Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation - Volume 48, issue 1

Authors: Wei, Xin | Yu, Jennifer W. | Wagner, Mary | Hudson, Laura | Roux, Anne M. | Shattuck, Paul | Blackorby, Jose

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: With evidence pointing to particularly poor employment outcomes for young adults with ASD, it is important to understand their employment experiences in order to develop effective interventions that address their needs. OBJECTIVE: We compared the job search experience, job duration, and job loss of young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their peers with four other types of disabilities. METHODS: The study analyzed wave 5 data collected in 2009 from youth or their parents who were included in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), a nationally representative sample of youth who received special education …services in high school. RESULTS: Among 21 to 25 year olds with ASD, fewer than 30% were looking for a paid job at the time of the interview and approximately 22% found a job on their own, the lowest rates among the five disability groups included in the analyses. It took them an average of 14 months to find a job, longer than the other disability groups. Young adults with ASD held a job for an average of 24 months, longer than youth in two of the other disability categories. The main reason young adults with ASD became unemployed is because their temporary job ended. Those who were older, were from higher-income households, had better conversational or functional skills, or attended postsecondary schools had more positive employment experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with ASD experienced considerable difficulty obtaining long-term employment, and more research is needed to determine strategies for improving their employment outcomes. Show more

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, employment, job searching, job duration, job loss, young adults

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170922

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 1-10, 2018

Authors: Müller, Eve | Pouliot Evans, Danielle | Frasché, Nancy | Kern, Ann | Resti, Israelle

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: “Communication Stories” provide individualized, electronic examples of how transition-aged students communicate. Intended to promote self-advocacy and improved workplace interactions, they are created and shared by students with supervisors about the specific communication strategies they use. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study evaluated the perceived impact of Communication Stories on participants, their job coaches, and workplace supervisors using a combination of quantitative/qualitative methods. METHODS: Using their personal iDevices, stories were created with input from nine participants with intellectual disabilities and/or autism and concomitant language impairments. Job coaches self-assessed their knowledge of participants’ communication strategies before and after viewing …the stories, and job coaches and workplace supervisors were interviewed about the perceived impact of the stories on workplace interactions. RESULTS: Following viewing of stories, job coaches reported significant increases in knowledge of participants’ communication strategies and confidence supporting their workplace communication. Stakeholder feedback also revealed themes including: (1) participants’ “taking charge” of sharing their stories appeared to strengthen their self-esteem and relationships with their supervisors, and (2) viewing stories appeared to have a positive impact on the communication behaviors of job coaches and workplace supervisors. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders, including participants and their families, were very enthusiastic about Communication Stories and recommended their expanded use across settings and conversation partners. Show more

Keywords: Communication, transition, employment, assistive technology, intellectual disabilities, autism, self-advocacy

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170912

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 11-25, 2018

Authors: Fitzgerald, Sandra | Kimmel, Kaitlin | Locust, Alexander | Miller, Susan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Vocational recovery is a concept that has grown out of the mental health recovery model and has been operationalized as a threshold for work capacity for persons working with serious mental illness (SMI). In this article, is it conceptualized as a process towards gainful employment and overall mental health recovery. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the early phases of the vocational recovery process of individuals with serious mental illness participating in a supported employment program and the factors that make up this process. This study describes the vocational recovery process and the mental health related recovery gains attained …through employment. METHODS: A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed in this study. The primary author conducted participant observations and conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals at a supported employment program to develop a theory about a vocational process that is grounded in data. RESULTS: A phase like process emerged from the data, which moved individuals from prevocational to early vocational recovery to active vocational recovery process. Participants experienced both mental health and vocational recovery challenges and benefits as they moved through the supported employment program and substantial support from providers, family members, program director, and peers emerged as a driving force to move individuals through the recovery process. CONCLUSION: Participants in this study rapidly placed into a supported employment program were able to move through their psychosocial barriers to employment and move towards an active vocational recovery process. The phase like progression suggests that appropriate interventions can be formulated that best meets the individual’s vocational and mental health needs depending on where individuals are in their overall vocational recovery process. Follow up research is necessary. Show more

Keywords: Vocational recovery, supported employment, mental health recovery, qualitative research

