Employment Outcomes For Individuals Research Articles

Vocational Rehabilitation Service Patterns and Outcomes for Individuals with Autism of Different Ages.

Young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often experience employment difficulties. Using Rehabilitation Service Administration data (RSA-911), this study investigated the service patterns and factors related to the employment outcomes of individuals with ASD in different age groups. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the effects of demographic and vocational rehabilitation (VR) service variables on employment outcomes in each age group. The results show that transition youth made up the largest portion of VR service users among the ASD population, yet they have the worst employment outcomes across all age groups. Factors that are significantly associated with increased odds for employment in each age group were identified. Implications from systemic, practical, and research perspectives are also provided.

The Performance of Performance-Based Contracting in Human Services: A Quasi-Experiment

Performance-based contracting (PBC) is becoming increasingly attractive to public human service agencies. By linking contract compensation to contractors’ performance, PBC is expected to foster quality services, to improve outcomes, and to reduce government monitoring. However, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of PBC remains both limited and mixed. Based on a case study of the Indiana vocational rehabilitation program, this article employs a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of PBC for individual employment outcomes over the 2004–09 period, with the Michigan vocational rehabilitation program as a control. Using propensity score matching and difference-in-differences regressions to control for the imbalances between the two states, this article finds that PBC significantly improves employment results and reduces time to employment, two measured performance indicators. However, the impact of PBC on unmeasured employment quality, as indicated by working hours and wages, is trivial. This article further suggests relational contracting as a supplemental mechanism for PBC in human service provision.

Develop collaborative support model to boost employment opportunities for students on spectrum

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder are attending college in record numbers. Unfortunately, completing a college degree does not appear to improve employment outcomes for individuals with ASD, and many find it difficult to both acquire and retain jobs.

Postsecondary inclusion for individuals with an intellectual disability and its effects on employment

Postsecondary education (PSE) programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have emerged exponentially in the United States over the last decade. Research regarding these postsecondary programs has largely been descriptive, and thus, there exists a need for qualitative, outcome-based research. In this comparative case report, graduates from two types of PSE programs for individuals with IDs are surveyed regarding employment outcomes and other personal developments. The results from each postsecondary program are compared with one another and also with a comparison group of individuals with IDs who did not attend a postsecondary program (utilizing the 2009 National Longitudinal Transition Study 2). This case demonstrates significant positive employment outcomes for individuals with IDs who attend postsecondary programs compared to those who do not attend such programs and highlights similarities and differences regarding outcomes of the two program types under consideration.

Employment Outcomes for Individuals With HIV/AIDS and Co-Occurring Mental Health Factors

With the advent of more advanced treatments and therapies, people with HIV/AIDS are experiencing significant improvement in their health, making many of their ongoing employment and career goals more realistic. However, these individuals continue to report experiencing employment barriers, including factors related to symptoms and illness progression, medication adherence and HIV treatment, and beliefs about health and wellness. The present evaluation focuses on factors predicting employment status among individuals with HIV/AIDS, as well as the effects of other indicators on work, including chronic mental health comorbidities such as depression, medication adherence to antiretroviral regimens, and perceived adjustment to chronic illness. Results of multivariate logistic regression identify significant predictors of work participation among this population, including gender and education. Study strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for innovative services are discussed.

Employment outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries: 2011–2013

BACKGROUND: Employment for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) varies by demographic, educational, and preinjury occupational characteristics. Individuals with SCI also face a number of physical and structural barriers to returning to work postinjury. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services through the use of the federal and state vocational rehabilitation programs is one option for obtaining the needed supports that lead to successful competitive employment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This information is for those individuals with SCI whose cases were closed by VR in one of the four case closure codes: Status 08, Status 28, Status 30, or Status 26. The intent of this research is to profile participation, services received, and outcomes achieved by individuals with SCI who were participants in State Vocational Rehabilitation programs. METHODS:Using the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration’s (RSA) 911-database, individuals with a primary physical disability of spinal cord injury who had their cases closed in Federal Fiscal Years 2011–2013 (n= 9,205) were selected to understand general demographic, education, SSI/SDI, and reasons for case closure information. More detailed analyses of data of services received, employment outcomes, and costs for individuals for whom an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) also were completed. RESULTS: Nationally, state VR agencies reported closing 3,217 cases in FY 2011, 3,098 cases in FY 2012, and 2,890 cases in FY 2013 in the four case closure codes: Status 08, Status 28, Status 30, and Status 26. Status 26 closure represents those cases closed successfully. In this study, 991 individuals with SCI were closed in Status 26 during FY 2011, 972 in FY 2012, and 936 in FY 2013. The majority of cases closed successfully were for individuals who were white/Caucasian, and rates were slightly higher for individuals with an associate’s degree or more. CONCLUSIONS:The findings in this study are consistent with previous findings on the demographic characteristics of individuals with SCI and return to work. More research is needed on the relationship between certain demographic characteristics and successful employment postinjury, the impact of rehabilitation technology services on successful case closures, the types of jobs that individuals with SCI obtain, and what makes state VR programs in some areas more successful than others.

