study demonstrated that people with disabilities have strength and resiliency, and health is an attainable goal for them, particularly when environmental and cultural barriers are addressed. The focus of social work practice should be the removal of those barriers encountered by their consumers with disabilities, as well as, the enhancement of internal factors that facilitate well-being.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study examined the differences between male and female workers by investigating the various factors that affected the workers' abilities to return to work according to the International Classification of Functioning standards. METHODS: We analyzed the personal factor, environmental factor, work performance and participation factor related to ICF according to worker's gender. For this purpose data from the third Worker's Compensation Insurance panel survey conducted by the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service were analyzed. In order to verify the research model, we used frequency analysis, cross analysis to compare the differences between male and female workers according to personal, environmental, work performance, and participation factors and hierarchical regression analysis to identify significant factors affecting job performance. RESULTS: The results, indicate that the level of education, license status, working period, socioeconomic status and employment type of female workers were lower than those of male workers. Factors that have the greatest influence on job performance are grade of disability, status of disability, economic activity status, and instrumental activities of daily living (p<.05). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to provide socially stable employment support and social policy support without discrimination to allow disabled female workers to return to work and maintain their jobs and to study factors influencing job performance further.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.23-41
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• 2022

This case research investigates on how hearing aids, which is one of disability aids, is becoming a smart device, focusing on the case of Starkey Hearing Technologies(Starkey Inc.). Starkey, founded in 1967, has been a leader in innovating forms and functions of hearing aids, and has recently introduced the world's first hearing aid implemented with AI and biological sensors. In this study, history of disability aids, hearing aids(especially Starkey Inc.'s), smart wearable devices and smart earphones are compared. It has been found that recently, there has been a breakdown of boundaries between hearing aids and smart wearable devices in terms of their functions, since entertainment and life assistant functions are added to hearing aids. Based on this trend, the development model of disability aids and smart wearable devices are derived, and according social changes are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.45
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• pp.315-340
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• 2001

The purpose of study is to examine the effects of family support on the life satisfaction of elderly with disabilities and provide a ground necessary to improve it. Research was conducted on 167 elderly with hearing, visual and physical disabilities aged over 60 who were living in Seoul and Pusan. Telephone survey, sign language and interview, in accordance with types of disability, were adopted to collect data effectively. That is telephone survey was used for elderly with visual impairment whereas face-to-face interview for physical impairment and sign language for hearing impairment by volunteers. Collected data were analyzed, using hierarchical regression analysis. This study utilized two different models, direct effect model and buffering effect of social support in order to examine the effects of familial support on the life satisfaction of elderly with disabilities. Research findings suggest that the level of life satisfaction appeared to be low in general among elderly with disabilities and emotional family support exerted a positive effect on life satisfaction. In addition, it is empirically supported that emotional family support buffered the negative effect of economic limitations on life satisfaction. In other words, the effects of economic limitations as stress factor decreased with the increase in the frequency of emotional support, however, the level of life satisfaction decreased at a mercy of the stress factor of economic limitations with the decrease in the frequency of emotional support. Finally, this paper attempted to provide some alternatives to effectively improve life satisfaction among elderly with disabilities based on empirical findings.

• 재활복지
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-24
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to analyze that change of social environment, disability perspective and rehabilitation paradigm of Korea rehabilitation for the past 60 years and to propose future direction for rehabilitation of Korea. The major results of this study are summarized as follow : First of all, there is a disparity of 30 years between persons with disabilities and persons without disabilities for the perspective of social inclusion in Korea. Second, social environment is one of the most important effective variable on rehabilitation for persons with disabilities in Korea, it has been rapidly changed from agrarian society, going through industrial society and intellectual society, to convergence society. Third, disability perspective has been changing to universalist model with change of the social environment and also paradigm of the rehabilitation has been changing from the target of treat, education and training to the member of society that can empower and support persons with disabilities. Forth, rehabilitation policies have been changing from the welfare policies to the empowerment policies in company with change of paradigm. On the basis of the results, the following suggestions can be made : First, universalist model have to be permeated in the society at large. Second, rehabilitation paradigm should change to emphasize the holistic and universalist perspective. Third, the main purpose of rehabilitation policies are equality, mean and target of the policies are to emphasize universal services.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.99-129
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• 2008

This study analyzed the resilience process of persons with disabilities using the grounded theory approach. To conduct this study, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 8 persons with disabilities. In data analysis, this study identified 393 concepts on the resilience process of persons with disabilities and the concepts were categorized into 45 sub-categories and 18 primary categories. In the paradigm model on the resilience process of persons with disabilities, it was identified that casual conditions included 'unawareness of disability before being disability', 'extreme pain', 'repressing psychological pain', and the contingent conditions were 'dis-empowerment by staying in home', 'isolation by himself with difficulty in accepting the disability', 'experience of frustration from social barriers with prejudice against persons with disabilities'. Also, it was identified that the resilience process could be dependent on the type and the degree of the disability, the gender, and the length of time being disability. In spite of the casual and contingent conditions, the central way in which persons with disabilities could acquire resilience was identified as 'enhancement of the power of positive thinking'. The control conditions which accelerate or retard central phenomenon were 'the awareness of not being alone through family, friends, neighborhood and the social system' externally and 'finding purpose in life through religion and help from other persons with disabilities', internally. The action/interactional sequences enhanced the efforts, self searching and active acting, and as a result, persons with disabilities could find comfort in life, participate in society and change the perspective of disability in society. The core categories of resilience process in persons with disabilities were a belief in affirmation and choice of life by initiative. In the process analysis, stages developed in the following: 'pain', 'strangeness', 'reflection', 'daily life'. This stage was more continuous and causal than discrete and complete. In this process, the types of resilience of persons with disabilities are divided into 'existence reflection', 'course development', 'implicit endeavor', and 'active execution'. This study showed the details of the paradigm models, the process and types with an in-depth understanding of the resilience process of persons with disabilities using grounded theory as well as theory construction and policy and clinical involvement on the study of persons with disabilities.