A prospective study to examine the influence of secondary health conditions on vocational rehabilitation client employment outcomes

Authors: 
Johnstone, B., Price, T., Bounds, T., Schoop, L. H.,Schootman, M., & Schumate, D.
Year Published: 
2011
Publication: 
Disability and Health Journal
Volume: 
4
Pages: 
28-38
Publisher: 
Elsevier
Background: 

Previous research has demonstrated positive financial and health outcomes through worksite health promotion. However, with the employment rate of people with disabilities significantly lower than their non-disabled peers, many do not have the same opportunity for health care coverage. Additionally, people with disabilities tend to experience secondary health conditions such as depression, pain, and anxiety, at a much higher rate. One mechanism to support people with disabilities is the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) system.

Purpose: 

Using a longitudinal design, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between health factors and employment outcomes in a vocational rehabilitation setting.

Setting: 

Participants from a mix of rural and urban areas completed a baseline survey instrument including informed consent, during a VR visit. Follow-up surveys were delivered through first class mail to the participants' homes.

Sample: 

Participants were between 21 and 65 years of age, had a physical or mobility primary disability, had been accepted to work with state VR services, and had not worked with state VR for more than 6 months. Participants were predominately white (79.8%), men (47.7%) and women, with some college education (52.1%).

Data Collection: 

Data collection occurred at 6, 12, and 18 months following the initial VR visit. Researchers followed up with phone calls and additional mail to improve data integrity. Examples of measures used include the Secondary Conditions Surveillance Instrument, and questions from the BRFSS Quality of Life and Caregiving Module.

Intervention: 

No intervention was tested.

Control: 

There was no control group.

Findings: 

Two regression models were presented. The first model predicted employment at 18 months based on independent variables at baseline.The second model predicted employment at 18 months based on independent variables at 18 months. Both models indicated a decrease in the secondary conditions score would improve the probability of employment by approximately 1 percent. Participants' probability of being employed was approximately 16% higher when receiving counseling and guidance through state VR services.

Conclusions: 

Due to attrition and insufficient data to attain the necessary power, findings were not significant. However, trends indicate that VR staff could improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities through additional counseling or guidance services.

URL: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21168805
Disabilities: 
Populations: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

Social capital, employment and labor force participation among persons with disabilities

Authors: 
Burke, R. V., Allen, K. D., Howard, M. R., Downey, D., Matz, M. G., & Bowen, S. L.
Year Published: 
2015
Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Volume: 
43
Pages: 
17-31
Publisher: 
IOS Press
Background: 

The author begins by giving examples of human capital, social capital, and economic capital. Previously, disability policy research has focused very little on social capital and its relationship to labor force participation. Measuring social capital can include measurements on social reciprocity, levels of trust, and participation in community events. In the United States, people with disabilities have typically been shown to have lower social capital than their non-disabled counterparts.

Purpose: 

The author provides three hypothesis. First, that people with disabilities have lower levels of social capital than those without a disability. Second, people with disabilities in the labor force have higher levels of social capital than those not in the labor force with similar characteristics. Third, people with disabilities in the labor force who are employed will have higher levels of social capital than those individuals with a disability who are unemployed.

Setting: 

The Current Population Survey (CPS) collects employment statistics in the United States on a monthly basis for adults aged 18 and older.

Sample: 

Data from the 2010 CPS supplement on demographic data and labor force participation, restricted to those ages 25-61, resulted in an unweighted N of 67,009 (weighted N of 151,902,123). Gender of participants was relatively even with 49.31% male and 50.69% female. The sample was predominately White (80.00%) non-Hispanic (84.68%). Only 7.95% of participants reported a disability. The majority (73.85%) of participants were employed.

Data Collection: 

Data was collected on a monthly basis from the 2010 supplement of the CPS survey.

Intervention: 

There was no intervention.

Control: 

There was no control group.

Findings: 

The first two hypothesis were confirmed. Specifically, individuals with a disability had lower social capital than those without a disability. Additionally, people with disabilities who are part of the labor force were considered to have higher social capital than those who were not in the labor force. The third hypothesis, that people with disabilities who were in the labor force and employed would have greater levels of social capital than those who were not, was not supported by the data.

Conclusions: 

These data show that there is a divide between individuals with a disability and those without in regards to social capital. There was less of a distinction between employed people with disabilities and those who were not participating in the labor force in levels of social capital. To address these discrepancies, policymakers, advocates, and service providers should support innovative approaches to increasing social capital among those with a disability.

