Measuring the Social Integration of Supported Employment Workers

Issue title: Supported Employment

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Parent, Wendy^; | Kregel, John | Wehman, Paul | Metzler, Helen

Affiliations: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University

Note: [] The development and dissemination of this manuscript was supported in part by Grant no. H133B80052 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Abstract: Integration of workers with severe disabilities is an important outcome measure of supported employment. This article examines the specific characteristics that define vocational integration, including company indicators, work-area indicators, employee indicators, and benefit indicators. The Vocational Integration Index (VII) offers employment-service providers a tool for (1) analyzing a job site to determine the opportunities available for physical and social integration and (2) assessing the degree to which an employee with a disability takes advantage of the opportunities for integration. The content of the VII and the procedure for administering and scoring the instrument are described. A case study is presented that illustrates the use of the VII and several intervention strategies that may be utilized to maximize integration for supported employment workers. Issues associated with interpreting integration outcomes and determining appropriate interventions are discussed.

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-1991-1106

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 35-49, 1991