Employment outcomes of adults with cerebral palsy in Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the employment status and determinants of employability for adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in Taiwan. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Participants were recruited from five main branches of the Cerebral Palsy Association. Two hundred and seventy-nine persons over the age of 18 (M = 26.4, SD = 7.7) with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy participated in the current study. Results: Sixty-four of the 279 participants were employed with an employment rate of 22.9%. Of the 64 employed individuals, 67% worked in an integrated setting, 14% in supported employment, and 19% in sheltered employment. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that having an older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.01–1.10), a diagnosis of ataxia (OR = 3.44; 95% CI: 1.29–9.13), a higher educational attainment (OR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.09–3.18), a higher mobility function in the community (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.04–2.10), and a higher level of independence in daily activities (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.23–2.09) were associated with an increased odds for employment. Conclusions: The employment rate for adults with CP in Taiwan is low. Age, CP diagnosis, educational attainment, and functional performance are important determinants related to employment outcomes for this group. Further research to validate effective medical and vocational rehabilitation interventions to improve the employability of people with CP in Taiwan is warranted.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• With advances in medical care, the number of adults with CP continues to grow but information about their employment outcomes is often lacking.

• A low employment rate for adults with CP in Taiwan is found in the current study.

• Age, CP diagnosis, educational attainment, mobility in the community, and level of independence in daily activities are important determinants related to employment outcomes for this group.

Keywords::

• Vocational rehabilitation
• employment outcome
• cerebral palsy

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Cerebral Palsy Association of R.O.C., the Kaohsiung City Cerebral Palsy Association, the Tainan City Cerebral Palsy Association, the Chiayi City Cerebral Palsy Association and the Hsinchu City Cerebral Palsy Association for supporting this study.

Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.