Core Self-Evaluations as a Mediator Between Functional Disability and Life Satisfaction in College Students With Disabilities Majoring in Science and Technology

Purpose: To examine the mediational effect of core self-evaluations (CSE) on the relationship between functional disability and life satisfaction.Methods: A quantitative descriptive design using multiple regression analysis. The participants were 97 college students with disabilities receiving services through Hunter College’s Minority-Disability Alliance (MIND Alliance) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Results: CSE was a partial mediator between functional disability and life satisfaction. After controlling for CSE, functional disability was no longer a significant predictor of life satisfaction.Conclusions: CSE partially mediated the impact of functional disability on life satisfaction. Future research should explore the development of interventions to increase CSE to reduce the effect of disability and to improve life satisfaction and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Improving psychosocial health and employment outcomes for individuals receiving methadone treatment: a realist synthesis of what makes interventions work.

BackgroundFor over 50 years, methadone has been prescribed to opioid-dependent individuals as a pharmacological approach for alleviating the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. However, individuals prescribed methadone sometimes require additional interventions (e.g., counseling) to further improve their health. This study undertook a realist synthesis of evaluations of interventions aimed at improving the psychosocial and employment outcomes of individuals on methadone treatment, to determine what interventions work (or not) and why.MethodsThe realist synthesis method was utilized because it uncovers the processes (or mechanisms) that lead to particular outcomes, and the contexts within which this occurs. A comprehensive search process resulted in 31 articles for review. Data were extracted from the articles, and placed in four templates to assist with analysis. Data analysis was an iterative process and involved comparing and contrasting data within and across each template, and cross checking with original articles to determine key patterns in the data.ResultsFor individuals on methadone, engagement with an intervention appears to be important for improved psychosocial and/or employment outcomes. The engagement process involves attendance at interventions as well as an investment in what is offered. Three intervention contexts (often in some combination) support the engagement process: a) client-centered contexts (or those where clients’ psychosocial and/or employment needs/issues/skills are recognized and/or addressed); b) contexts which address clients’ socio-economic conditions and needs; and, c) contexts where there are positive client-counselor and/or peer relationships. There is some evidence that sometimes ongoing engagement is necessary to maintain positive outcomes. There is also some evidence that complete abstinence from drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin) is not necessary for engagement.ConclusionsIt is important to consider how the contexts of interventions might elicit and/or support clients’ engagement. Further research is needed to explore how an individual’s background (e.g., involvement with different interventions over an extended period) may influence engagement. Long-term engagement may be necessary to sustain some positive outcomes although how long is unclear and requires further research. Engagement can occur without complete abstinence from such drugs as cocaine or heroin, but additional research is required as engagement may be influenced by the extent and type of drug use.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40359-014-0026-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Interventions for improving employment outcomes among individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Systematic literature review. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate interventions aimed at improving employment outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). An electronic search of Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane database, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Social Science Abstracts and Social Work Abstract databases was performed on 31 December 2013. To be included in the review, studies needed to investigate interventions among individuals with SCI where employment was an outcome. Exclusion criteria include (i) reviews, (ii) studies not published in English and (iii) non-peer reviewed publications. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, two were randomized controlled trials. The strongest evidence finds that supported employment can improve employment outcomes among individuals with SCI. The use of service dogs has also been shown to improve employment outcomes. The remaining 12 studies are observational and predominantly focus on vocational rehabilitation programs. There is a dearth of high-quality intervention research that targets employment outcomes in individuals with SCI. Consequently, conclusions are mostly based on evidence from observational studies. Vocational rehabilitation programs are the primary focus of this evidence, but conclusions may be confounded, as individuals may be self-selecting for these programs. Additional randomized trials on employment interventions are needed to overcome these limitations. Studies should aim to identify which components of these programs have the greatest influence on employment outcomes.

