What primary role does the Medical Model emphasize in vocational rehabilitation?

The Medical Model in vocational rehabilitation primarily emphasizes identifying and defining functional limitations and job restrictions. This perspective focuses on the individual's medical condition and how it affects their capacity to perform specific tasks related to employment. By assessing the functional limitations, vocational rehabilitation professionals can tailor interventions and support that facilitate a person’s return to work or their ability to participate in the workforce effectively.

Understanding these functional limitations is crucial, as it helps in creating a personalized rehabilitation plan that addresses the specific needs of the individual. This may involve recommending adaptive skills training, modifications in the workplace, or alternative job placements that align with one's capabilities.

The other options, while relevant to broader discussions in vocational rehabilitation, do not align with the core emphasis of the Medical Model. Promoting workplace diversity and facilitating mentorship programs are more aligned with social and organizational models, while encouraging mental health awareness touches on psychological factors but does not center on the medical assessment of function and capability that the Medical Model prioritizes.