Influence of least restrictive environment and community based
training on integrated employment outcomes for transitioning students with
severe disabilities
Affiliations: Regional Center of Orange County, CA, USA | California State University, Fullerton, CA,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Jan S. Weiner, Department of
Special Education, California State University, Fullerton, PO Box 6868,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6868, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Least restrictive environment and community-based training that
includes on the job instruction, were correlated with integrated employment
outcomes for 104 transitioning students with severe disabilities. The
participants of this three-year study included students with severe
disabilities in the Orange County, California, public school system that exited
school at 21 or 22 years of age. The variables that predicted successful
integrated employment at the time of transition (a paid job with non-disabled
co-workers at graduation) were: duration of community-based training (CBT) that
included on-the-job training, and age appropriate physical integration with
non-disabled peers. Mental ability as measured by intelligence quotient (I.Q.),
behavior problems, physical disability and participant demographics did not
correlate with integrated employment outcome. Transitioning students in
integrated age appropriate school settings, receiving CBT and on-the-job
training demonstrated a 69.2% integrated employment rate post-graduation.
Keywords: community based training, vocational training, transition, severe disabilities, natural contexts, employment, least restrictive environment