The impact of job accommodations on employment outcomes among individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

This study aimed to fill a gap in the literature on effectiveness of employment accommodations by comparing employment outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities who received or did not receive accommodations, with models informed by a conceptual approach blending static labor supply theory, Sen's capability approach, and the International Classification of Functioning. Data for the study came from a longitudinal, four-year eight-state multisite demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. All participants had been recruited from clinical populations receiving outpatient psychiatric services. The effects of job accommodations on hours worked were assessed with generalized linear modeling (N=1,538). The effects of job accommodations on duration of employment were assessed with a parametric duration model analysis (N=1,040) that incorporated multiple spells of employment among individuals over the study period. Controlling for covariates suggested by the conceptual model, analyses showed that individuals who reported job accommodations on average worked 7.68 more hours per month and those who reported receiving accommodations worked 31% longer, with each job accommodation reported decreasing the risk of job termination by nearly 13%. Results demonstrate that job accommodations show potential to improve employment outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities receiving supported employment services, indicating that job accommodations should be stressed in policy and continuing education efforts for program staff and clients.

Transition Services for Youth With Autism

Purpose As the number of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) rises, attention is increasingly focused on employment outcomes for individuals with ASD who are exiting public school settings. This review aimed to identify what works in transition programs to help students with ASD obtain competitive employment after graduation. Method Authors combed through the literature to find all research that could definitively identify interventions that predictably led to employment for transitioning youth. Results: While no definitive conclusions can be drawn based upon the current review, the authors identified qualitative research that addressed elements of potential successful employment placements for individuals with ASD. Discussion Future research efforts are needed to develop studies that utilize rigorous experimental designs to determine the relative effectiveness of the various interventions being utilized in transition programming for students with ASD. This review is published in its entirety in the Campbell Collaboration Library of Systematic Reviews.

Rehabilitation-Related Research on Disability and Employer Practices Using Individual-Based National and Administrative Data Sets

Objective:It is useful to examine workplace factors influencing employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities and the interplay of disability, employment-related, and employer characteristics to inform rehabilitation practice.Design:A number of large national survey and administrative data sets provide information on employers and can inform this inquiry.Results:Provides an overview of 9 national survey and administrative data sets that can be used to investigate the impact of employer practices on employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.Conclusions:Provides specific examples of disability and employment research, which can be performed with these data sets and implications for rehabilitation policy, practice, and research.

Employment Outcomes of Transition-Aged Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A State of the States Report

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the employment outcomes of transition-aged adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) served by vocational rehabilitation services (VR) over the last 10 years by state. A secondary purpose was to compare employment outcomes of individuals with ASD to those of the overall transition-aged population served by VR for the same time period. Although there was variability both within and among states, the results of this study indicate that, over time, the number of young adults with ASD seeking VR services has increased; however, employment outcomes including the percent of adults with ASD achieving employment, the number of hours worked, and wages earned have not improved for this group. The cost to provide VR services to transition-aged adults with ASD was relatively stable over time. Transition-aged adults with ASD were more likely to become successfully employed as a result of receiving VR services than the overall population of transition-aged adults served by VR. However, the employed transition-aged adults consistently worked fewer hours and earned lower wages than those in the overall population. Factors that may influence variability within and among states, and between groups, and implications for research and practice are discussed.

Promising best practices that lead to employment in vocational rehabilitation: Findings from a four-state multiple case study

The state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program has been challenged to demonstrate the effectiveness of VR services provided to eligible consumers. State-federal VR agencies are under pressure to develop a foundation of evidence-based practices that lead to competitive employment outcomes for people with disabilities. This article provides a qualitative analysis of the organization structural elements and service delivery practices related to the provision of effective best practices that enhance employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Using a Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) approach, a multi-stage qualitative analysis of four high performing state VR agencies was conducted to identify promising organizational and service delivery practices that facilitate employment outcomes. Twenty-nine practices were identified as being supportive of the successful outcomes of persons with disabilities being served by these agencies. The identified practices reflect unique and similar service patterns across the four VR agencies studied. Practices were divided into Promising Organizational Practices and Promising Service Delivery Practices. The culture of an organization is an important factor in the development and sustainability of innovative practices. Best practices reconsider traditional rehabilitation counselor roles and offer new methods for delivering services. Rigorous research and program evaluation are required to identify which practices will ultimately constitute evidence-based practices.

"Home is at work and work is at home": telework and individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication.

