ENVISION ME AS A WORKER: EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE VOCATIONAL READINESS OF PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES

Readiness for rehabilitation is defined in this study as the ¿cognitive precursor of behavioral change.¿ It may be seen as the movement from weighing up goal incentives and expectancies to the implementation of a chosen goal. In vocational rehabilitation, readiness is typically assessed superficially and reported dichotomously as either ready or not ready. The motivation for assessment of readiness is often to justify acceptance decisions and to predict vocational success. A focus on understanding readiness for vocational change and its influences is a relatively new, unexplored, and complex area.Key findings from this study were, firstly, that individuals with psychiatric disabilities want to work and are driven by an inner desire, secondly, that while the role of worker is an important possible self , other social roles are as important, and, thirdly, that the impact of one¿s illness is a major determinant of readiness for vocational change.