Disparities in job placement outcomes among deaf, late-deafened, and hard-of-hearing consumers
| Authors: | Moore, C. L., Harley, D. A., & Gamble, D. |
|---|---|
| Year Published | 2001 |
| Publication | Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin |
| Volume | 44 |
| Number | 3 |
| Pages | 144-150 |
| Publisher | Hammill Institute on Disabilities |
| Background |
There is an emphasis placed on vocational rehabilitation programs to deliver high-quality employment outcomes. Competitive jobs allow VR consumers to acquire transferable skills as well as to earn higher wages. |
| Purpose |
The purpose of this study is to provide state VR agencies a national benchmark to compare rates at which consumers who are deaf, late-deafened, and hard-of-hearing achieve competitive jobs and to compare rates at which these target groups are provided with specific types of VR services. |
| Setting |
This study included individuals who are deaf, late deafened and hard of hearing served by multiple vocational rehabilitation agencies in various settings. |
| Sample |
RSA-911 data on all VR consumers who were identified as deaf, late-deafened, and hard-of-hearing during fiscal year 1997 and closed successfully in status 26. (15,248 individuals) |
| Data Collection |
RSA-911 national data tape. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses. |
| Control |
There was no control or comparison condition. |
| Findings |
A significantly greater proportion of VR consumers who are deaf achieve competitive jobs than of consumers who are late-deafened and hard-of-hearing. Consumers who were deaf were provided with significantly more college/university training, business and vocational training, on-the-job training and job placement than consumers were were late-deafened and hard-of-hearing. |
| Conclusions |
Consumers who were late-deafened and hard-of-hearing were not provided with effective training and with job placement services at the same rate as consumers who were deaf. Some VR counselors may have assumed that consumers who are late-deafened and hard-of-hearing were less likely to benefit from such services. VR counselors may want to inform consumers of the availability of such services. |
| URL | http://rcb.sagepub.com/content/44/3/144.short |
| Disabilities | Hearing impairments |
| Populations | Male & Female |
| Outcomes | Employment acquisition |
| NIDILRR Funded | Yes |
| Research Design | Observational |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |