{"title":"Vocational Rehabilitation Service Receipt, Service Expenditures, and Ruralness.","authors":"Catherine Ipsen, Kamini Jain, Steven Stern","doi":"10.3233/jvr-230043","DOIUrl":"10.3233/jvr-230043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An important factor embedded within Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) delivery capacity relates to geography, such as distance from the VR office and availability of service providers or community rehabilitation programs.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We explored receipt of VR job search and placement services based on distance to an urban center, demographic, and disability variables after controlling for local employment conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using 2015 RSA-911 case services data, we used probit to produce estimates for each combination of service and service source (agency and purchased), and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and semi-parametric regression to estimate log expenditures for each service category.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Being Black or living at a long distance from a metro area increased the probability of receiving agency-based services but lowered the probability of receiving purchased services. Conversely, being older and having less education lowered the probability of receiving agency services but increased the probability of receiving purchased services. Females, Blacks, and those living at a distance greater than 50 miles from a metro area received significantly lower expenditures.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Systematic differences in the types of services provided call for more in-depth analysis to ensure that policies and procedures are in place to minimize sociodemographic disparities in service delivery and outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"59 3","pages":"251-261"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11414997/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142298559","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}
Jamie Kulzer, Kelly B Beck, Caitlin Trabert, Eric C Meyer, Jenna Colacci, Michael Pramuka, Michael McCue
{"title":"A vocational rehabilitation partnership to provide transition services to young adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities: The cognitive skills enhancement program.","authors":"Jamie Kulzer, Kelly B Beck, Caitlin Trabert, Eric C Meyer, Jenna Colacci, Michael Pramuka, Michael McCue","doi":"10.3233/jvr-230005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-230005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is an urgent need for services that support a successful transition to postsecondary education and employment for young adults with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities (e.g. autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, traumatic brain injury).</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this expository article is to describe the Cognitive Skills Enhancement Program (CSEP), a comprehensive clinical program designed for young adults with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities transitioning to postsecondary education.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CSEP was developed through a community-academic partnership between a university and a state vocational rehabilitation program. Young adult participants complete programming that addresses four primary clinical targets: (1) emotion regulation, (2) social skills, (3) work readiness, and (4) community participation with the overall goal to increase awareness and promote successful employment outcomes while they transition to post-secondary education.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>To date, CSEP has supported 18 years of sustained programming and clinical services to 621 young adults with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This partnership model allows for flexible responses to participant needs, implementation barriers, and advances in evidence-based practices. CSEP meets the needs of diverse stakeholders (e.g. state vocational rehabilitation, postsecondary training facilities, participants, universities) while providing high-quality and sustainable programming. Future directions include examining the clinical efficacy of current CSEP programming.</p>","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"58 2","pages":"155-164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10202007/pdf/nihms-1899717.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9871002","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}
Joshua P. Taylor, Lauren Avellone, P. Wehman, Valerie Brooke
{"title":"The efficacy of competitive integrated employment versus segregated employment for persons with disabilities: A systematic review","authors":"Joshua P. Taylor, Lauren Avellone, P. Wehman, Valerie Brooke","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221225","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221225","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Although competitive integrated employment (CIE) has been established as a goal of employment policy and practice for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), many still receive segregated vocational services for subminimum wage. This persistence of segregated vocational services has occurred despite substantial previous research recommendations and policy directives to encourage CIE. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine whether recent research might provide further evidence of the role of segregated vocational services in contributing to or detracting from positive outcomes. METHOD: Our review searched peer-reviewed literature from seven electronic databases and screened 589 peer-reviewed articles based on inclusion criteria established following PRISMA guidelines— resulting in a final sample of five studies. In the second phase of our analysis, we provide a comparison of segregated and integrated vocational services in terms of individual outcomes. RESULTS: Our findings provide further evidence against the use of segregated vocational services for individuals with IDD. CONCLUSION: Implications of these findings for future research, policy, and practice are provided.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83507853","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}
