The development of a hierarchical coding scheme and database of job accommodation for disabled workers

The current research developed a hierarchical coding scheme to be utilized by vocational counselors and employers to determine feasible job accommodation solutions for disabled workers. The coding scheme divided job accommodation techniques into the following six major categories: (1) job assignment, (2) job analysis and vocational assessment, (3) work instruction and training, (4) environmental modifications (access to facilities, physical and social environment), (5) equipment modifications, and (6) computer-related modifications. Each category was subdivided into several subcategories and items to designate the specific tools and techniques for job accommodation. Based on a hierarchical coding scheme, a database containing job accommodation case examples of qualified employers who had received financial support from the Taiwan Employment and Vocational Training Administration (EVTA) was constructed. The process of turning qualitative information into a quantitative coding system as a basis for constructing a database system can be generalized to databases created for other applications. Relevance to industry The current research developed a hierarchical coding scheme to be utilized by vocational counselors and employers to determine feasible job accommodation solutions for disabled workers. The process of turning qualitative information into a quantitative coding system as a basis for constructing a database system can be generalized to databases created for other applications. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.