Remote Workplace Assessments

Project Team

Project Director: Jon Sanford, MArch

Summary / Outcome Goals

Despite the proven benefits of accommodations, it is frequently difficult for individuals to receive a thorough workplace accommodation assessment due, in part, to limited availability of rehabilitation professionals across the country, particularly in rural areas, to perform the assessments. This project will explore the use of teleconferencing technology to expand the geographical coverage for assessment services. The primary goal of this project is to develop a remote protocol that can be used to perform assessments.

Progress to Date

A review of over 60 assessment tools was undertaken to: 1) document the workplace assessments that exist to provide a basis for understanding assessments currently being used in practice; 2) explore the various assessments to determine components that will produce a comprehensive assessment of person-environment fit in the workplace; and 3) propose assessment components to be used in evaluating on-site and remote assessment protocols.
An assessment framework has been developed based on common components and components that are believed to be significant. This framework identifies the critical assessment activities and types of information by the P-E fit factors of person, place, and performance.
An evaluation model has been developed that specifies the process and flow of how information is interpreted and used.
A review of literature related to assessment tools and the assessment process has been completed and will be incorporated into publications and presentations. Literature from several disciplines including vocational rehabilitation, ergonomics, occupational therapy, and workers' compensation has been included to date.
Work has begun on determining the specific measures that will be included in the remote assessment protocol. Once finished, this information will be reviewed by a panel of experts to refine the instrument.

Key Findings

There are few commonly used assessment tools for workplace assessment and these tools are not suitable for use as a remote protocol.
There are 3 critical assessment activities (investigation, interpretation, and intervention) and 10 different types of information that occur in these activities (activity goals, mediating factors, characteristics of risk factors, P-E transactions, attributions, performance requirements, prescriptive requirements, alternative solutions, trial results, and best-fit solutions). See article to be published in Work.

Work in Progress

RERC-TR researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are in the process of categorizing the areas of the draft assessment instrument that are acceptable for use of 3D models.
The draft assessment instrument is being analyzed to determine which tasks/activities are not applicable for 3D models (such as measurement of force, size, etc)
Photos of a variety of work spaces, according to the 7 categories detailed on the draft instrument, are being used to build an integrated 3D model of the workplace
Specific areas of the draft assessment instrument are being examined to determine an appropriate method of measurement (for example, color contrast, texture, etc)
Draft assessment instrument is being refined for greater ease of use

Selected Publications / Presentations

Sanford, J., Swartz, T., Brienza, D., Lim, S., and Porach, E. (2010). Assessing the Workplace Remotely: Is it Possible?, in International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence. Newcastle UK.

Bruce, C. and Sanford, J. A. (February 2008). From a Distance: Remote Workplace Accommodation Assessments. International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence, St. Petersburg, FL.

Bruce, C. and J. A. Sanford (2006). "Development of an evidence-based conceptual framework for workplace assessment." WORK 27(4): 381-390.

Sanford, J. and Bruce, C. (2006, June 6). The Physical Environment as an Independent Measure: A Framework for Understanding the Role of Environmental Attributes in Activity and Performance Outcomes. Paper presented at the 12th Annual North American Collaborating Center on ICF, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Bruce, C and Sanford, J. (2006). Assessing Assessments: Selecting Appropriate Home Assessments for Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care, 8, 2: 77.

Bruce, C. and Sanford, J. (2006, April 30). Evidence-Based Assessment for Workplace Accommodations. Paper presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC.

Bruce, C. and Sanford, J. (2006, March 24). Workplace Accommodations: A Remote Possibility? CSUN Technology and Persons with Disabilities 2006 Conference.
   C. Bruce's CSUN 2006 Slides 1-10
   C. Bruce's CSUN 2006 Slides 11-20
   C. Bruce's CSUN 2006 Slides 21-28

Bruce, C. and Sanford, J. (2006, February 18). Foundations of Assessment. National Council of Rehabilitation Educators Conference, San Diego, CA.

Bruce, C. and Sanford, J. (2006, February 3). Assessing the Assessments. International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence, St. Petersburg, FL.

Sanford, J. A., Jones, M. L., Daviou, P., Grogg, K., & Butterfield, T. (2004). Using Telerehabilitation to identify home modification needs. Assistive Technology, 16(1), 43-53.

Bruce, C. and Sanford, J. (2005, September 16). "Development of a Remote Workplace Assessment." Paper presented at the Workplace Accommodations RERC State of the Science Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Sanford, J. (2004, June 2). "Development and Testing of a Universal Design Assessment Protocol." Paper presented at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Environmental Design Research Assoc., Albuquerque, NM.

Sanford, J. A., & Hoenig, H. (2004, April 15). "Virtual Therapy: Using Televideo to Promote Aging in Place." Paper presented at the American Society on Aging Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.

This is a publication of the RERC on Workplace Accommodations, which is supported by Grant H133E070026 of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Education.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Workplace Accommodations
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access · Georgia Institute of Technology
490 10th Street NW · Atlanta, GA 30318
Telephone: 800-726-9119 (Voice/TTY) · Fax: 404-894-9320 · Email: workrerc@coa.gatech.edu