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Arrows Home | Resources | Case Studies                                                   Printer-friendly format

Case studies of real people living, working and completing routine tasks are effective ways to show how accommodations and assistive technology can be used to help individuals and employers deal with functional limitations and barriers to employment and productivity.

Portable Document Format (PDF) documents are available for direct download for many of the case studies by clicking on the desired PDF icon. If a more accessible document format is needed contact us and files will be sent directly to you.

Check out more information with suggestions on how to use case studies to develop problem solving skills and design training that generates high participant involvement and opportunities for in-depth discussions.

  Part I Part II Trainer's Guide
  • Accounting Clerk: Employee with cervical and carpal tunnel condition uses AT & ergonomic solutions to address problems.

Accounting Clerk Case Study Part 1 (PDF)

 Accounting Clerk Case Study Part 2 (PDF) Accounting Clerk Case Study Trainer's Guide (PDF)
     
  • Chef: Work station accommodation possibilities and training resources lead to employment for in person with paraplegia.

Chef Case Study Part 1 (PDF)

 Chef Case Study Part 2 (PDF) Chef Case Study Trainer's Guide (PDF)
     
  • Construction Management: Severe spinal cord injury forces construction worker to take alternative path back to employment.

Construction Mgmt. Case Study Part 1 (PDF Format)

 Construction Mgmt Case Study (PDF Format) Construction Mgmt Case Study Trainer's Guide (PDF Format)
     
  • Customer Service Representative: Employer discovers capabilities of individuals with blindness and visual loss.

Customer Service Representative Part I

 Customer Service Representative Part 2 Customer Service Representative Trainers Guide
     
  • Employment Program Representative: Computer and reading accommodations enable worker with visual impairment to work.
Employment Program Representative Part 1 Employment Program Representative Part 2 Employment Program Representative Trainers Guide
     
  • Fast Food Worker:  Communication problems are overcome with use of an augmentative communication device.
     
  • Kindergarten Teacher: Explore how progressive hearing loss was addressed in classroom situation.
Kindergarten Teacher Part 1 Kindergarten Teacher Part 2 Kindergarten Teacher Trainers Guide
     
  • Student: Learning disabilities that limit academic performance are addressed by use of AT and simple accommodations.
 Student with LD Part 1 Student with LD Part 2 Student with LD Part Trainers Guide
     
  • Movie Ticket Taker: Young man finds first job through aid of AT to address manual dexterity limitations due to Cerebral Palsy.
 Movie Ticket Taker Part 1 Movie Ticket Taker Part 2 Movie Ticket Taker Trainers Guide
     
  • Musician: Individual with limited hand function and communication problems uses AT and computer technology.
Musician Case Study Part 1 (PDF) Musician Case Study Part 2 (PDF) Musician Case Study Trainer's Guide (PDF)
     
  • Picture Frame Restorer: Specially designed work station is used to address pain and limited mobility limitations.
 Picture Frame Restorer Part 1 Picture Frame Restorer Part 2 Picture Frame Restorer Trainers Guide
     
  • Soup Spice Mixer: Work aids for individual with cognitive deficits and quadraplegia increase productivity.
 Soup Spice Mixer Case Study Part 1 (PDF) Soup Spice Mixer Case Study Part 2 (PDF) Soup Spice Mixer Case Study Trainer's Guide (PDF)
     
  • Telecommuter: Work station and home accommodations enable person with MS to continue employment.
 Telecommuter Case Study Part 1 Telecommuter Case Study Part 2 Telecommuter Case Study Trainers Guide
     
  • TV-VCR Repair: Small business owner with paraplegia uses rehabilitation engineering help to increase productivity.
 TV-VCR Repair Case Study Part 1 (PDF) TV-VCR Repair Case Study Part 2 (PDF) TV-VCR Repair Case Study Trainer's Guide
     

These case studies were developed by the Tech Connections project through a grant to United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). 



More about Case Study-Based Training

Assistive technology (AT) and worksite accommodation strategies can be effective tools when used to enhance employment outcomes in vocational rehabilitation.  Tech Connections incorporates case study information of actual uses of AT and accommodations as part of many of the information and training resources that have been developed.

Complete Case Studies are presented in a three-part format that includes

Parts I and II are designed to be used with individual or group presentations and training sessions to show how the accommodation process functions and to help in developing problem solving skills.  This format adapts well with sessions ranging from 30-45 minutes to half-day workshops.  Case studies have been particularly effective with adult learners.  Instructors and training staff can use these as flexible tools that can be adapted to specific learning objectives by including follow-up discussion questions in the Trainer's Guide.

Each case study summarizes actual employment needs and describes how these needs were addressed through use of assistive technology and jobsite accommodation services. 

  • Part I of the three-part format presents Background Information on the individual and the accommodation needed, along with pertinent employer and related information.  This is usually given to groups first to provide enough information to initiate discussion and begin their own accommodation and problem solving process.
  • Part II, Activities and Outcomes, summarizes the actual accommodation process, including activities that took place and accommodations that were implemented.  The two-part format makes it possible to first present only the situation and background to facilitate discussion and group problem solving. This approach adapts well to small group exercises and simulated “AT Team” activities.
  • Trainer's Guide, Suggested Training Activities, provides optional follow-up discussion points and suggestions to focus on specific training objectives.  In some cases there are many optional activities outlined which allow the presenter to select the training exercises most relevant for the audience.  Exploring local and state service delivery or funding issues, as well as other variables which might influence options, works well in this section.

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This page was last updated Wednesday, August 18, 2010

 

  
 
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