The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders is currently on the rise nationwide. Approximately one fifth of all individuals with autism and related disorders function within the normal range of intelligence, and may, in fact, possess superior intelligence in certain areas. Despite this, many individuals with high functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome are not competitively employed. The challenges that such individuals experience in securing and maintaining employment are often just as severe as those for individuals with more limited intellectual functioning. Characteristics of high functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome are described, and recommendations for how rehabilitation counsellors and other professionals can best support the employment pursuits of individuals with the disorders are provided.

Interwork Limited is an open employment service that aims to maximise participation of individuals in the open labour market. As part of its services Interwork offers a Gazebo Café Program. The aim of this research project was to evaluate the impact of the participation in the Gazebo Café Program (a work preparation and skills training centre), from the perspective of key stakeholders. The rationale for this evaluation was to provide the management team of Interwork with information to inform decision-making for future directions of the Café. The project was undertaken as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy with Honours. In-depth interviews were conducted with three consumers, as well as two focus groups with four employment coordinators, and two referring agency staff members respectively. Analysis of the data revealed seven themes. The results suggested that participation in the Gazebo Café Program was a positive experience. Consumers felt they developed functional skills. Employment coordinators and referring agency staff emphasised the impact of the development of social and interpersonal skills. Opportunities to experience meaningful occupation while performing the work role, all within a natural and supportive community environment were valued impacts. Issues were raised relating to finding the right composition of consumers with and without disabilities, the affordability of the services for external users, and the current unavailability of accredited training. While the findings expand upon existing literature, they describe impacts of participation in a transition program for consumers that appear to not have been described elsewhere. Information is provided to other service providers in regards to the value and impact of such a program. Implications for open employment services are discussed.

As the proportion of the population over age 65 in many countries continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important for health care professionals to have well-grounded knowledge of ageing processes and positive attitudes towards their older clients. In New Zealand the third most limiting chronic health condition for older adults is hearing impairment. In this study, audiologists and hearing therapists in New Zealand were asked to complete measures of knowledge and attitudes towards older adults as well as a vignette measuring treatment options. While it was hypothesised that, due to audiologists' higher overall levels of academic qualifications gained, audiologists would have more knowledge and therefore better attitudes towards older adults, there was no difference between the groups' knowledge levels. Further analyses suggested that attitudes held were in part a function of gender and possibly education, with less educated females having more positive attitudes. While all participants had positive attitudes these did not always result in the most appropriate treatment. It was concluded that a lack of specific gerontological knowledge rather than negative attitudes resulted in less appropriate treatment recommendations for older adults.

Workers' compensation and disability management in the hazardous occupations of mining and construction are ongoing concerns for employers, employees, insurers and governments. Rising insurance costs, options of self-insurance models, highly competitive tendering, legislative rigidities, and escalating costs of compensation, have contributed to industry practices for injured workers that are driven by cost containment strategies rather than benchmarked disability management processes. In this article a critical review of legislation, industry practices, and published reports is undertaken with a view to oudining the adequacy of current and planned services and practices to meet the needs of injured workers in both sectors. Attention is also given to industrial practices that contra-indicate quality disability management processes. The authors detail a number of industrial and organisational operating environments, which have arisen from legislative frameworks, financial constraints, and outdated disability management practices. They comment on the more recendy introduced legislation and offer comment on its potential to drive benchmark changes in the building and coalmining sectors. Finally, suggestions are provided for more contemporary approaches to the insurance framework and return to work facilitation for injured workers.

The present study explored the nature and extent of social anxiety and avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, and pain-related anxiety and avoidance in 46 clinic-referred chronic pain patients, compared with a community-based group reporting pain (n = 66) and healthy controls (n = 57). The chronic pain patients consistently reported higher levels of social distress, social avoidance, fear of negative evaluation, anxiety sensitivity, and pain-related anxiety and avoidance as compared with controls. Group differences in social distress, social avoidance, fear of negative evaluation, pain-related cognitive anxiety, and fear of cognitive and emotional dyscontrol, remained stable when pain severity was controlled for. Anxiety sensitivity was strongly related to both social and pain-related fears. The source of these social fears is examined in relation to the elevated pain-related fear and anxiety sensitivity also exhibited by chronic pain patients, and implications for treatment and rehabilitation are discussed.