Brief Report: Participation Among Transition-Aged Youth With Traumatic Brain Injury in the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation System

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the level of participation among transition-aged youth with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the state/federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system in the context of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Case closures, case duration, and case expenditures in federal fiscal years (FYs) 2014, 2015, and 2016 were examined among transition-aged youth (i.e., state VR clients under the age of 22 years at application) with TBI, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disability (ID), using a nonexperimental and descriptive design. A disproportionate number of transition-aged youth with ASD and ID had closed state VR cases compared with transition-aged youth with TBI. Alternatively, there were greater state VR case duration levels and case service expenditures for persons with TBI compared with those with ASD or ID. The disproportionate participation with state VR was consistent among these three groups via eligibility for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This article highlights areas of attention concerning transition-aged youth with TBI and will hopefully stimulate future dialogue, research, and policy development concerning participation with State VR for this population.