Predictors of Competitive Employment of Adults With Deaf-Blindness Following Vocational Rehabilitation

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-159
Author(s):  
Ian Shadrick ◽  
Carol Etlen

The purpose of this study was to examine employment outcomes for adult vocational rehabilitation clients with deaf-blindness. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between case service provisions, and competitive employment outcomes for individuals with deaf-blindness. The sample was obtained from Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) data and included 135 cases of individuals with deaf-blindness identified as their primary or secondary disability and whose cases were closed during the fiscal year 2016. The independent variables consisted of vocational rehabilitation case service-related variables. The dependent variable was attainment of competitive employment. Results indicated that three vocational rehabilitation case service variables were associated with client outcomes for those with deaf-blindness seeking and obtaining competitive employment. Implications for improving employment outcomes for clients with deaf-blindness include supporting postsecondary educational attainment opportunities, providing job placement services, and providing job search-related services. Implications for services provided by vocational rehabilitation agencies are discussed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele C. McDonnall ◽  
Jennifer Cmar

The purpose of this study was to investigate employment outcomes for vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumers with deaf-blindness, a population that has received no attention in the literature. The sample was obtained from Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) data and included 1,382 consumers with deaf-blindness identified as their primary or secondary disability whose cases were closed during fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015. Independent variables consisted of consumer personal characteristics and VR service-related variables. Two measures of employment outcomes were used: obtainment of competitive employment and a composite measure of job quality. Overall, the results indicate that several VR service-related factors are associated with whether deaf-blind consumers obtain competitive employment, but consumers’ personal characteristics are much more important in determining job quality. Implications for improving employment outcomes for consumers who are deaf-blind include providing job-related services, supporting educational advancement, and providing counseling and guidance. Results also support the importance of accounting for employment status at application in RSA-911 analyses and the efficacy of service provision by separate agencies for the blind.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Y. Alverson ◽  
Scott H. Yamamoto

Research has consistently documented poor employment outcomes for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services provide substantial federal and state commitments to individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. To date, little research has examined the relationship between VR services and employment outcomes of clients with ASD. The purpose of this descriptive study was to better understand employment outcomes of individuals with ASD. Data spanning 10 years from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 911 database were analyzed to identify characteristics of VR clients with ASD and the services they received. The percent of individuals who achieved competitive employment averaged 37% across the 10 years. Those who achieved an employment outcome participated in twice as many services as those who did not achieve an employment outcome.


2005 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 303-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele E. Capella-McDonnall

In this study, four variables were found to have a significant association with competitive employment outcomes for blind and visually impaired consumers of vocational rehabilitation services. These variables were the receipt of education as a rehabilitation service that resulted in an educational certificate or degree, having worked since the onset of the disability, reason for applying to vocational rehabilitation related to obtaining a job, and the relationship between the counselor and the consumer being rated as high quality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 518-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Lund ◽  
Jennifer L. Cmar

Introduction:The purpose of this article was to conduct a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies on factors related to employment in consumers who are visually impaired using Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) Case Service Report data.Methods:We used database, hand, and ancestral search strategies to systematically identify peer-reviewed studies published between 1990 and August 2018 where researchers used RSA-911 data to address the target question. All included articles were coded by two reviewers for study and participant characteristics, quality indicators, and outcomes.Results:Nine articles consisting of 14 analyses were included. Twelve analyses concerned employment outcomes; two concerned earnings. Researchers in most studies used large samples of 3,000 or more consumers and used multivariable analyses, most commonly multilevel logistic regression. Factors that consistently predicted lower employment across studies included presence of a secondary disability and legal blindness; higher education level consistently predicted higher employment, as did earnings and self-support at vocational rehabilitation application. Few analyses included state- or agency-level variables or specific vocational rehabilitation services.Discussion:These results indicate that certain groups of vocational rehabilitation consumers with visual impairments may be at greater risk of unsuccessful closures; researchers should examine specific strategies that may improve outcomes in these groups. These results also highlight the importance of education in securing employment among people with visual impairments. Researchers should examine state- and agency-level variables that may affect outcomes as well as the effects of specific services on outcomes. Additionally, researchers should analyze factors that may affect employment quality as well as employment outcomes.Implications for practitioners:Practitioners who are working with visually impaired people who do not have a postsecondary degree should encourage and assist their clients in obtaining one; practitioners may also wish to provide more targeted support for consumers from potentially high-risk subpopulations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Gina Oswald

