Youth with disabilities: Are vocational rehabilitation services improving employment outcomes?

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Awsumb ◽  
Fabricio E. Balcazar ◽  
Joanna M. Keel
2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa A. Alsaman ◽  
Chun-Lung Lee

The purpose of this study is twofold: (a) to examine the relationship between individual factors and rehabilitation outcomes of transition youth with disabilities receiving state vocational rehabilitation services and (b) to determine the contextual effects of state unemployment rate on the employment outcomes of transition youth and its potential interactions with personal and service factors. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling was used to analyze Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) data for fiscal year 2013. Results show that state unemployment rates were found to moderate the relationships between some demographic and service variables and successful competitive employment. These results indicate the importance of contextual variables, such as state unemployment rates, and their impact on the predictive strength of specific personal and service variables on employment outcomes of youth with disabilities. Implications for vocational rehabilitation services and policy, and future research are discussed.


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.


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.


2021 ◽  
pp. JARC-D-20-00017
Author(s):  
Kayli Seagraves

The unemployment rate of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is staggeringly low. The low number of those with ASD in the competitive workforce can be connected to the complex and sometimes severe manifestations of the disorder. However, there are many supports and accommodations that individuals with ASD can use in order to alleviate the stress of finding and maintaining competitive employment. Natural supports can be provided through supportive supervisors, informed coworkers, and on-the-job trainings. Vocational rehabilitation services are provided in order to assess, prepare, and support individuals with ASD through their employment. Lastly, job modifications are used to alleviate any stressors that an employee with ASD may experience on the job. In this literature it was found that natural supports, vocational rehabilitation services, and job modifications were effective in improving the employment outcomes for individuals with ASD. Rehabilitation counselors can use the information found in this literature review to inform employers of successful and effective job supports for employees with ASD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 1000-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
I-Chun Huang ◽  
Jerome J Holzbauer ◽  
Eun-Jeong Lee ◽  
Julie Chronister ◽  
Fong Chan ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Olayemi A. Akinola ◽  
Christian T. Doabler

BACKGROUND: Transition-age youth (TAY) with depressive disorders struggle with finding and retaining gainful employment. Thousands of these youth enroll in the state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program each year to improve their employment outcomes. However, there is a dearth of information on the factors that facilitate or impede their success in the program. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to shed light on the demographic characteristics and vocational rehabilitation services and their association with successful employment and earnings of TAY with depressive disorders in the state-federal VR program. METHOD: The sample comprised of 4,772 participants drawn from the Rehabilitation Services Administration dataset. Regression analyses were employed to examine the effects of demographic characteristics and vocational rehabilitation services on successful employment and earnings. RESULTS: Results indicated that employment outcomes varied by demographic characteristics such as race/ethnicity, severity of disability and level of education. Also, certain VR services had significant positive or negative relationships with successful employment and earnings. CONCLUSIONS: Highlighting the promise of the state-federal programs for supporting TAY with depressive disorders to successfully participate in the labor market, findings from this study expand upon the literature by suggesting practices and services for optimizing employment potentials of this population.


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