Research Database: Article Details
| Citation: | Nord, Derek; Timmons, Joe; & Lavin, Don (2015). Building economic opportunity through community development. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 42 (3), 241-245. |
| Title: | Building economic opportunity through community development |
| Authors: | Nord, Derek; Timmons, Joe; & Lavin, Don |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Journal/Publication: | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
| Publisher: | IOS Press |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-150745 |
| Full text: | https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil... | PDF |
| Peer-reviewed? | Yes |
| NIDILRR-funded? | Not reported |
Structured abstract:
| Background: | Employment outcomes for people with disabilities continue to be significantly worse than those without disabilities. Government-based employment services and supports continue to face major challenges in reaching the full population of people with disabilities and the outcomes have not shown notable positive changes in last decade. |
| Purpose: | This article discusses a potential solution to this problem, to increase the support infrastructure by exploiting the abundance of local communities. |
| Conclusions: | Community development to solve local unemployment for all people, including people with disabilities, is necessary to increase economic opportunities and lead to more sustainable efforts to improve employment outcomes. Capacity building through neighborhood networks that include faith-based organizations, business associations, advocacy groups, job clubs, and other community groups can be a low cost but effective way to connect people with jobs outside of the traditional disability system. |
| Disabilities served: |
Multiple disabilities |
| Populations served: |
Rural and remote communities Transition-age youth (14 - 24) Adjudicated adults and youth Consumers receiving federal financial assistance through TANF Culturally diverse populations (e.g., African Americans, Native Americans, and non-English speaking populations) High school dropouts / functionally illiterate persons Persons with multiple disabilities (e.g., deaf-blindness, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse) SSI and SSDI recipients Sub-minimum wage employees Youth in foster care |
| Interventions: |
Environmental modifications Other |
| Outcomes: |
Employment acquisition Full-time employment Part-time employment |