Vocational Rehabilitation Closure Statuses in the United States: Generalizing to the Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity

Abstract

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) research focusing on race, ethnicity and other demographic variables has continued to gain needed attention in the VR literature over the past ten years. In the study described here, the Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID), an exploratory multivariate statistical tool from Answer Tree (SPSS, 2001), was used to investigate closure codes (statuses) with Race, Ethnicity, Age, and Gender. The test statistic revealed a statistically significant difference with the Hispanic ethnicity, age, and types of closures with the race (i.e., African American and White American) of customers in the United States VR system. Particularly, customers who are non-Hispanic (African Americans) between the ages of 51-60 are more likely not to be accepted for VR services (Status 08 from 02) and once accepted for VR services, close not rehabilitated (Statuses 28,30, & closed from pre-service, Status 38 from Status 04). Results further indicated that Black (African American) and White (European American) Hispanics in the United States VR system tend to have different experiences. Suggestions for VR counselors are discussed.