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170913

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 27-36, 2018

Authors: Leahy, Michael J. | Del Valle, Roy J. | Landon, Trenton J. | Iwanaga, Kanako | Sherman, Susan G. | Reyes, Antonio | Chan, Fong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recently, Leahy and his colleagues (Anderson, Leahy, Valle, Sherman, & Tansey, 2014 ; Del Valle, Leahy, Sherman, Anderson, Tansey, & Schoen, 2014 ; Leahy, Leahy, Chan, Lui, Rosenthal, Tansey, Wehman, P, & Menz, 2014 ; Sherman, Leahy, Del Valle, Anderson, Tansey, & Lui, 2014 ; Tansey, Bezyak, Chan, Leahy, & Lui, 2014 ) completed a comprehensive qualitative case study of four state VR agencies (Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, and Utah) to identify promising or evidence-based practices that can be used to improve management and clinical rehabilitation counseling practices. Fourteen promising or evidence-based VR practices were reported by administrators, supervisors, and …counselors in those four VR agencies as useful for improving psychosocial and employment outcomes of persons with disabilities receiving services from state rehabilitation agencies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the outcomes of a Delphi study of experts on evidence-based VR practices. METHODS: A Delphi study was conducted to obtain the consensus of 35 national experts in vocational rehabilitation (VR) on the relevance and levels of scientific evidence of 26 promising or evidence-based VR practices in state agency settings. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved through three rounds of the Delphi process. National experts rated the employment-based interventions as highly relevant to state VR service delivery practices, but rated their scientific evidence in the lower end of the hierarchy of evidence. Experts rated psychosocial and counseling interventions, except for motivational interviewing and working alliance, as less relevant to state VR, but as having high levels of scientific evidence. CONCLUSION: This study represents an important step towards identifying specific promising or evidence-based VR practices in state agency settings that could be used to improve psychosocial and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The results can also be used to plan the in-service training agenda for state VR agencies in terms of professional development and in pre-service academic programs to ensure that rehabilitation counseling students are adequately trained in relation to these promising or evidence-based VR practices. Show more

Keywords: Evidence-based practice, Delphi study, and vocational rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170914

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 37-48, 2018

Authors: Pfeiffer, Beth | Brusilovskiy, Eugene | Davidson, Amber | Persch, Andrew

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have some of the highest rates of postsecondary unemployment. Predictors of successful employment for individuals with ASD include a combination of personal and external factors. However, the majority of employment supports target personal factors and give minimal consideration to the environment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between the social and sensory aspects of person-environment fit and job satisfaction from the perspective of working adults with ASD. METHODS: Participants over the age of 21 diagnosed with ASD who worked at least 10 hours a week completed the Job Satisfaction Survey, …the Adult Sensory Profile, and the Work Environment Scale. RESULTS: There were significant positive associations between job satisfaction and the work environment in peer cohesion, supervisor support, autonomy, clarity, innovation and physical comfort. Individuals with more symptoms of Low Registration and Sensory Sensitivity had significantly lower scores on physical comfort in their work environments. Those with more symptoms of Sensory Avoiding reported significantly less satisfaction with their job. CONCLUSION: It is important to understand the impact of the environment in relation to the unique characteristics of the individual to improve the person-environment fit and overall job satisfaction. Show more

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders, work environment, work satisfaction, person-environment fit

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170915

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 49-57, 2018

Authors: Smith, Peter | McVilly, Keith R. | McGillivray, Jane | Chan, Jeffrey

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Workplace participation for people with ID is a major policy issue, with both economic and social imperatives. Policy reforms in Australia associated with the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) require new and innovative approaches to address these problems. OBJECTIVE: This project was established to investigate how a Social Enterprise Framework could be used as a mechanism to transform supported employment services (Australian Disability Enterprises) into open employment settings that secure meaningful, rewarding, and sustainable employment for people with ID. METHODS: A systematic literature review was undertaken, and a model of Social …Enterprise was developed that would be inclusive of people with ID. The theoretical model was reviewed by industry experts and refined. Its practical application and feasibility was then tested through the implementation of an organisational audit and strategic planning exercise. This was designed to produce an enterprise model. RESULTS: Social Enterprise is an umbrella term describing any organisation that focuses on social change. For people with ID, its essential features include an economically viable business, which provide the payment of ‘a living wage’, in a setting involving meaningful work that includes opportunities for the acquisition of socially valued skills and career development, as well as contributing to the person’s opportunities for social relationships. CONCLUSION: Though a challenging undertaking, Social Enterprise provides a promising employment option for some people with ID, when such initiatives are driven from executive and senior personnel of an organisation. Show more

Keywords: Social Enterprise, open employment, micro-enterprise, intellectual disability, discovery, living wage, choice, inclusion, Australian Disability Enterprise

