Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies Research Articles

Supervision Impact on Rehabilitation Counselor Job Satisfaction and Intent-to-Quit

In the public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, recruitment and retention of rehabilitation counselors remains a persistent concern that has broad implications for employee working conditions and the capacity to effectively serve individuals with disabilities. Rehabilitation counselor supervision models have commonly included clinical supervision, administrative supervision, and supervisory working alliance (SWA) variables, though there is limited empirical research exploring how these factors relate to counselor outcomes. A sample of 192 practicing rehabilitation counselors from state VR agencies were surveyed to investigate how these factors contribute to counselors’ job satisfaction and intent-to-quit. Results showed that clinical supervision practices contributed to higher job satisfaction and lower intent-to-quit, with evidence that this effect was mediated through the SWA. Administrative supervision was not a significant contributor to outcomes in multivariate models. Findings suggest that regular supervision sessions that incorporate clinical concerns and balance administrative demands may support counselor retention.

Fortune 500 companies and employment of people with disabilities: The intermediary role of disability inclusion policies and practices

BACKGROUND: Employing qualified individuals with disabilities can improve organizational competitiveness and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. However, research on disability inclusion policy and practices among employers committed to hiring people with disabilities is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate efforts of Fortune 500 companies to include disability in their DEI policy and examine the effect of disability inclusion policy and practices on employment of people with disabilities METHODS: Four hundred sixty-six human resource and project managers with hiring authority participated in the present study. The Disability Inclusion Profiler-23 (DIP-23) was used to assess the perceived importance and implementation level of disability inclusion policy and practices in Fortune 500 and non-Fortune 500 companies. Two-sample independent t-tests were used to compare disability-employment rates and disability inclusion scores between Fortune 500 and non-Fortune 500 groups. Parallel mediation analysis was conducted to examine the extent to which executive level and mid-manager level DIP scores mediated the relationship between Fortune 500 companies and disability employment rates. RESULTS: Fortune 500 companies demonstrated higher disability employment rates and better disability inclusion policies and practices compared to non-Fortune 500 companies. CONCLUSION: State vocational rehabilitation agencies and other disability service providers should engage Fortune 500 executives to bolster disability inclusion efforts. Collaboration between vocational rehabilitation professionals and mid-level managers can enhance DIP policy implementation, thereby improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Fortune 500 companies and employment of people with disabilities: The intermediary role of disability inclusion policies and practices

BACKGROUND: Employing qualified individuals with disabilities can improve organizational competitiveness and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. However, research on disability inclusion policy and practices among employers committed to hiring people with disabilities is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate efforts of Fortune 500 companies to include disability in their DEI policy and examine the effect of disability inclusion policy and practices on employment of people with disabilities METHODS: Four hundred sixty-six human resource and project managers with hiring authority participated in the present study. The Disability Inclusion Profiler-23 (DIP-23) was used to assess the perceived importance and implementation level of disability inclusion policy and practices in Fortune 500 and non-Fortune 500 companies. Two-sample independent t-tests were used to compare disability-employment rates and disability inclusion scores between Fortune 500 and non-Fortune 500 groups. Parallel mediation analysis was conducted to examine the extent to which executive level and mid-manager level DIP scores mediated the relationship between Fortune 500 companies and disability employment rates. RESULTS: Fortune 500 companies demonstrated higher disability employment rates and better disability inclusion policies and practices compared to non-Fortune 500 companies. CONCLUSION: State vocational rehabilitation agencies and other disability service providers should engage Fortune 500 executives to bolster disability inclusion efforts. Collaboration between vocational rehabilitation professionals and mid-level managers can enhance DIP policy implementation, thereby improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Customized employment for transition-age youth in state vocational rehabilitation program PY2017 - PY2020: Analysis of service outcomes and related factors

