Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation最新文献

{"title":"Mentoring and Self-Employment: Potential Strategies to Promote Labor Force Participation.","authors":"Adele Crudden, Anne Steverson, Katerina Sergi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A large portion of the population of people with visual impairments are neither working nor looking for work. Mentoring and self-employment are two strategies to encourage workforce participation, but little is known about whether people with visual impairments who are out of the labor force were offered or were interested in these options.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We explored whether participants were interested in or had been offered mentoring or self-employment assistance to encourage their participation in the workforce.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty participants with visual impairments and out of the labor force were interviewed about their thoughts and experiences regarding mentoring and self-employment. A qualitative software program assisted in coding responses, identifying themes, and organizing demographics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants tended to be interested in but did not have access to mentors. Some participants explored self-employment opportunities and even more were interested in it, but few were offered it as an employment option by a vocational rehabilitation provider. Most participants were interested in learning more about self-employment job opportunities and how income earned through self-employment might influence other benefits.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Opportunities to support people with visual impairments in locating mentors or engaging in self-employment appear under-utilized. Participants in this study appeared interested in receiving support from a mentor and learning more about self-employment options. Efforts to improve the labor force participation rate among people with visual impairments should include assistance in finding mentors to promote adjustment to blindness and becoming employed and exploring opportunities for self-employment. Vocational rehabilitation agencies should consider examining their policies and practices to promote greater access and use of these strategies to bring people with visual impairments into the labor market.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"62 3","pages":"234-243"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188997/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144508837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Employment Barriers Experienced at Different Job Acquisition Stages by People With and Without Disabilities.","authors":"Erica S Jablonski, Kimberly G Phillips, Megan Henly","doi":"10.3233/jvr-240034","DOIUrl":"10.3233/jvr-240034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Employment barriers experienced by people with disabilities are well-documented by researchers. A closer look at the nature of these barriers at different stages of the job acquisition process may help to understand and address current challenges.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To understand how employment barriers differ for job seekers with and without disabilities; the impact of disability type; and are job acquisition barriers most salient, when looking for, applying to, or accepting a position.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>3,021 working-age adults (including 1,491 adults with disabilities) from a Qualtrics opt-in panel completed an online survey about employment status, job search barriers, and demographic factors (including disability). Logistic regression predicted odds of experiencing a job search barrier based on disability and other sociodemographic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most job seekers reported barriers to employment, with disability being the strongest predictor. While the types of barriers experienced at all stages of the job search were similar for people with and without disabilities, people with disabilities experienced barriers significantly more often.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Employment barriers among people with and without disabilities are similar in nature but vary by degree. Improvements in transportation and better alignment between education, training, and the job market may benefit all job seekers.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"61 2","pages":"235-252"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11872234/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Group-Based Trajectory Analysis of Longitudinal Employment Patterns and Predictors for Adults With Visual Impairments.","authors":"Jennifer L Cmar, Michele C McDonnall","doi":"10.3233/jvr-240031","DOIUrl":"10.3233/jvr-240031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A substantial gap in employment rates has been documented between people with and without visual impairments, but most employment-related research for people with visual impairments has focused on employment at one time point.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal employment trajectories by visual impairment and investigate factors associated with trajectories for people with visual impairments.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The data source was the 2014 Panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Participants were 816 adults with visual impairments and a matched comparison group of 816 adults without visual impairments. We used group-based trajectory modeling to estimate employment trajectories, identify predictors of trajectory group membership, and explore the impact of health on employment trajectories.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Visual impairment was associated with a lower probability of membership in the Rising, Declining, and High employment trajectory groups compared to the Low group. Predictors of trajectory group membership included disability benefit receipt, non-visual disabilities, gender, race, age, and education. Fair or poor health was associated with decreases in all four trajectories over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Visual impairment is a risk factor for not working across multiple years. Disability benefit receipt was the strongest predictor of trajectory group membership for this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"2024 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11872191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changing human resource professionals from gatekeepers to enablers of disability employment: Lessons learned from disability-employment research.","authors":"Jill Bezyak, Fong Chan, Timothy N Tansey, Jia-Rung Wu, Kanako Iwanaga, Deborah Lee","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People with disabilities are one the most discriminated groups in the United States, and this discrimination negatively impacts the ability to find and maintain employment. While more companies are making it a priority to include people with disabilities in their workforces in order to diversify talent pools, many organizations still lack knowledge regarding the benefits of disability-employment and effective strategies for disability inclusion in the workplace.