Preparing youth with disabilities for employment: An analysis of vocational rehabilitation case services data

Issue title: How Individual and Environmental Factors affect Employment Outcomes

Guest editors: Purvi Sevak, David C. Stapleton and John O’Neill

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Poppen, Marcus^{a; *} | Lindstrom, Lauren^b | Unruh, Deanne^c | Khurana, Atika^b | Bullis, Michael^d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Teaching and Learning, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA | [b] Counseling Pyschology and Human Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA | [c] Special Education and Clinical Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA | [d] Education Methodology, Policy and Leadership, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Marcus Poppen, Department of Teaching and Learning, Washington State University, P.O. Box 642132, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. Tel.: +1 509 335 6363; E-mail: marcus.poppen@wsu.edu.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite national efforts to improve post-school outcomes, many students with disabilities are unprepared to enter the workforce. Coordination with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) can offer opportunities for improved employment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study examined Oregon VR data to identify predictors of positive closure status for youth with disabilities. METHODS: Researchers used logistic regression to explore the effects of individual, in-school, post-school and contextual factors on VR case closure status among 4,443 young adults with disabilities who received and completed services from Oregon VR between 2003 and 2013. RESULTS: Being female, having a mental illness, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, interpersonal or self-care impediments to employment, receiving SSI, and closing with VR in periods of high unemployment reduce the likelihood of a positive VR closure. Participating in a collaborative transition program, earning a high school completion certificate, receiving a greater number of VR services, closing below the median number of days to closure, and closing in low unemployment periods increase the likelihood of a positive VR case closure status. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight specific barriers to employment for vulnerable groups of young adults with disabilities, and identify service and contextual factors that can support positive employment outcomes.

Keywords: Transition, youth with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation, employment outcomes

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-160857

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 209-224, 2017