BACKGROUND: Customized employment (CE) is positively correlated with competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcomes and potentially supports transition-age youth in achieving sustainable employment. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the employment outcomes and related factors for transition-age youth with disabilities who received CE services through state vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs) and their vendors from program year 2017 to 2020. METHODS: Employing a combination of descriptive analysis, binary logistic and multiple regression, chi-square tests, and t-tests, the study investigates the demographics, potential barriers, and vocational rehabilitation (VR) services received by the research sample using the RSA-911 dataset. RESULTS: The sample comprised 672 individuals with a mean age of 22.30 years. The most prevalent barrier to employment among CE participants was long-term unemployment, while Supplemental Security Income (SSI) was the most common social security benefit. Furthermore, only 13.2% of transition-age youth achieved CIE status, compared to 30.1% of adults. The key predictors of employment outcomes, including CIE status, weekly earnings, and working hours were identified. CONCLUSION: The research reveals significant differences in employment outcomes between transition-age youth and adult VR consumers. These insights emphasize the necessity for SVRAs to consider a range of factors, including demographics, potential employment barriers, and the effects of various VR services, to increase the CE service effectiveness for transition-age youth.

Promoting quality career pathways for individuals with disabilities through the public vocational rehabilitation program

BACKGROUND: Career Pathways initiatives in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) have emerged as a crucial strategy for enhancing quality employment outcomes among individuals with disabilities. This paper conducts a comprehensive examination of the integration of Career Pathways within VR, emphasizing its significance in aligning vocational goals with evolving labor market demands. OBJECTIVE: Drawing from the innovative Career Pathways initiatives introduced by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), this paper addresses the RSA Career Pathways Demonstration Initiatives from 2015 to 2019 alongside the ongoing Disability Innovation Fund-Career Advancement Initiative Model Demonstration Project. The paper also discusses the strengthening of Career Pathways through the development of high-quality Individualized Plans for Employment and program evaluation. METHODS: This study utilized a modified exploratory case study approach to examine past and present career pathways initiatives in state VR agencies. Data were gathered from publicly available documentation and archival records, focusing on 12 cases from two national initiatives: the RSA Career Pathways Demonstration Initiatives (2015–2019) and the Disability Innovation Fund-Career Advancement Initiative Model Demonstration Project (2021–2026). RESULTS: The study reveals a substantial, positive impact on employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through Career Pathways in VR programs, facilitated by the integration of adaptable pathways, individualized planning, and program evaluation.

An Assessment of Collaborations Between Centers for Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies Around Transition-Age Youth

Centers for independent living (CILs) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies offer transition services that many youth with disabilities could benefit from, but little is known about the existence of and potential for collaborations between these agencies. In this study, we examined data from VR agencies to assess their relationships with CILs involving transition-age youth at the national and state levels, focusing on two types of collaborations: referrals from CILs to VR agencies and VR youth’s use of CIL services. Although many CILs and VR agencies do work together, their relationships vary, and these collaborations reflect only a small fraction of VR youth who are transition age. Further, for each collaboration type, the VR youth involved in these collaborations differ from other people who apply for or use VR services in terms of their characteristics and service use patterns. The findings point to opportunities for greater collaboration between CILs and VR agencies. They also indicate a need for more research to understand the optimal formats and contexts for such collaborations and the criteria for effectively promoting them at the person and agency levels.

The Impact of Pre-Employment Transition and Individualized Vocational Rehabilitation Services on Employment Outcomes for Youth With Disabilities

Despite increased attention by policymakers to improve postsecondary employment outcomes, rates of entry into the competitive workforce for transition-age youth with disabilities continue to lag behind their peers without disabilities. The passing of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 provided increased opportunities for transition-age youth with disabilities to prepare for the world of work through coordinated service delivery between schools and state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, including work-based learning, an established predictor of competitive employment. The current study uses the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Case Service Report (RSA-911) data between the fiscal years 2017 to 2020. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors associated with successful employment among 15,295 transition-age youth with disabilities who received both Pre-ETS and individualized VR services. Findings indicate discrepancies between the most effective and most frequently provided services. Implications for future policy, practice, and research are discussed.

State-level characteristics and trends in pre-employment transition service delivery to students with disabilities

BACKGROUND: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) substantially changed the way state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies prepare transition-age students with disabilities for competitive integrated employment through the provision of pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS). However, little is known about how state VR agencies are delivering Pre-ETS to students with disabilities in practice. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine state-level provision of Pre-ETS across the United States. METHOD: Descriptive analyses of Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Case Service Report (RSA-911) data of Pre-ETS recipients between 2017 and 2020 were conducted across states. RESULTS: Substantial state-level differences were noted in the type of Pre-ETS provided, how many Pre-ETS were provided to each recipient, the disability characteristics of students, and state use of Pre-ETS provider types (VR staff or vendor). CONCLUSION: State differences in Pre-ETS implementation require further research to investigate best practices within and across states. More differentiated training and technical assistance models aligned with these state-level differences are needed.