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170916

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 59-77, 2018

Authors: Fraker, Thomas M. | Crane, Kelli T. | Honeycutt, Todd C. | Luecking, Richard G. | Mamun, Arif A. | O’Day, Bonnie L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Broadened Horizons, Brighter Futures (BHBF), a transition project in Miami-Dade County, Florida, was the focus of an evaluation of services and work incentives for youth who were receiving disability payments. Notable features of BHBF included paid work experiences for youth and the application of external technical assistance in implementing the program model. OBJECTIVE: The evaluation documented the design and implementation of BHBF and assessed its impacts on outcomes for youth three years after they enrolled in the study. METHODS: We randomly assigned 859 youth who were receiving disability payments to either a treatment group that …was eligible to receive both BHBF services and waivers of certain disability program rules, or to a control group that was not eligible for either the services or the waivers. RESULTS: Three years after they enrolled in the study, treatment group youth were more likely than youth in the control group to be employed, their earnings were 50 percent higher, and they were less likely to have had contact with the justice system. CONCLUSION: Interventions that include work experiences as a service component can improve outcomes for youth with disabilities. Empirical monitoring of project staff, combined with technical assistance, may be necessary to ensure a consistent focus on helping youth to find jobs. Show more

Keywords: Transition, youth, disabilities, program evaluation, random assignment, employment, technical assistance

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170917

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 79-91, 2018

Authors: Sundar, Vidya | O’Neill, John | Houtenville, Andrew J. | Phillips, Kimberly G. | Keirns, Tracy | Smith, Andrew | Katz, Elaine E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: People with disabilities experience longstanding barriers to employment. However, beyond the conventional metrics of labor force participation or unemployment rates we know very little about the workplace experiences of people with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: This study describes findings from the 2015 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey (2015 KFNEDS), a nationally representative survey of Americans with disabilities. METHODS: A dual-frame, random digit dial, nationally representative survey was conducted. Survey respondents included 3013 working age adults with a disability. Survey respondents were asked about disability, employment status, job search activities and workplace experiences. RESULTS: …Over 42% of survey respondents were currently working. 68.4% were striving to work characterized by job preparation, job search and/or participation in the workforce since the onset of their disability. Although some barriers persisted in the workplace, many were able to overcome the same. Overall, 47.8% of the respondents used workplace accommodations, 45.3% were satisfied with their jobs, 86.6% felt accepted in their workplace. CONCLUSION: The 2015 KFNEDS highlights how people with disabilities strive to work and overcome barriers, a discourse largely overlooked in contemporary disability and employment research. Survey findings can inform new programs and policies to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Show more

Keywords: Disability, employment, survey, barriers, striving, statistics

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170918

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 93-109, 2018

Authors: Webster, Joseph | Kim, Jeong Han | Hawley, Carolyn | Barbir, Lara | Barton, Sharon | Young, Cynthia

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Service member Transitional Advanced Rehabilitation Program (STAR) is a novel model designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration while delivering comprehensive physical, psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation services. The STAR program was established as a pilot program in 2011 and is now approved for permanent continuation. It is housed in the Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Center at Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. OBJECTIVE: The present study introduces the development, implementation, participant characteristics and five-year program outcomes of the STAR program. METHODS: A paired sample t -test was employed to compare pre and posttest functioning …in the following areas: physical, mental and emotional, vocational, and community integration. Mixed analysis of variance was further employed to determine the impact of demographic variables such as age, gender, race/ethnicity and marriage status on recovery. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in physical, mental and emotional, and vocational functioning was found in participants after completion of the STAR program. Regarding demographic variables, only marital status appeared to impact PTSD recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The STAR program’s vocational rehabilitation and community reintegration services, as well as efforts to improve physical and psychological functioning, have demonstrated positive outcomes. Overall, the development and implementation of the program has been highly successful. Show more

Keywords: Vocational rehabilitation, Veterans, VA, community reintegration

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170919

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 111-126, 2018

Authors: Prohn, Seb M. | Kelley, Kelly R. | Westling, David L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Postsecondary education (PSE) programs for students with intellectual disability (ID) have been increasing in recent years. Career development and skills for independent living are frequently cited objectives of PSE programs (Grigal, Hart, & Weir, 2012 ) yet evidence for the immediate effects of these programs is sparse. OBJECTIVE: In this study we conducted an initial investigation to monitor changes in independence during a one year period for six students with intellectual disability (ID) participating in an inclusive postsecondary education program. METHODS: Adaptive behaviors and support needs were measured using the Scale of Independent Behaviors-Revised (SIB-R; …Bruininks Woodcock, Weatherman, & Hill, 1996 ), the Support Intensity Scale (SIS, Thompson et al., 2004 ), and weekly hours of support provided to the students were directly measured. A single group, pre-post design was used to compare measures of independence from the beginning and end of the academic year. RESULTS: Initial results, in the form of descriptive statistics, show evidence that students, living on a college campus and participating in a PSE program, learn to function in ways that reduce the needs for support without limiting participation in inclusive activities. CONCLUSION: Recommendations for improving impact assessments of PSE programs are also discussed. Show more

Keywords: Intellectual disability, independence, adaptive behavior, person-centered planning

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170920

Citation: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 127-132, 2018