The purpose of this study was to descriptively explore the service provision of transition-aged youth in a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency and to determine if predictor variables could be identified for successful employment outcomes through logistic regression. At closure, more than half the participants were closed successfully in competitive employment. The majority were working in service, clerical and sales, or professional/technical/ managerial positions after receiving VR services focused on understanding the consumer's needs and creating appropriate plans, preparing for a job, obtaining a job and then retaining employment. Implications for transition and rehabilitation practice include the necessity o[specific transition-related training for VR counselors.


2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Schaller ◽  
Nancy K. Yang ◽  
Audrey Trainor

Differences in rates of case closure, case service cost, hours worked per week, and weekly wage between White males and females with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder were examined using the Rehabilitation Service Administration national data base of 2002. Females had statistically significantly higher case service costs than males. Using logistic regression, the customer demographic variable related to successful competitive employment for males was age. Case service variables related to successful competitive employment for males were vocational rehabilitation counseling, job search assistance, and job placement. The customer case service variable related to successful competitive employment for females was job search assistance. Implications for rehabilitation professionals and for future research on vocational rehabilitation outcomes with consumers with ADHD are provided.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1655-1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Yi Chiu ◽  
Fong Chan ◽  
Malachy Bishop ◽  
Elizabeth da Silva Cardoso ◽  
John O’Neill

Background: Obtaining and maintaining suitable employment can be a significant challenge for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The objective of this article is to identify what vocational rehabilitation (VR) services helped MS clients obtain and maintain employment, after controlling for the effect of demographic covariates and disability-related government benefits. Methods: We retrieved data from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 911 database in the fiscal year (FY) 2009, and used VR services as predictors to predict employment outcomes of people with MS by hierarchical logistic regression. Results: A total of 924 out of 1920 MS clients (48.1%) were successfully employed after receiving VR services. Logistic regression analysis results indicated that cash benefits (OR =0.51, p < 0.001) and public medical benefits (OR =0.76, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with employment outcomes, whereas counseling and guidance (OR = 1.68, p < 0.001), job placement assistance (OR = 2.43, p < 0.001), on-the-job supports (OR = 1.62, p < 0.01), maintenance services (OR = 1.59, p < 0.01), and assistive technology services (OR =2.09, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of positive employment outcomes. Conclusion: VR services were found to be associated with employment status. MS patients experiencing problems obtaining or maintaining employment should be encouraged to pursue services from state VR agencies.


2022 ◽  
pp. 003435522110675
Author(s):  
Charles Edmund Degeneffe ◽  
Mark Tucker ◽  
Meredith Ross ◽  
Emre Umucu

The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a preliminary understanding of the influence of state-level contextual factors predictive of employment outcomes for State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation System (State VR) participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were 5,213 individuals with TBI with Individualized Plans for Employment closed during Federal Fiscal Year 2016. A four-step hierarchical logistic regression model (5.6% explained variance) containing five demographic, three state-level economic, six state TBI service climate, and nine State VR service variable expenditures correctly classified 57.0% of cases as attaining or not attaining an employment outcome at closure. Significant predictors associated with an employment closure were (a) education, veteran status, and presence of a secondary area of disability impairment; (b) state-level per-capita income; (c) State VR specialized acquired brain injury (ABI)/TBI service and state TBI Implementation Partnership grant funding; and (d) State VR service expenditures on diagnosis and treatment, occupational or vocational training, on-the-job training, job readiness training, transportation, maintenance support, and benefits counseling. The practice, policy, and research implications of these findings are presented.


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