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>There is a need to provide an integrative review of the disability inclusion literature for vocational rehabilitation professionals to expand employer engagement efforts by helping companies adopt strategies to hire and support people with disabilities in the workplace.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A review of disability employment and disability inclusion publications was conducted. Findings from the research were compiled into a discussion of lessons learned for vocational rehabilitation professionals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The article shares the lessons learned from conducting disability-employment research with attention to the following domains: (1) stigmatizing attitudes of employers, (2) disability employment legislation, (3) characteristics of companies that promote disability-employment, (4) disability inclusion policies and practices, and (5) implicit bias and disability inclusion training for human resource (HR) professionals.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Providing employers and HR professionals with trainings on these domains will increase awareness of bias toward people with disabilities in the workplace and develop increasingly effective disability inclusion policies and practices for their organization.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"62 1","pages":"76-81"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188975/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144498365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What structural and cultural organizational characteristics affect flexible work environments? Evidence from the 2017 and 2022 Kessler Foundation National Employment & Disability Survey: Supervisor Perspectives.","authors":"Hyun Ju Kim, Erica Jablonski, Debra L Brucker, Ada Chen, John O'Neill, Andrew J Houtenville, Elaine E Katz","doi":"10.1177/10522263241283634","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10522263241283634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As workplace flexibility can promote employment for people with disabilities, people with disabilities need information about the characteristics of organizations that are more likely to provide this environment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Using the 2017 and 2022 Kessler Foundation National Employment & Disability Survey: Supervisor Perspectives, we examine organizational characteristics associated with the flexible work accommodations of working from home, flexible work schedules, and job sharing, prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We employ a linear probability model to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of flexible workplaces and explore structural (industry, sector, and size) as well as cultural factors (central accommodation fund and upper management commitments) that are related to the flexible workplace practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The pandemic increased flexible workplace practices. Different organizational structural and cultural characteristics are noted as correlates to providing greater workplace flexibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings can inform job seekers with disabilities to identify organizations that are more likely to offer flexibility. In addition, this information can be useful to vocational rehabilitation professionals in supporting positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Employers can also use our findings to guide their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"61 ","pages":"410-424"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144498364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Needs of human resource professionals in implicit bias and disability inclusion training: A focus group study.","authors":"Jill Bezyak, Elysia Versen, Fong Chan, Deborah Lee, Jia-Rung Wu, Kanako Iwanaga, Phil Rumrill, Xiangli Chen, Hanson Ho","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Research investigating the implicit bias of employers towards individuals with disabilities emphasizes the importance of increased attention to implicit bias in the workplace. Previous research supports the use of trainings to promote awareness and education of implicit and explicit bias toward people with disabilities among employers.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of the current study was to better understand employers' stigmatizing attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and develop effective strategies to increase awareness and knowledge related to these negative attitudes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two focus groups of HR professionals were conducted to investigate guidelines and content areas that should be included in training. Data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis (QCA) methodology.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Researchers identified four major themes regarding guidelines for training development: 1) educational information on implicit and explicit bias, 2) disability inclusion information and strategies, 3) consideration of multiple learning modalities, and 4) case studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Training interventions incorporating these needs and preferences of HR professionals may more effectively increase awareness of implicit bias in the workplace. Sharing evidence regarding implicit and explicit bias, along with current information on disability inclusion, while using varied instructional strategies may lead to a reduction in disability-related stigma and discrimination in the workplace.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"60 3","pages":"311-319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11404551/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142298560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of company-driven disability diversity initiatives: A multi-case study across industries","authors":"Brian N. Phillips, Teresa A. Granger, Chase Ochrach, Kathryn A. Thomas, Antonio Reyes, R. F. Kesselmayer, Catherine A. Anderson, Fong Chan, D. Strauser, P. Wehman, Jennifer McDonough, Deborah Lee, Beatrice Lee, Ngonidzashe Mpofu, Stacie Castillo, Xiangli Chen, Emily A. Brinck, Megan J. Baumunk, Jaeyoung Kim, Katherine B. Friedman, T. Tansey","doi":"10.3233/jvr-230061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-230061","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Employers are increasingly seeking a competitive advantage through targeted hiring of people with disabilities. We conducted several case studies to learn more about companies that led in creating their own disability diversity initiatives. OBJECTIVE: In this article, we share insights emerging from case studies conducted across seven companies. We illustrate the motives, processes, and outcomes of these initiatives. METHODS: This study is built on the previously published case studies conducted across seven companies. We applied elements of consensual qualitative research (CQR) for the data collection and analyses before performing an in-depth qualitative content analysis using the data coded for each company, looking for commonalities and differences. RESULTS: Although practices differed, all companies experienced noted benefits. Committed leadership and complementary company values facilitated successful outcomes for initiatives. The strength or salience of disability inclusive actions and practices appeared to moderate outcomes related to company performance, employee perceptions of the company, and cohesiveness. CONCLUSION: Company disability initiatives can yield positive impacts on company performance and culture. The practices we identified and their positive outcomes serve as beacons to other organizations that recognize disability as a valued part of company diversity.