Predicting Employment Outcomes of Individuals with Disabilities: Attitudes and Perceived Barriers to Work

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether perceived physical, financial, and psychological barriers (e.g., negative attitudes about returning to work), demographic, social-support, and work-related variables predicted successful rehabilitation among clients exiting a state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) system. A logistic regression was conducted with successful employment as the outcome. Participants' age, employers' participation in a Tax Break program, and having Medicaid at application were significant predictors of successful rehabilitation in the full model, while the first two variables (i.e., age and employers' participation in a work incentive) were significant predictors in the trimmed model. These findings are briefly discussed in terms of rehabilitation implications and directions for future research.