Online resources supporting workers with chronic episodic disabilities: an environmental scan
International Journal of Workplace Health Management
ISSN: 1753-8351
Article publication date: 18 December 2020
Issue publication date: 16 March 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research was to conduct an environmental scan describing publicly available resources focussed on working with an episodic disability and providing information and advice about communication and accommodation to support working people living with episodic disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted an environmental scan of English language, freely available, online resources relevant to episodic disabilities in the workplace. The authors used Google™ to conduct structured keyword searches. Resources were reviewed and data extracted about episodic health condition(s) addressed, intended audience(s), resource format and content about health, legal rights, workplace issues, and accommodation and communication needs.
Findings
Searches yielded 5,300 links to websites which was supplemented by 101 links identified by partners. Screening for relevance found 210 resources for which data were extracted. Of them, 158 addressed specific episodic disabilities or episodic disabilities generally. Most resources provided useful information addressing communication and accommodation of episodic disability. However, information specific to the episodic nature of disability was not consistently available. The resources generally lacked interactivity which could potentially limit users in applying the information to their personal circumstances.
Practical implications
The findings suggest there are good resources to help workers and managers/supervisors navigate accommodations for episodic disabilities. Research should aim to improve the interactivity of information to personalize resources to worker and workplace needs, as well as formally evaluate resources and their outcomes. Practitioners may wish to recommend resources that specifically address workplace challenges for their clients.
Originality/value
The authors believe this is one of few studies that examined publicly available resources relevant to working with episodic disabilities.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Joanna Liu for help with the searches, as well as Morgane Le Pouesard, Momtaz Begum, Hiba Ahmed, and Angela Pickard who helped with data extraction.Funding: Funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) joint Healthy and Productive Work Initiative (partnership development grant).
Citation
Van Eerd, D., Bowring, J., Jetha, A., Breslin, F.C. and Gignac, M.A.M. (2021), "Online resources supporting workers with chronic episodic disabilities: an environmental scan", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 129-148. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-08-2020-0137
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited