Injured Workers: Articles

Abilities Magazine Archive

Aftershock
Support for Survivors of Electrical Burns

Meet an electrical burn survivor who lives with significant disabilities, and finds it hardest to deal with the attitudes of others – those who won’t or can’t believe in the extent of his invisible ...
56 Fall, 2003

Improved Access for Injured Workers

A new link to Injured Workers’ Resources makes it even easier for users of the EnableLink website to find information on events, articles, organizations, support groups and chats that are ...
44 Fall, 2000

Be a Smart Shopper!
Choosing Back-to-Work Services

By Louise Desmarais

You’ve decided that you want to return to work. Now what? You probably know that a few refresher courses are in order, and if you’ve been out of the work force for a while, you may need ...
44 Fall, 2000

Safe Return To Work : An Integrated Approach
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors must Lead the Process

By Judy Marshall

A rehabilitation professional must have excellent counseling skills when working in vocational rehabilitation. Counselors must understand individual needs as well as family goals, the physical and ...
40 Fall, 1999

Breaking Down Barriers
Programs Assist Workplace Integration

By Andy Scott

The Government of Canada proclaimed a new and stronger Employment Equity Act in 1996 to guarantee protection and equal opportunities for qualified but disadvantaged groups, including persons with ...
37 Winter, 1998

Employment Services
A Return-to-Work Program that Works

By Lorris Herenda

Ontario March of Dimes’ Employment Services program is just one of many programs the organization has developed since its inception to assist people with physical disabilities in achieving ...
36 Fall, 1998

Re-entering the Work Force
VRS Program Provides Assistance and Security

The Canada Pension Plan has established a Vocational Rehabilitation Program, delivered across the country through Human Resources Development Canada offices. This program offers selected Canada ...
36 Fall, 1998

Working Solutions
CPA’s Work Force Survey

By Cliff Bridges

How many national disability organizations can claim they have always focused on return-to-work solutions? The Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) can. Since CPA was formed more than 50 years ...
33 Winter, 1997

Is It Going to Work?
That’s the Question for Injured Workers in Ontario

In the last issue of ABILITIES, we featured an interview with Glen Wright, the newly appointed chairperson of the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Ontario. By Mr. Wright’s own open ...
32 Fall, 1997

Back on Track
Returning to Work after a Brain Injury

By Mary McLagan

Frank Muraca s life changed dramatically in February, 1988, when he was involved in a car accident. The significant brain injury he sustained caused serious impairments in many areas of his life. As ...
32 Fall, 1997

The Wright Stuff?
Will the New Chair of the Ontario Workers’ Compensation Board Have the Stuff?

By Patrick Watson

If you believe in the sincerity of Glen Wright, you might describe him as a visionary. If you are more cynical -- as many injured workers and employers in Ontario are - you might withhold judgment, ...
31 Summer, 1997

Costs of Work Injuries
Guest Editorial Column

By Patrick Watson

Most people injured in the workplace are in their productive years. Often they are the newly educated; they may have young families; they may be providers for older families. They are professionals, ...
31 Summer, 1997

Problem-Solving for Return-To-Work Success
A Unique Ergonomic Approach from an Occupational Therapy Perspective

By Darlene Toal-Sullivan

Ergonomics is the science of designing the physical environments and task to fit the worker. Ergonomic principles are applied in the workplace to assist employees in returning to work after ...
29 Winter, 1996

Employers Fired Up Over Their Duty to Accommodate

By Rebecca Murdock

Employers often think they can fire anyone whose disability interferes with job performance. This is unfair and illegal. When an employee has difficulty performing certain tasks because of a ...
26 Spring, 1996

Shafted
Injured Workers Fight Back for Their Rights

By Bonita Clark

George Widomski gave Dofasco 25 years of faithful service. In return, the giant steel company gave George a "no-fault" termination in August, 1994. The company claims it had no other ...
23 Summer, 1995

Modified Work Programs
Designed with Abilities in Mind

More and more companies are putting the accent on abilities, not disabilities. Whether a sick or injured employee needs a short period of time to ease back into a full work schedule at his or her ...
22 Spring, 1995