Jaeyoung Kim, Tim Riesen, Katherine J. Inge, Beth Keeton, Marcus Weathers, T. Tansey
{"title":"Customized employment as a pathway to competitive integrated employment: An analysis of RSA 911 data of state vocational rehabilitation agencies with the highest use of this intervention","authors":"Jaeyoung Kim, Tim Riesen, Katherine J. Inge, Beth Keeton, Marcus Weathers, T. Tansey","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221227","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221227","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Customized employment (CE) is a highly relevant but underused strategy for individuals with significant disabilities. It is important to examine how CE has been utilized in state vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify SVRAs’ CE service patterns and outcomes from 2017 to 2020. METHODS: Descriptive analysis, chi-square, and t-test comprised data analysis. RESULTS: 78% of the consumers receiving CE were associated with 10 SVRAs. This sample (N = 1,779) was 57.4% male and 42.6% female and had a mean age of 31.61 years. 77% were White. The frequent services provided with CE were VR counseling and guidance, assessment, and job placement assistance. Based on the service provision pattern, the agencies were separated into Group A, using co-occurring services other than supported employment (SE), and Group B, using SE along with CE. Consumers served by Group B are more likely to have cognitive impairment, intellectual disability, and the most significant disability. Group A is associated with lower employment, higher weekly earning and weekly hours worked. CONCLUSION: VR agencies and providers should consider these findings to refine and improve their service delivery and policies/procedures particularly for customized employment.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"135 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77720737","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}
J. Bezyak, C. Kaya, Sharon Hsu, Kanako Iwanaga, Jia-Rung Wu, Beatrice Lee, Madan M. Kundu, Fong Chan, T. Tansey
{"title":"Characteristics of individuals with disabilities receiving transportation services in vocational rehabilitation","authors":"J. Bezyak, C. Kaya, Sharon Hsu, Kanako Iwanaga, Jia-Rung Wu, Beatrice Lee, Madan M. Kundu, Fong Chan, T. Tansey","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221226","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Adequate, accessible public transportation is essential to fully address social and economic disparities that exist among individuals with disabilities. Despite removal of many physical barriers within transportation systems, significant barriers to public transportation for people with disabilities are still widespread. OBJECTIVE: Transportation is commonly cited as an obstacle to employment for individuals with disabilities, and as a result, a thorough analysis of specific factors influencing the use of public transportation by individuals with disabilities is necessary to fully understand patterns of use. METHOD: The current study used a national sample of individuals with disabilities in pursuit of employment to investigate characteristics that predict the receipt of transportation services by vocational rehabilitation personnel. RESULTS: Results indicate individuals who were not employed, who were receiving welfare and/or TANF, who were homeless, who were living in rehabilitation facilities, and/or living in substance abuse treatment centers were more likely to receive transit services from vocational rehabilitation programs. Also, individuals with substance use problems, mental health disorders, HIV/AIDS or other immune deficiency disorders, and/or people from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to receive transit service support from vocational rehabilitation programs. CONCLUSION: Improvement in transportation services for individuals with disabilities is needed on a systems and individual level. State rehabilitation counselors can evaluate the extent high-risk clients identified in this study can benefit from transit services as well as other wrap around services that can improve their engagement in VR services leading to better employment outcomes.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"259 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79599173","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}
T. Tansey, M. Bishop, Kanako Iwanaga, Kaiqi Zhou, Fong Chan
{"title":"Vocational rehabilitation service delivery: Technical assistance needs of vocational rehabilitation professionals","authors":"T. Tansey, M. Bishop, Kanako Iwanaga, Kaiqi Zhou, Fong Chan","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221224","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221224","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Americans with disabilities have historically faced substantial barriers to employment participation. The state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program has played an important role in increasing the employment opportunities of Americans with disabilities through the provision of services and supports designed to lead to high-quality employment, independence, self-sufficiency, and full integration into the community. OBJECTIVE: The Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC–QE) was designed to bring together the broad range of existing quality employment strategies and supporting practices, identify and implement new ones, and incorporate them into an integrated training and technical assistance plan, consistent with the circumstances and priorities of each State VR agency that requests technical assistance. METHOD: In the present paper, we present the results of a needs assessment survey conducted among State VR rehabilitation counselors and professionals in cooperating rehabilitation agencies and services. RESULTS: The purpose of the present study was to determine technical assistance and training needs of state VR counselors in four practice domains: (a) outreach services, (b) pre-employment transition services, (c) vocational rehabilitation services, and (d) employment services. CONCLUSION: Implications and future directions are also discussed.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"12 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72623214","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}
