Work Readiness Profile (WRP)

Author(s): Helga A.H. Rowe

Publisher: ACER, 1995

Purpose: To assess employment ability for people with disabilities

Candidates: 17+ years of age

Administration: 15-20 minutes - Individual and group

Scoring: By hand

Features:

• Australian norms
• Focuses on abilities, supports and empowerment

Content:

The WRP is a criterion-referenced tool designed to assist in the initial assessment of individuals with disabilities. It seeks to identify what people can do, rather than what they cannot do; recognises that even substantial limitations coexist with strengths; and assumes that, with appropriate supports, adaptive skills and behaviours can improve. The measure is suitable for the assessment of all major disability groups, including people with multiple disabilities. Ratings are totally comparable with ratings for people in the general population and show the level of performance or freedom from handicap.

The measure can be completed by the client, by someone who knows the client very well, or by ratings obtained during interviews with the client. Clients are rated on 12 factors:

• health
• hearing
• vision
• travel
• movement
• fine motor skills
• gross motor skills and strength
• work adjustment
• social and interpersonal skills
• abilities and skills
• communication effectiveness
• literacy and numeracy

The WRP will be useful for employers, service providers, and teachers planning action to meet the workplace and training needs of those leaving schools and adults with disabilities. It may be used as an initial diagnostic tool or in research studying the functioning or changes in functioning of disabled and nondisabled older adolescents and adults.