Telework, the use of distance communication technologies to participate in the workforce, has been suggested as a promising employment strategy for individuals with disabilities. The goal of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the benefits and negative impacts of telework, as well as the supports and challenges to telework activities, for persons who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This study used a series of focus group discussions, conducted on the internet, to examine the employment experiences of nine individuals with disabilities who used AAC and who held jobs that involved the use of telework. Four major themes emerged from the discussion: (a) benefits of telework, (b) negative impacts of telework, (c) strategies for addressing negative impacts of telework, and (d) recommendations for improving employment outcomes for individuals who use AAC. In summary, while participants identified the elimination of travel time and flexible work schedules as key strengths of telework, concerns were expressed regarding feelings of isolation and the difficulty in separating home and work environments. The participants also emphasized the important role of educational programs in supporting the acquisition of literacy and self-advocacy skills, and the need for post-secondary programs to support the school-to-workplace transition.

Supporting Positive Employment Outcomes for Individuals With Autism Who Use AAC

Abstract Employment is a valued transition outcome for many individuals with autism who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). As for anyone, a successful employment experience will require careful planning during the school years and the provision of appropriate supports in the workplace. Consideration of the individual's skills, preferences, and needed supports will play a critical role in ensuring positive workplace participation. This article will describe key strategies for supporting positive outcomes for individuals with autism who use AAC and illustrate these approaches with case examples.

IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM

As the number of diagnosed cases of ASD increases, school professionals must consider not only efficacious teaching approaches for improving academic goals, but also what systems must be in place to address one of the most important jobs of the school systems: preparing capable citizens. For more than 160 years, schools have been tasked with preparing good citizens who are capable of contributing to society through work. Given the fact that schools have been required to provide appropriate educational programming to students with disabilities for decades and that this includes planning for the transition to adulthood, the staggeringly poor employment outcomes of individuals on the autism spectrum should be a cause for concern. The present article reviews the significant problem of unemployment as well as employment supports for individuals with ASD. These supports include both the natural supports (scaffolding to enhance success in obtaining and maintaining employment) as well as technological advances that may minimize ostracization in the workplace. Lastly, recommendations for school psychologists who seek to play a vital role in this critical area are offered.

Macroeconomic shocks and the probability of being employed

Macroeconomic theories take polar views on the importance of choice versus chance. At the micro level, it seems realistic to assume that both dimensions play a role for individual employment outcomes, although it might be difficult to separate these two effects. Nevertheless the choice and chance dimension are seldom treated symmetrically in models that use micro data. We estimate a logistic model of the probability of being employed among married or cohabitating women that are in the labor force. Besides variables that measure individual characteristics (choice), we allow a full set of indicator variables for observation periods that represent potential effects of aggregate shocks (chance) on job probabilities. To reduce the number of redundant indicator variables automatic model selection is used, and we assess the economic interpretation of the statistically significant indicator variables with reference to a theoretical framework that allows for friction in the Norwegian labor market. In addition, we also estimate models that use female and male unemployment rates as ‘sufficient’ variables for the chance element in individual employment outcomes. Data are for Norway for the period 1988q2–2008q4.

On fitting a triangle into a circle: A study on employment outcomes of adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder who attended postsecondary institutions

Duquette, C., & Orders, S. (2013). On fitting a triangle into a circle: A study on employment outcomes of adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder who attended postsecondary institutions. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 2(3), 27-36. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.105 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.105)Aim: This study examined the employment outcomes of individuals with FASD who had undertaken postsecondary studies.Design: A qualitative research design using inductive thematic analysis and descriptive statistics was employed.Setting: The study took place in the United States and Canada.Participants: Ten adoptive mothers, one birth mother, one step-mother and one mother-in-law (N=13), representing 17 adult children, responded to the survey. Four adults with FASD who had undertaken postsecondary studies each participated in an individual interview.Measures: An electronic survey consisting mostly of open-ended items was used to obtain data on the postsecondary and employment experiences of adults with FASD from the perspectives of their relatives. Adults with FASD participated in individual interviews in which they elaborated on their experiences.Findings: More than half of the adults with FASD were employed, albeit mostly in the service sector and on a part-time basis. Four of the adults had received an early diagnosis, and these individuals were all employed; two were working in the area of their postsecondary studies. Six of the adults with FASD who had completed their college programs were working at the time of the research.Conclusions: For those individuals who did not graduate or were not employed, symptoms of FASD and other disabilities (e.g., substance abuse and mental health problems) were related to these negative outcomes. However, a supportive network of friends and family contributed to success in postsecondary studies and employment.

Pre‐Graduation Transition Services for Improving Employment Outcomes among Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

Pre‐Graduation Transition Services for Improving Employment Outcomes among Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review