Kanako Iwanaga, Deborah Lee, Jake Hamburg, Jia-Rung Wu, Xiangli Chen, P. Rumrill, P. Wehman, T. Tansey, Fong Chan
{"title":"Effects of supported employment on the competitive integrated employment outcomes of transition age and young adults with intellectual disabilities: A non-experimental causal comparative study","authors":"Kanako Iwanaga, Deborah Lee, Jake Hamburg, Jia-Rung Wu, Xiangli Chen, P. Rumrill, P. Wehman, T. Tansey, Fong Chan","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221223","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Supported employment has long been recognized as one of the most effective services for individuals with the most significant disabilities in achieving competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of supported employment interventions on the employment outcomes of transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities served by state vocational rehabilitation agencies using a propensity score matching (PSM) approach. METHODS: We conducted a non-experimental causal comparative study with PSM to create a treatment (n = 2162) and a comparison group (n = 2191) using the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report database (Program Year 2018). Chi-square and t-test were used to analyze the differences between the treatment and control groups on employment outcomes, hourly wage and hours worked per week. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities who received supported employment were more likely to achieve CIE, earn higher wages, and work longer hours weekly than were the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that supported employment is an effective service for enhancing the vocational rehabilitation outcomes of transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities and provides valuable information for policy makers, health care providers, rehabilitation counselors, and educators.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89734044","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":"Introducing the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation’s New Technical Editor","authors":"P. Wehman","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221219","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89845280","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}
Tim Riesen, Aubrey Snyder, Rachel N. Byers, Beth Keeton, Katherine J. Inge
{"title":"An updated review of the customized employment literature","authors":"Tim Riesen, Aubrey Snyder, Rachel N. Byers, Beth Keeton, Katherine J. Inge","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221222","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221222","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: There is clear federal priority to develop effective strategies to mitigate the continued disparity in employment opportunities and outcomes for people with significant disabilities. At the same time, ongoing, there are calls for rehabilitation practitioners to understand, utilize, and implement evidence-based practices (EBP) with fidelity to improve rehabilitation outcomes, such as competitive integrated employment. Customized employment (CE) emerged as a promising practice that promotes improved employment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this manuscript is to examine published literature on CE and to make recommendations on the best methods for establishing CE as an evidence-based practice. METHOD: We included 10 articles classified as “data-based” articles from a review of the literature on CE conducted by Riesen et al. We also conducted an electronic search of articles on CE published between 2015 and 2021. RESULTS: Existing CE research literature consists predominately of descriptive studies and consists primarily of three types including model description and project evaluation, perceptions of CE, and essential structure and competency. These studies suggest that CE produces quality employment outcomes for people with disabilities. CONCLUSION: While research on CE has expanded, future research on CE should use more robust indicators including (a) quality descriptions of the participants, (b) quality descriptions of settings and conditions, (c) descriptions of the independent variables, (d) descriptions of fidelity to procedures, and (e) quality descriptions of social validity measures. Researchers should also focus on using correlational research to establish Customized employment as an evidence-based practice.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85792281","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}
Michele A. Schutz, B. Schwartzman, Jessica Awsumb, L. Burgess, E. Carter, J. Taylor
{"title":"Pathways to paid work for youth with severe disabilities: Perspectives on strategies for success","authors":"Michele A. Schutz, B. Schwartzman, Jessica Awsumb, L. Burgess, E. Carter, J. Taylor","doi":"10.3233/jvr-221221","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3233/jvr-221221","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND: Paid work during high school serves as a steppingstone to postsecondary employment for young adults with severe disabilities. Yet youth with significant cognitive impairments rarely have the opportunity to experience paid work during high school. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the range of facilitators that promote paid employment for youth with severe disabilities during high school. METHODS: We conducted individual and focus group interviews with 74 special educators, adult agency providers, school district leaders, family members of youth with severe disabilities, and local employers. RESULTS: Participants discussed 36 facilitators spanning nine major categories: collaboration, training and information, attitudes and mindsets, supports for youth, youth work experiences, knowledge and skill instruction, staffing, individualization, and transportation. We identified similarities and differences in the factors emphasized by each of the five stakeholder groups. CONCLUSION: Renewed attention should be focused on key practices and partnerships needed to facilitate community-based work experiences for youth with severe disabilities prior to graduation.","PeriodicalId":47208,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78770643","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}