URL: 
https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabilitation/jvr751
Disabilities: 
Outcomes: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

Variations in social capital among vocational rehabilitation applicants

Authors: 
da Silva, C. E., Romero, M. G., Chan, F., Dutta, A., & Rahimi, M.
Year Published: 
2017
Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Volume: 
46
Pages: 
187-194
Publisher: 
IOS Press
Background: 

The authors examine the intricacies of individual and community level social capital. Specifically, the relationship between social capital and state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies interaction with individuals with disabilities. Previous research reveals that people with disabilities will typically have lower levels of social capital than their non-disabled counterparts. However, this relationship has not been shown to be causational.

Purpose: 

The goal of this work is to examine how social capital varies by employment status for VR applicants. It is also hypothesized that levels of social capital would vary by employment status for VR applicants when controlling for disability and individual characteristics.

Setting: 

In 2014 and 2015 Mathematica Policy Research collected survey data from applicants to the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.

Sample: 

2,804 surveys were completed. After cleaning data with missing social capital information, 2639 cases remained. The sample was relatively split between male (49.9%) and female (50.1%) participants. Half (50.5%) identified as non-Hispanic white, with 37.5% identifying as non-Hispanic black, with age ranging from 25-34 (22.6%) to as high as 55-65 (18.7%) years old. Less than 57% of applicants reported having access to someone who could help with financial concerns.

Data Collection: 

Data collection was done across three state VR agencies. Social capital was measured by looking at four questions including if applicants had anyone that they could rely on for help: 1. finding a job 2. borrowing money to pay an urgent bill, 3. with transportation to get to work urgently, and 4. help with a serious personal crisis.

Intervention: 

No intervention was presented.

Control: 

There was no control or comparison condition.

Findings: 

Both hypothesis were confirmed. Additionally, disability type, employment status, and perceived health had an effect on social capital. Overall, younger, healthier, employed, and less severely disabled individuals were shown to have higher rates of social capital than their counterparts. This remained true across all four social capital questions.

Conclusions: 

This work confirms that there is a strong link between employment status and social capital. As social capital has shown to be lower for individuals with severe disabilities, it would be beneficial for state VR agencies to pay close attention to supporting this community. Similarly, those individuals with a disability onset age of 25 or older could benefit greatly from additional support.

URL: 
https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabilitation/jvr854
Disabilities: 
Outcomes: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model

Authors: 
Luecking, R. G. & Fabian, E. S.
Year Published: 
2015
Publication: 
Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals
Volume: 
38
Number: 
1
Pages: 
4-13
Publisher: 
Sage
Background: 

This Research focuses on the implementation of a model for delivering seamless transition services based on the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth(NCWD/Y) Guideposts. This research shares how this model has been applied in 11 of the 24 school districts in Maryland for special education populations.

Purpose: 

The purpose of this research is to provide preliminary data on the model‚ early impact on students transitioning to careers.

Setting: 

School districts in Maryland.

Sample: 

This study looked at eleven county-wide school districts in Maryland.

Data Collection: 

This study is a descriptive analysis.

Control: 

This study had no control.

Findings: 

This study provides early indication that the model has potential to be applied across disability categories as well as demographically diverse school systems. It also it has the potential to serve as a practice framework that alleviates barriers known to impede federal transition policy.

Conclusions: 

The model presented in this research potentially offers a defined pathway to employment, postsecondary education, and careers for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from public secondary education.

URL: 
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdhhs/Lueckings_Seamless_Model_511755_7.pdf
Disabilities: 
Populations: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

Exploring Differences in the Content of Job Interviews between Youth with and without a Physical Disability

Authors: 
Lucca, A. M., Henry, A. D., Banks, S., Simon, L., & Page, S.
Year Published: 
2015
Publication: 
PLOS ONE
Volume: 
10
Number: 
3
Publisher: 
PLOS ONE
Background: 

This study looked at the similarities and differences among youth with disabilities on a mock job interview compared to their typically developing peers. Understanding the content of job interviews may highlight areas where individuals with disabilities perform differently than those with typical development and how these areas may present barriers to employment.

Purpose: 

The purpose of this research is to inform employment readiness programs and educate employers about the potential challenges associated with this recruitment method for those with disabilities.

Setting: 

This study is part of a larger, multi-method, cross-sectional observational study on employment readiness among youth with disabilities.

Sample: 

Employers and employment counselors (n = 19), and youth (n = 31) were interviewed for this study.

Data Collection: 

This study recruited youth through the use of advertisements at a pediatric rehabilitation hospital and community centers. Information packages were also sent to youth who were thought to meet the inclusion criteria.

Control: 

There was no control for this study.

Findings: 

The study found several similarities and differences between youth with disabilities and typically developing youth. For youth with disabilities, differences in job interview answers included: (1) disclosing their condition; (2) giving fewer examples related to customer service and teamwork skills; (3) experiencing greater challenges in providing feedback to team members and responding to scenario-based problem solving questions; and (4) drawing on examples from past work, volunteer and extracurricular activities.

