Injuries or illness can strike anyone, anytime. In the past, we trusted that workers who became temporarily or permanently disabled would be looked after by the "system". We thought that sending them home to recover or supplying them with a disability pension was enough. Little thought was given to the full impact of a disabling injury or illness - the social, psychological and economic reality faced by the disabled worker and the potential costs to workers, employers and society.
In a changing global marketplace, employers have become increasingly aware of the importance of people as a resource, the overall cost of losing trained and experienced staff, and the increasing cost of disability when consensus-based, workplace disability management programs are not available.
Organizations are adapting their programs so that they encourage job retention. Service providers are basing their practices on research that indicates those who have incurred injuries or illnesses can benefit physically, mentally and socially if they engage in work activity that is safe and does not aggravate their condition. Unions are supporting return to work processes that enhance the likelihood that their members will retain their jobs and wages while making a contribution in the workplace through the use of disability management strategies such as job modification and the implementation of assistive devices.
As a result of demonstrated measurable success in lowering the human, social and financial costs of disability, disability management concepts have been embraced by organizations in many countries around the world.
Accordingly, there is a growing need for knowledgeable individuals to assist workplaces develop, implement and administer effective disability management / return to work programs. Research conducted by Dr. Norman Hursh of Boston University found that trained practitioners are essential to many of the most successful workplace programs, achieving notable improvements in return to work rates and decreasing disability-related costs.
Occupational Standards developed in 1999 identified two levels of occupation in the field of Disability Management, i.e. Certified Return to Work Coordinators and Certified Disability Management Professionals and detailed nine domain areas of essential knowledge, skills and competencies in the field as well as an Ethical Standards of Practice.
In 2000, a Code of Practice for Disability Management was developed which describes the supportive framework for a workplace program and also identifies that the program should be administered by a competent person, i.e. meeting the Occupational Standards. The Code of Practice for Disability Management developed in Canada was submitted to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva who have since developed the first international Code of practice: Managing disability in the workplace.
In 1995, an arduous DACUM (Design a Curriculum) was undertaken, a workshop that drew on the collective knowledge and experience of business and labour leaders, rehabilitation and insurance professionals, educators, disability rights advocates and disability management practitioners and professionals.
The curriculum has been continually updated and upgraded and has also been changed in format to consist of 25 modules which may be offered as an entire program or as independent workshop topics. The program has been reformatted for online delivery and is available through the Internet.
The program emphasizes the skills and knowledge required to return to work individuals who have incurred injuries or illnesses and provides an introduction to the competencies that are required to administer disability management programs.
The eligibility qualifications to write the professional certification examinations for Certified Disability Management Professionals and Certified Return to Work Coordinators include an educational component of "Diploma or certificate program in DM". Completion of this 25 module program within three years and achieving a Certificate of Completion meets this educational component requirement.
The Disability Management Practitioner Program consists of 25 modules covering the essential skills and competencies required by those working in the field of Disability Management and Return to Work. Each module requires ten to twelve hours of study. Modules focus on such topics as return to work plans, job analysis, workplace modifications, assessment, assistive devices, organizational skills, marketing, information technology, labour relations, rehabilitation, disability-related legislation, program development, and evaluation.
Most instructors continue to practice as well as teach in the area of disability management / return to work coordination. Since the first offering of the program in the fall of 1995, participants have gone on to establish successful programs in countless worksites, giving practical effect to the overall program mission of reducing the human, social and financial costs of disability to the workplace.
The Disability Management Practitioner Program is available online and is available for delivery in-house.
This program is now being offered through the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (www.pcu-whs.ca), a statutory, not for profit University founded and supported by NIDMAR. Contact information can be found below.
For more detailed information regarding curriculum content, cost, dates of next offering, please refer to the website at: http://www.pcu-whs.ca/programs/continuing-professional-education/dmpc-program/
Or contact Student Services at: education@pcu-whs.ca
Or contact us at:
The National Institute of Disability Management and Research
4755 Cherry Creek Road
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 0A7 Canada
Telephone: (778) 421-0821
Fax: (778) 421-0823