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":" 52","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138995268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vocational rehabilitation applicants, the services they receive, and their employment outcomes","authors":"Meghan Lee Donahue, Victor Paquet, S. Casucci, Alexander Nikolaev","doi":"10.3233/jvr-230057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-230057","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: The U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program helps people with disability gain or improve employment. However, previous research into program outcomes has primarily focused on subsets of participants with specific diagnoses instead of the full population. OBJECTIVE: We chronicled the population’s personal characteristics, services received, and program outcomes to inform hypotheses about relationships between personal characteristics, services, and program outcomes. METHODS: These characteristics were analyzed for all 572,490 adult cases that closed between 2017 and 2018. Descriptive statistic distributions compare the applicants with their two subgroups: participants and non-participants. RESULTS: Seven of 20 primary impairment categories encompassed 78%of applicants. Sixty-three percent of applicants completed an individualized plan for employment (IPE) and became participants. Eighty-five percent of participants and 43%of non-participants received VR services. Half of VR participants exited unemployed and 44%achieved competitive integrated employment (CIE). Two-thirds of non-participants exited before developing their IPE mostly because they either lost interest in VR or VR lost the ability to talk to them. CONCLUSION: The results describe variables that can potentially affect program enrollment and program outcomes. Future work assessing VR should consider these variables when evaluating services that are most impactful to exiting with employment.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"33 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138967354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Discovering ME: An innovative planning tool for students with significant disabilities","authors":"Lisa Holland, Kendel St. John, Elizabeth E. Getzel","doi":"10.3233/jvr-230051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-230051","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires transition plans for students with disabilities to be based on high-quality, age-appropriate transition assessments. However, educators struggle to garner reliable assessment results for students with significant disabilities, because so few assessments are designed or validated for students with these barriers. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this practice brief is to share details on the process, called Discovering ME, which provides an effective transition assessment and planning tool that is critical to increasing students’ employment outcomes, especially for those who face the most significant barriers to employment. METHODS: Sixty-one students across rural, urban, and suburban school districts participated in Discovering ME. Data were collected across five years, including demographic information and examples of students’ top career cluster areas for future employment. In addition, a statewide survey was conducted with educators participating in Discovering ME on the effectiveness of this early career planning process. RESULTS: The Discovering ME process provides career-related opportunities for students with significant barriers in the home, school, and community in a variety of career clusters based on their expressed interests. Educators report that the focus of this process on students and their interests helped to create positive experiences for them by creating opportunities for success. CONCLUSION: The Discovering ME process provides students with disabilities with authentic, coordinated career awareness and development activities and the building of self-determination, work readiness, and community integration skills.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"61 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139003185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ABLE account use among supplemental security income recipients","authors":"Robert Weathers, Paul Kelly, Jeffrey Hemmeter","doi":"10.3233/jvr-230059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-230059","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: The Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (ABLE Act) authorized state-administered tax-preferred savings programs for individuals with a disability called ABLE accounts. OBJECTIVE: Examine ABLE account participation rates and amounts held by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who are eligible for ABLE accounts and use the findings to identify methods to improve ABLE account participation. METHODS: Descriptive analysis using Social Security program data on the population of SSI recipients eligible for ABLE accounts to quantify: the prevalence of ABLE account use; participation rates among those eligible for ABLE accounts by demographic and socio-economic characteristics, state of residence, and state-level tax incentives; and amounts accumulated in ABLE accounts. RESULTS: As of December 2021, 36,610 SSI recipients owned ABLE accounts with a median value of $3,222, and the participation rate is 1.1 percent among SSI recipients whose disability occurred before age 26. We document substantial differences in participation rates by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, across states, and by the availability of state-level tax incentives. CONCLUSION: ABLE account use among SSI recipients is relatively low. Differences in participation rates indicate that evidence-based methods to increase participation can improve savings and economic well-being.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"52 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138588302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}