Medical Aspects of Disability in Vocational Evaluation Flashcards

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as low back pain affect vocational evaluation PRIMARILY through limitations in:

Answer: Lifting, carrying, bending, prolonged sitting or standing, and positional tolerance

MSDs impose functional limitations on the postural and physical demands of work, directly affecting the DOT physical demand categories used in job matching.

A client with epilepsy is referred for vocational evaluation. The evaluator's FIRST consideration regarding job safety should be:

Answer: Whether jobs being considered involve driving, working at heights, or operating dangerous machinery where a seizure could cause injury

Safety restrictions for epilepsy focus on identifying and avoiding jobs where an unexpected seizure could endanger the client or others.

Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized in vocational evaluation by deficits in:

Answer: Both intellectual functioning (IQ below approximately 70) and adaptive behavior beginning before age 18

ID involves concurrent limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior—both domains must be impaired, with onset during the developmental period.

For a client with multiple sclerosis (MS), the evaluator should be ESPECIALLY aware of:

Answer: Fatigue, heat sensitivity, and the relapsing-remitting nature of the condition that affects day-to-day work capacity

MS is characterized by fatigue, heat intolerance, and symptom variability, which means a client's capacity may fluctuate significantly and accommodations must address these patterns.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in vocational evaluation most commonly requires accommodation for:

Answer: Sensory sensitivities, social communication differences, and preference for routine and structured tasks

Individuals with ASD often excel in structured, predictable work environments and may need sensory and communication accommodations to perform at their best.

A Functional Limitations Profile (FLP) in a vocational evaluation report should:

Answer: Translate medical and assessment findings into specific work-related functional limitations and residual capacities

The FLP bridges medical information and vocational planning by describing what the client can and cannot do in work-relevant terms.