Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation - Volume 34, issue 3

Authors: Ottomanelli, Lisa | Sippel, Jennifer L. | Cipher, Daisha J. | Goetz, Lance L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate predictors of competitive employment after a spinal cord injury (SCI) among veterans. This study retrospectively examined return to work after SCI, types of jobs held, and variables that were associated with return to work. The present sample included 238 veterans receiving healthcare at one of several Veteran Affairs Medical Centers. Data were obtained through subject interviews and chart extraction. Subjects were also administered the Veterans RAND 36-Item Health Survey (VR-36), Quick Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology – Self Report (QIDS-SR), and Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique (CHART). Results revealed that 34.5% of …our study sample was employed at some point after SCI. Employed subjects had significantly higher scores on two of the CHART subscales (Mobility and Occupation) than unemployed subjects, but there were no significant differences among subjects on the QIDS or the VR-36. Receipt of social security benefits was a significant disincentive for employment, but receipt of Veterans disability benefits was not. Education, gender, ethnicity, level and severity of injury were not significant predictors of employment status after SCI, after controlling for demographic variables. Clinical implications of these findings may be that vocational rehabilitation interventions that focus on rapid re-entry to the workforce using existing skill sets may maximize post-SCI employment. Show more

Keywords: Employment, disabilities, spinal cord injuries, veterans, benefits

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0542

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 141-150, 2011

Authors: Rogers, Nikki L. | Embree, Jared A. | Masoudi, Navid | Huber, Mary | Ford, Jo Ann | Moore, Dennis

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Unsuccessful case closure contributes not only to great financial loss for the federal/state vocational rehabilitation (VR) system but also to consumer disappointment. There is a lack of research on factors related to unsuccessful closure. In this mixed design study, VR consumers from eight states were randomly selected following the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services (LSVRS) weighting schemes. Consumers (n = 111) and matched counselors (n = 54) were asked to identify factors they thought contributed to the unsuccessful closure. Consumer most commonly reported reasons were disability severity (48%), no jobs were available (37%), lack of additional services (33%), …and missed appointments (30%). Counselors cited missed appointments (61%), followed by consumers' not being ready for work and disability severity (both 52%), and service refusal (41%). Contrary to our hypotheses, transportation, potential benefit loss, and substance use disorders were not among the most frequent factors cited in unsuccessful closure by either consumers or counselors. The results of this study can assist administrators and vocational counselors in addressing the needs of their consumers. The single most important factors identified by matched consumers and counselors (n = 54 each) were not significantly different and both parties identified disability severity as the most common primary factor in unsuccessful case closure. Show more

Keywords: Vocational rehabilitation, outcomes, substance use disorders, substance abuse, disability, mixed methods, qualitative study

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0543

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 151-161, 2011

Authors: Gonzalez, Rene | Rosenthal, David A. | Kim, Jeong Han

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Individuals with specific learning disabilities are a heterogeneous group with varied academic challenges and cognitive processing challenges. The manifestations of specific learning disabilities interfere with the acquisition of academic skills and impede vocational success. This study analyzed the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) case service report (RSA-911) data for fiscal year (FY) 2007 to examine effects of demographic characteristics and employment outcomes of persons with specific learning disabilities. The RSA-911 FY 2007 dataset was examined via the chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis. The CHAID analysis was utilized to extract predictive information for rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with specific learning disabilities. …The exhaustive CHAID analysis allowed the segmentation of the large group of people into homogeneous subgroups (i.e., end groups). Results illuminate those demographic characteristics most salient to successful rehabilitation outcomes for consumers with specific learning disabilities. The chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis indicated that public support significantly enhanced competitive employment outcomes. Show more

Keywords: Learning disability, vocational rehabilitation, CHAID analysis

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0544

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 163-172, 2011

Authors: Cimera, Robert Evert | Burgess, Sloane

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study explored the employment outcomes and cost-efficiency of 19,436 adults with autism spectrum disorder who had their cases closed by government-operated vocational rehabilitation agencies throughout the United States from 2002 to 2007. Analyses presented here indicated that individuals working in the community generated more monetary benefits than monetary costs (i.e. average benefit-cost ratio of 5.28 and monthly net benefit of $643.20). Further, this result was found regardless of the state in which services were provided or whether the individual had multiple conditions. However, rates of employment (M = 40. 6%), hours worked per week (M = 23.7), and wages …earned per month (M = $793.34) were low throughout the United States. Show more

Keywords: Cost efficacy, autism, employment of adults with autism

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0545

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 173-180, 2011

Authors: Lewis, Greg | Thoresen, Stian H. | Cocks, Errol

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper presents an amalgamation of three sequential research projects conducted by EDGE Employment Solutions over the past decade. The first project, commenced in 1999, was a local initiative to increase the number of apprentices and trainees with disability being supported by EDGE. The completion rate for participants in this project was equivalent to that of people without disability undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia. However, it was found that Group Training Organisations, who hire apprentices and trainees to then place them with different employers, did not have the necessary skills or resources to place and support people with disability. …To fill this gap, the second research project, undertaken in 2002, surveyed all 180 Group Training Organisations operating in Australia. This was followed by a site visit of six GTOs who were most successful in their disability efforts, to discern best practice in placing and supporting apprentices and trainees with disability. The third research project, which built on the findings of the previous two projects, was initiated in 2003 and enlisted 20 Group Training Organisations and 20 Disability Employment Services from around Australia to form partnerships to capitalise on their complementary expertise and resources. Apprenticeship and traineeship completion rates for participants in the third project surpassed those for people without disability in Australia. This paper presents and discusses the successful strategies researched and developed through these three projects. Show more

Keywords: Apprenticeship, Australia, disability employment service, people with disability, traineeship, vocational education and training

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0546

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 181-189, 2011

Authors: Rusch, Frank R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper addresses the external validity criteria recommended by Horner and colleagues [11] for meeting treatment generality associated with identifying “evidence-based practices”. Additionally, the paper reports on the results of applying the emergent criteria for assessing the methodological features associated with conducting single-participant research to 10 studies from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA). Selected articles focused upon self-management strategies utilized by employees with intellectual disabilities. Based upon a review of studies published in JABA, self-management strategies did not meet minimal treatment generality criteria. Results suggest that the absence of efforts to collect procedural fidelity limits treatment generality. Therefore, …additional research is warranted before these self-management-related strategies can be considered as being supported by evidence. Show more

Keywords: Treatment generality, self management research, evidence-based practices

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2011-0547

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 191-196, 2011