Transition self-assessment tool: The development and field testing of a statewide assessment of pre-employment transition services

BACKGROUND: Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies are required to evaluate their students’ need for pre-employment transition services and use this information to inform their goals, priorities and strategies. OBJECTIVE: This manuscript presents the development and field testing of the Transition Self-Assessment Tool (TSAT), a web-based instrument designed to support VR agencies’ evaluation and strategic planning initiatives by measuring the availability, accessibility, and coordination of school-based transition services. METHOD: Our methods describe the TSAT development procedures and the methods of conducting a TSAT field test. RESULTS: Findings suggest high schools offer a broad array of career-related services for their students. However, not all potentially eligible students with disabilities have access to those services and when these services are provided, they are frequently delivered without coordination with VR. Additionally, data show more services are available, accessed, and coordinated in high schools participating in a statewide transition program. CONCLUSION: Results from the TSAT field test suggest it is feasible to conduct a statewide needs assessment of school-based transition services using this instrument. Furthermore, the findings from the TSAT align with prior knowledge about school-based transition services, and can be used to inform a state’s goals, priorities and strategies.

Building a foundation for competitive integrated employment: What does the future hold for pre-employment transition services

One of the more creative aspects of the Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA, 2014) is the pre-employment transition services program (Pre-ETS). In WIOA, for the first time a federal rehabilitation law has been reauthorized to include a requirement that 15% of the state case management service funding must be devoted to Pre-ETS activities. However, a significant number of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies have been unable to spend this required 15% and therefore millions and millions of dollars nationally have been returned to the Rehabilitation Services Administration. In this paper, we describe how Pre-ETS can be used to get youth with disabilities into competitive and integrated employment, while also outlining many of the systems challenges related to these efforts— specifically for VR and schools. We also provide recommendations for the future to improve outcomes by making Pre-ETS work more effectively.

Enhancing transition outcomes: A toolkit to facilitate data-driven pre-employment transition services

BACKGROUND: The Rehabilitation Act, as amended in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), highlights the need to improve outcomes for transition-age students and youth with disabilities. The amendments require state vocational rehabilitation agencies to allocate 15% of their federal funding to provide pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to an expanded population of transition-age students and youth with disabilities. Rapid implementation of this mandate required state vocational rehabilitation agencies to begin offering the five required Pre-ETS before mechanisms for monitoring and improvement could be created and field-tested. Nearly a decade since the passage of WIOA, many states are still without practical mechanisms for evaluating Pre-ETS despite increasing emphasis on using evidence-based practices in public programs. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to present insights from the systematic implementation of The Transition Readiness Toolkit (TRT) within a state vocational rehabilitation agency. METHODS: We detail the creation of the TRT, our approach for implementing it across multiple states, and how it supports data-driven decision making for Pre-ETS providers and agencies. RESULTS: Initial results of implementation are promising. State VR agencies and Pre-ETS providers are using the data to increase accountability and understand the impact of their services. CONCLUSION: We present reflections on use of the TRT in a state agency and implications from an evidenced-based policy framework.

Leveraging the stages of learning to optimize pre-employment transition service delivery

Pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) is a specific set of services outlined in Section 113 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended by WIOA, with the purpose of expanding career exploration, postsecondary training options, and the development of career readiness skills for students with disabilities through work-based learning experiences. Pre-ETS aims to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to adulthood by equipping them with the essential skills, knowledge, and experiences needed to thrive in the workforce. However, there is great variability across states on how vocational rehabilitation agencies work with State and local education agencies to coordinate and sequence services to facilitate the development of a more comprehensive career pathway for students with disabilities. This paper provides insights and applicable guidance for practitioners seeking to optimize Pre-ETS by aligning interventions with the phases of learning. Grounded in experiential knowledge and effective practices for secondary transition and Pre-ETS, this paper offers a strategic framework designed to enhance the effectiveness of transition services for diverse individuals preparing to enter the workforce. It aims to equip practitioners with a toolbox of effective strategies and approaches, fostering a more dynamic and personalized delivery of Pre-ETS. By offering practical guidance on navigating the learning phases, this paper seeks to empower practitioners to create more impactful and tailored programs, ultimately enhancing the workforce readiness of individuals with diverse abilities.

