History of occupational integration

Since the foundation of the Swiss Paraplegic Centre, the Institute for Vocational Guidance has supported inpatients with spinal cord injury during the medical rehabilitation. The main objective was to look at whether and how people living with spinal cord injury could return to their previous job, and what support options might be helpful during this process. For people who could not return to their original job, post-inpatient, outpatient professional assessment and integration measures were developed in close cooperation with the Invalidity Insurance.

On 20 November 2014, the social and occupational integration departments of the Swiss Paraplegic Centre merged. The Institute for Vocational Guidance was then renamed “ParaWork – Occupational Integration”. Since then, the outpatient range of Invalidity Insurance integration measures has been developed based on needs and requirements, and in the last ten years it has been constantly expanded in order to help everyone during occupational integration. Once the measures are complete, ParaWork supports people living with spinal cord injury throughout their lives. This continued support is possible thanks to the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation.

The following stories provide an insight into the occupational integration of former patients.