It determines a person's worth and place in society, and influences one's psychological identity and sense of well-being. The relationship of people to work is interactive and complex. Individual, social, cultural and economic factors affect the worker and the work environment and reinforce the complexity of work in relation to other aspects of life.
Disability complicates the interaction of people and work.
Professionals working to assist injured or disabled workers return to competitive employment require specific knowledge in the medical aspects of occupational injury, as well as the techniques designed to expedite an efficient and effective return to work. Disability management utilizes both medical and occupational information to assist injured or disabled workers to attain their maximum level of functioning and ability to return to work. The goal of the Diploma Program in Disability Management is to provide professionals in the disability management field with knowledge and skills necessary to standardize and improve the service they provide to their clients. Individuals trained in disability management will function as Disability Managers, Case Managers, Return to Work Facilitators and Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants. Specific courses focus on understanding occupational injury, occupational assessment, return to work strategies and psycho-social issues in disability management.