A scoping review of pre-employment transition services for transition aged youth with disabilities

BACKGROUND: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014) requires state vocational rehabilitation agencies to dedicate 15% of their budget to providing pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to transition aged youth (TAY) with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to summarize the peer-reviewed, empirical literature focused on Pre-ETS for TAY with disabilities. METHOD: An initial search was completed on October 24th, 2023. A second search was conducted on January 1, 2024 to determine whether any additional publications that met inclusion criteria were published. We used scoping review methods to review, summarize, and identify gaps within the existing literature about Pre-ETS for TAY with disabilities. We identified study characteristics and main areas of foci for each study. RESULTS: A total of 26 peer-reviewed articles published in the United States between 2017–2023 focused on Pre-ETS for TAY with disabilities. Articles focused on (a) participants’ perceptions of Pre-ETS, (b) program and TAY outcomes, and (c) policy analyses. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Pre-ETS are a promising set of practices to increase the postschool outcomes of TAY with disabilities. Implications for practice, research, and policy are discussed.

Pre-employment transition and vocational rehabilitation services: Experiences in response to Vermont’s work-based learning program

BACKGROUND: State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies offer pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) and other VR services to high school students, but the literature has not documented differences in pre-ETS use by individual characteristics or across individual services. OBJECTIVE: We describe variation in how high school students used services from the Vermont VR agency and how a demonstration program emphasizing work-based learning experiences affected that use. METHOD: The study uses a descriptive approach to explore patterns in youth’s pre-ETS and VR services and outcomes two years after enrolling in a demonstration program. It compares youth with access to demonstration services (the treatment group) to those using usual services (the control group). RESULTS: Among all control group youth, more than half only used pre-ETS during a 24-month period, while about one-quarter used VR services and the remainder used no services from the VR agency. In contrast, nearly all treatment group youth used some VR services, with a majority (59 percent) using both VR services and pre-ETS. Control group youth who used pre-ETS and VR services differed from those who did not use these services by gender, disability type, employment, and service receipt characteristics; treatment group youth had fewer such differences. Earnings outcomes did not vary in consistent or interpretable ways. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate how an intervention designed to promote work-based learning experiences increased pre-ETS and VR use and decreased subgroup differences in service utilization. VR administrators might consider collecting information on potentially eligible students to increase access to and use of services.

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ Perspectives on Rehabilitation Success

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies often encounter challenges to help persons with disabilities successfully attain their employment goals. This study was conducted to understand how VR counselors define “success” and what practices they deem to be most successful. Ninety-one VR counselors from a Midwestern state were asked to write about a typically successful case from their caseload. Participants were asked to describe the demographic characteristics of the counseling recipient, the rehabilitation goals, whether the consumer received support from family and/or community members, the counseling outcomes, services provided, and best practices that could lead to positive outcomes. Case summaries were content analyzed to identify how “success” is defined by VR counselors. Findings revealed that 74% of the cases were related to a successful employment outcome, 30% to an educational outcome, and 33% to an independent living outcome. Several best practices for serving VR customers were identified. Counselors have clear perceptions about their successful clients, and they may use those perceptions when engaging with their clients. Implications for VR service provision are discussed.

Understanding the provision of self-employment for people with disabilities in the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program: A policy review

BACKGROUND: State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies play a critical role in helping people with disabilities gain employment; however, self-employment remains an infrequent outcome for VR participants even though self-employment rates are disproportionately higher for people with disabilities than the general population. OBJECTIVE: The study provides a broad review and analysis of state VR self-employment policies to identify barriers that impede equitable access to self-employment services and provide recommendations on how to address these nationally. METHODS: The policy analysis included reviewing 73 VR state and territory agency’s policies across the country, using data from the RSA-911 self-employment data and other sources about the self-employment process through VR agencies. RESULTS: Currently less than 2% of VR participants exit into self-employment nationwide. Three policy areas that could increase outcomes for self-employment are self-employment assessments, market analysis or business planning requirements, and self-employment funding and financing guidelines. CONCLUSION: Policymakers need to explore new opportunities to address unintended barriers and increase equitable access to self-employment such as replacing trait focused self-employment assessments, providing technical assistance from the beginning of the self-employment process, and develop funding policies that better align with those for wage employment services.

