| Citation: |
Luecking, D.M., Gumpman, P., Saecker, L., & Cihak, D. (2006). Perceived quality of life changes of job seekers with significant disabilities who participated in a customized employment process.
Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 37
(4),
22-28.
|
| Title: |
Perceived quality of life changes of job seekers with significant disabilities who participated in a customized employment process |
| Authors: |
Luecking, D.M., Gumpman, P., Saecker, L., & Cihak, D. |
| Year: |
2006 |
|
Journal/Publication:
|
Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling |
| Publisher: |
National Rehabilitation Counseling Association |
| DOI: |
https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-150768
|
| Full text: |
http://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=http://www.researchgate.net/...
|
| Peer-reviewed? |
Yes
|
| NIDILRR-funded? |
No
|
|
Research design:
|
Quasi-experimental
|
| Background: |
Work has a large role in quality of life for all individuals. For individuals with significant disabilities the opportunity to work in an integrated setting in the community leads to higher quality of life than working in a sheltered workshop. Statistics show that it is unfortunately unlikely that individuals with significant disabilities will be employed. Customized employment, fitting a job to the abilities of that individual-is a promising approach to yielding competitive employment. |
|
Purpose:
|
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of customized employment on quality of life outcomes in individuals with significant disabilities. |
|
Study sample: |
Participants participated in customized employment through the Tennessee Customized Employment Partnership (TCEP). The twenty-eight participants in this study were mostly male (53.6%) and between the ages of 25-45 (39.3%). Sixty-three percent (63.6%) had either a certificate of completion from high school or a diploma or GED. Most of the study sample (32.7%) reported having a cognitive disability. |
|
Intervention:
|
All participants took part in customized employment services through the TCEP. |
|
Control or comparison condition:
|
Quality of life scores were the comparison condition |
|
Data collection and analysis:
|
Participants were interviewed three times over a 6 month period using the Quality of Life Changes scale. The first interview was done before the customized employment began, the second at 3 months into customized employment, and the third at 6 months. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was done to determine the relationship between customized employment and quality of life. |
|
Findings:
|
Participants reported statistically significant gains on the vast majority of all Quality of Life measures over time. |
|
Conclusions:
|
These findings support the effectiveness of customized employment on improving quality of life perceptions in individuals with significant disabilities. It should come as no surprise that gaining and maintaining competitive employment can improve quality of life in anyone. Customized employment should continue to be studied. |