Conclusions: 

Clinicians and educators should help youth recognize their marketable skills and how to highlight those skills in an interview. Employers should recognize that the experiences of youth with disabilities may be different than typically developing youth.

URL: 
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122084&type=printable
Disabilities: 
Populations: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

The Diversity Partners Project: Multi-systemic knowledge translation and business engagement strategies to improve employment of people with disabilities

Authors: 
Catalano,D., Pereira, A., P., Wu, M., Y., Ho, H., & Chan, F.
Year Published: 
2016
Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Volume: 
46
Number: 
3
Pages: 
273-285
Publisher: 
IOS Press
Background: 

The Diversity Partners Project was created to develop, test, and launch a new learning intervention to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Key arbiters were identified as employment service professionals (ESPs) who are skilled in using labor market data, building relationships with employers, community based disability service professionals, and staffing firm staff who specialize in locating human resources. This project was developed in response to policy changes like Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title I and Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act.

Purpose: 

The purpose of this project was to test a learning intervention that would improve the relationships between ESPs and employers, and illustrate a systematic knowledge translation approach to the project. These research questions were used as a framework for development efforts:

1. How does an external agency create ongoing engagement in local ESP organizations? 2. What competencies will lead to ESPs being successful? 3. What situations do ESPs face when building relationships?

Setting: 

An online "Toolbox" was created through a knowledge translation process and included beta testing and feedback.

Sample: 

Target audiences included national ESPs and employers.

Data Collection: 

Online surveys and interviews were conducted.

Intervention: 

The intervention consisted of online modules on a website that contained information pertinent to organizational leadership and frontline personnel. Content modules included learning objectives, a diagnostic test, plain language learning content, case scenarios and more.

Control: 

There was no control condition.

Findings: 

Specific evaluation activities have yet to be developed.

Conclusions: 

Knowledge translation is difficult to achieve in varied contexts with segmented audiences and siloed systems. It is still too early to determine any concrete conclusions about the effectiveness of the Diversity Partners project.

URL: 
https://content.iospress.com/download/journal-of-vocational-rehabilitation/jvr862?id=journal-of-vocational-rehabilitation%2Fjvr862
Disabilities: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

Barriers to Employment for Transition-age Youth

Authors: 
Nuechterlein, K. H., Subotnik, K. L., Turner, L. R.,Ventura, J., Becker, D. R., & Drake, R. E.
Year Published: 
2016
Publication: 
Administration and Policy in Mental Health
Volume: 
44
Number: 
3
Pages: 
354-358
Publisher: 
Springer
Background: 

Youth with developmental and psychiatric disabilities face substantial vocational challenges, even after receiving employment services. This study examined employment barriers for 280 transition-age youth with disabilities enrolled in supported employment in eight community rehabilitation centers.

Purpose: 

Youth with disabilities encounter many barriers to employment. Awareness of these barriers may help employment programs anticipate challenges and develop strategies.

Setting: 

Eight Programs in the evaluation of the Illinois Balancing Incentive Program supported employment project.

Sample: 

The sample of the current study consisted of 280 youth with developmental and psychiatric disabilities from 8 of the 10 programs in the evaluation of the Illinois Incentive Program.

Data Collection: 

Responses from eight Individual Placement Support programs (four serving youth with developmental disabilities and four serving youth with psychiatric disabilities) were aggregated.

Control: 

There was no control for this study.

Findings: 

Common barriers for youth with developmental disabilities were lack of work experience, transportation problems, cognitive problems, disengagement from the IPS program, and lack of social skills. Common barriers for youth with psychiatric disabilities were transportation problems, failure to engage in the IPS program, poor control of psychiatric symptoms, and lack or work experience.

Conclusions: 

Though both groups benefited from Individual Placement Support programs, addressing common barriers is imperative. Transportation problems, lack of work experience, engagement issues, and lack of family support were barriers present in both groups.

URL: 
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10488-016-0773-y
Disabilities: 
Populations: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

A vocational rehabilitation intervention for young adults with physical disabilities: participants' perception of beneficial attributes

Authors: 
Bai, M. I., Sattoe, J. N. T., Schaardenburgh van, N. R., Floothuis, M. C. S. G., Roebroeck, M. E., & Miedema, H. S.
Year Published: 
2017
Publication: 
Child: Care, Health and Development
Volume: 
43
Number: 
1
Pages: 
114-125
Publisher: 
Wiley Online Library
Background: 

This study explores the barriers and facilitators that young adults with physical disabilities experienced while finding and maintaining employment after an intervention program that supports work participation.

Purpose: 

To ascertain the participant-perceived beneficial attributes of the program and participants' recommendations for additional components.

Setting: 

Semi-structured interviews with former intervention participants, which were recorded and transcribed.

