Research Database: Article Details

Citation:  Cuevas, S., Hansmann, S., Rodrigo, H., Saladin, S.P., & Schoen, B. (2021). Factors contributing to successful employment outcomes for individuals who are hard-of-hearing. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 55 (1), 43-60.
Title:  Factors contributing to successful employment outcomes for individuals who are hard-of-hearing
Authors:  Cuevas, S., Hansmann, S., Rodrigo, H., Saladin, S.P., & Schoen, B.
Year:  2021
Journal/Publication:  Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:  IOS Press
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-211145
Full text:  https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil...   
Peer-reviewed?  Yes
NIDILRR-funded?  Yes

Structured abstract:

Background:  The State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program provides rehabilitation services to people with disabilities with the intention of assisting them in securing competitive employment. The VR services offer substantial resources to help individuals who are hard-of-hearing to enhance their quality of life and employment opportunities.
Purpose:  The current study investigated the impact of demographic variables and the use of VR services on employment outcomes among hard-of-hearing consumers. Specific VR services that lead to successful employment among hard-of-hearing consumers were thoroughly examined.
Data collection and analysis:  Binary logistic regression, Chi-square, and Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector analyses were used to analyze the data extracted from the 2014 fiscal year US. Department of Education Rehabilitation Service Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911).
Findings:  Logistic regression reveals that VR services such as diagnosis and treatment of impairments (p-value 0.000), counseling, and guidance (p-value 0.000), and rehabilitation technology (p-value 0.000) were influential factors in determining the successful employment outcome among the consumers. The relative importance of the factors based on the mean decrease in accuracy in CHAID identifies rehabilitation technology (0.264), diagnosis and treatment of impairments (0.090), job placement assistance (0.016), transportation (0.016), and secondary disability (0.010) to be among the most contributing factors.
Conclusions:  Overall, rehabilitation technology services were especially beneficial, particularly for minority consumers, in achieving a successful employment outcome.

Disabilities served:  Deafness
Hearing impairment
Interventions:  Vocational rehabilitation
Outcomes:  Full-time employment