Affiliations: Mathematica Policy Research, Washington, DC, USA | Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation
Research, and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention Richmond,
VA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Bonnie O'Day, Senior Researcher,
Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 550, Washington, DC
20024, USA. Tel.: +1 202 264 3455; E-mail: Boday@Mathematica-MPR.com
Abstract: This article describes the experience of State Vocational
Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) with the Ticket to Work (TTW) program. We
examined administrative data from the Social Security Administration and the
Rehabilitation Services Administration and conducted site visits and telephone
interviews with SVRA officials in 25 states as part of a five-year evaluation
of the TTW program. The recession of 2001–2002, along with recent financial
constraints due to increased service demand and shrinking state budgets, has
negatively affected TTW implementation. SVRAs have spent significant time and
energy implementing TTW, particularly assigning Tickets with little apparent
benefit to its clients, according to SVRA officials. They also expressed
concerns about conflicts between the necessity to obtain Ticket assignments
from new and existing clients to receive SSA payments under the traditional
cost reimbursement system and the requirements to provide maximum consumer
choice under the Rehabilitation Act. New draft regulations rescind this
requirement and it remains to be seen what the future role of SVRAs in the
Ticket program will be.
Keywords: Disability, employment, Ticket to Work, State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