Facilitating self-employment as a competitive integrated employment outcome: Results of a focus group study with vocational rehabilitation professionals

BACKGROUND: Self-employment is defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 as a competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcome. However, an analysis of the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) reveals that a limited number of people with disabilities receiving vocational rehabilitation services exit the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies with a self-employment outcome. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) professionals report as facilitators of self-employment outcomes for people with disabilities. METHOD: A national sample of VR professionals was recruited to participate in a series of focus groups. Using Zoom Meeting, participants discussed their experiences with self-employment when providing services to people with disabilities. The research team used NVivo12 software to conduct primary data analysis of the transcribed focus group sessions with the consent of the participants. RESULTS: Four major themes emerged from the analysis to include 1) resources, 2) practices, 3) experiences, and 4) attitudes. Each of these major themes contained subthemes related to facilitators of self-employment for people with disabilities. CONCLUSION: A key finding was the need for more comprehensive and individualized training and support for VR counselors. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

A summary of the self-employment outcomes in the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program: Program years 2018, 2019, and 2020

BACKGROUND: Self-employment continues to be an elusive competitive integrated employment outcome (CIE) for people with disabilities receiving services from State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRA). This article provides a snapshot of the extent to which self-employment is occurring within the SVRA program as a CIE outcome. Recommendations are included for VR policies and practices that may expand the self-employment participation and outcomes for an inclusive range of VR recipients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to provide an analysis of the national outcomes in self-employment for individuals served by the SVRAs for program years 2018, 2019, and 2020. METHODS: The data in this article was provided by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) as part of the RSA Case Service Report (RSA-911) for 2018, 2019, and 2020. RESULTS: Self-employment continues to be an underutilized VR service. Outcomes in self-employment as a percentage of all VR outcomes in CIE remained low and stagnant during 2018 and 2019 with a noticeable drop in outcomes for PY 2020. Consistently, self-employment outcomes are predominantly achieved in the VR system by a homogenous population of older (age 50+) participants whose race is white and gender is male. CONCLUSION: Unless the field of vocational rehabilitation proactively commits to diversifying and expanding self-employment participation and outcomes, the odds are that the outcomes for self-employment will remain unchanged.

Business Engagement Strategies for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals: A Scoping Review

The purpose of this scoping review was to identify research-based resources that explore vocational rehabilitation-related business engagement strategies as they relate to three steps: (a) understanding business needs, (b) marketing to businesses, and (c) supporting businesses. In doing so, this review begins to identify strategies that may support vocational rehabilitation agencies and their compliance with the business engagement requirements mandated by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The search of several databases and gray literature identified 153 resources with titles and abstracts that met screening criteria, 54 of which met the inclusion criteria after a review of the full text. Because the purpose of a scoping review is to describe the landscape of available literature on a given topic, this review did not vet studies for quality, nor did it exclude studies of interventions that did not lead to successful business engagement outcomes. Given its goal of identifying broadly relevant information available, the review included resources from non–peer-reviewed, practitioner-oriented sources.

Employment and Rehabilitation for Veterans With Chronic Conditions and Disabilities: Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Suggestions

This review aims to explore and synthesize employment and rehabilitation services for veterans with disabilities to help rehabilitation clinicians and researchers understand the characteristics and needs of this population, with the aim to improve employment and rehabilitation outcomes for veterans with disabilities. More specifically, our goal is to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and employment services for veterans with disabilities. Veterans with disabilities may be eligible to receive VR services from both the Veterans Affairs (VA) and state VR agencies; however, they still experience significant challenges and barriers in employment due to unique characteristics of veterans and their disabilities. For example, poverty, homelessness, and unemployment due to disability are significant challenges for veterans with disabilities, their families, service providers, stakeholders, and policymakers. Research has long identified employment and rehabilitation services can buffer against these challenges; however, VR services are identified as the least used VA services among veterans with disabilities. This study includes implications to inform clinicians, policy makers, and researchers on VR and employment services for veterans with disabilities.