Sample: 

Young adults with disabilities (n= 19) that formerly participated in the study.

Data Collection: 

Data was extracted from the clients' charts and logged in a digital data extraction form. The following background characteristics were reviewed from the charts: age, gender, medical diagnosis, educational level and type of education.

Intervention: 

At Work' is a multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation intervention for young people with physical disabilities. It aims to provide support for finding and maintaining regular employment after finishing post-secondary education.

Control: 

There was no control for this study.

Findings: 

Physical functions and capacities, supervisor's attitude, self-esteem and self-efficacy and openness and assertiveness were experienced barriers and facilitators for finding and maintaining employment. Improvement of self-promoting skills and disclosure skills through job interview-training, increased self-esteem or self-efficacy through peer-support, a suitable job through job placement, improvement of work ability through arrangement of adjusted work conditions and change of supervisor's attitude through education provided to the supervisor were perceived as beneficial attributes of the program.

Conclusions: 

Findings suggest that programs supporting work participation should provide real-world experiential opportunities that allow young adults with physical disabilities to develop new insights, self-efficacy and life skills.

URL: 
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cch.12407/full
Disabilities: 
Populations: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes

Trends in the employment of disabled people in Britain

Authors: 
Biegel, D. E., Beimers, D., Stevenson, L. D., Ronis, R., & Boyle, P.
Year Published: 
2011
Publication: 
Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex
Volume: 
3
Number: 
1
Pages: 
1-55
Publisher: 
Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex
Background: 

The number of people claiming incapacity benefits increased rapidly to the mid 1990s, and has hardly reduced since then. This paper uses survey data to plot trends over time in the prevalence of disability, and in the employment rates of disabled people, in a way which is independent of, but comparable with, benefit statistics. The research is mainly based on General Household Survey data across the period 1974 to 2005. Much of the analysis is based on a loose definition of disability, but this is effectively complemented by more detailed data on health conditions available in some GHS years.

Purpose: 

Employment trends in the UK over three decades raise important questions about the relationship between disability and employment. The main aim of this paper is to use population survey data to unpack the trends in disability and employment, rather than focus on the published benefit statistics. With regard to intervention, one area was examined was the effect of changes in Social Security Disability policies on employment trends.

Setting: 

The General Household Survey (GHS) is a continuous multipurpose survey of large random samples of households across Great Britain.1 The survey has been conducted, using a new sample each time, every year since 1973, with the exception of 1997 and 1999. The latest year available when the data were downloaded for this analysis related to 2005. In practice the 1973 survey did not have full data on economic activities, and the 1977 and 1978 surveys did not carry the standard question on limiting long-standing illness. These three annual surveys were therefore dropped from the analysis. The database therefore provides 28 annual observations, over a 32 year period.

Sample: 

The analysis in this paper is based on adults aged 20 to 59.

Data Collection: 

Each of the 28 annual GHSs included in the analysis covers between 10,000 and 16,000 men and women within this age range, with an overall total of 360,673 respondents. Where results are shown for a series of years combined, each annual survey has been given a weight based on the number of adults in the population in the years in question, controlling for age and sex.

Intervention: 

The only intervention assessed in this study was change in Social Security Disability policies.

Control: 

There was no control or comparison condition.

Findings: 

The administrative statistics measure the combined outcome of three sets of processes: the prevalence of disability; the effect of disability on employment rates; the number of non-working disabled people who are eligible for, and claim, earnings replacement benefits on grounds of "incapacity". In practice the prevalence estimate (based on the LLI definition) rose gradually between the mid-1970s and the mid-1990s, before falling gradually over the following ten years. It is possible to interpret this as a steady rise followed by an abrupt reversal; or alternatively as a slowly evolving change in trend.
The extent of employment disadvantage faced by disabled people ‚the employment penalty ‚followed a different pattern. It rose very slowly at first, increased rapidly between 1987 and 2000, and then steadied (Figure I). There were no observable and definitive effects of policy changes and employment.

Conclusions: 

This analysis of the trends over three decades has tended to undermine some of the hypotheses frequently put forward to explain the experience of disabled people:
- there is little sign that most of the changes observed over the period have mainly been associated with minor sets of impairments;
- there is little sign that disabled people are especially sensitive to the ups and downs of the business cycle;
- although there was a substantial shift in the ratio of disability-disadvantage (as estimated by the survey) to incapacity-related benefit payments (reported by the DWP) up to about 1990, there is little sign that this ratio was influenced by major changes in the rules governing eligibility for benefits.

URL: 
https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/files/iser_working_papers/2011-03.pdf
Disabilities: 
Populations: 
NIDILRR Funded: 
Research Design: 
Peer Reviewed: 
Yes