VCU RRTC

INTRODUCTION

Transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments face a number of barriers in achieving employment outcomes as they exit the school system. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services through the use of the federal and state VR program are a primary resource for these youth to obtain the needed supports that lead to successful competitive employment outcomes. This brief uses data from the RSA-911 Closure Report^[1] for federal fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013 to identify general demographics, services received, receipt of SSI/SDI, and reasons for case closure for transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments. The youth included in this data were age 24 or younger at the time of application for VR services.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR FY 2011, 2012, AND 2013

During 2011, 2012, and 2013, VR agencies closed 28,107 cases for individuals with mobility/dexterity impairment. The average age at application was 19.7 years old. In each year, slightly more than half of the cases closed were for males or approximately 56.5%. The majority of the individuals were white/Caucasian (80.3% in FY 2011, 79.7% in FY 2012, and 79.1% in FY 2013). The next largest racial/ethnic group was African Americans: 16.9% in FY 2011, 17.4% in FY 2012, and 18.2% in FY 2013. Very few cases were closed for individuals reported as Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander during this time period. About 11% of the sample for each of the three years identified as Hispanic or Latino.

STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS AT POINT OF CASE CLOSURE BY VR

When reviewing this brief, the reader needs to know that each VR agency submits to the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) a RSA 911 Closure Report. Each 911 Report contains information on individuals who terminated VR services during an identified Fiscal Year. Termination of VR Services is reported as one of four Case Closure codes by a VR agency to include the following:

• Status 08: An individual found not eligible for services.
• Status 30: Unsuccessful, case closed after eligibility determination but before implementing an IPE.
• Status 28: Unsuccessful, case closed after implementing an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) without achieving an employment outcome.
• Status 26: Successful rehabilitation, employment outcome achieved.

The majority of participants (approximately 63.7%) with mobility/dexterity impairments whose cases were closed in FYs 2011-2013 were closed after a signed IPE was implemented. This includes individuals who exited without an employment outcome (Status 28) and those who exited with an employment outcome (Status 26). In FY 2011, 29.0% of the VR case closures were for individuals whose cases were closed in Status 26. In FY 2012, 31.6% were closed in Status 26, and 30.4% were closed in Status 26 in FY 2013. These individuals were considered a successful rehabilitation by VR agencies. In other words, approximately 3 out of 10 transition-age youth with a primary disability of mobility/dexterity impairment exited the VR system with an employment outcome consistent with their IPE during this period. Other reasons for case closures and the corresponding percentages are in the following table.

The next table presents information on the rehabilitation rate for transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments for 2011, 2012, and 2013. The RSA calculates a rehabilitation rate to measure outcome performance for VR agencies. The rehabilitation rate is calculated by dividing the total number of Status 26 closures (individuals closed with an employment outcome) by the sum total of the Status 26 and Status 28 closures (individuals closed without an employment outcome after signing an IPE). The rehabilitation rate for transition-age youth with a primary disability of mobility/dexterity impairment was 47.2% in FY 2011; in FY 2012, 50.1%; and FY 2013, 46.9%.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH WITH MOBILITY/DEXTERITY IMPAIRMENTS CLOSED IN EMPLOYMENT (STATUS 26)

The percentages of males and females who achieved an employment outcome were consistent all three years. In addition, the majority of the individuals whose cases were closed in Status 26 during this time were white/Caucasian. Interestingly, the percentages of African American and Hispanic or Latino who achieved employment outcomes were lower each year in the study period than the percent for that race/ethnicity at application.

COMPARISON OF SERVICES FOR PARTICIPANTS CLOSED IN STATUS 26 OR 28

Approximately two-thirds of transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments whose cases were closed with an employment outcome received Assessment and/or VR Counseling and Guidance services. Slightly less than half, received College or University Training, with approximately 44% of those closed with an employment outcome having earned a post-secondary degree (14.5% Associate degree; 24.5% Bachelor degree; and 5% Master degree) prior to VR case closure. Close to 40% of clients whose cases were closed with an employment outcome received Job Placement Assistance and/or Diagnosis and Treatment services. Transportation, Job Search Assistance, Information and Referral, and Maintenance were the next most frequently received services. On-the-Job Supports were received by approximately 20%, while Supported Employment services were received by less than 10% across all three years. A primary difference between On-the-Job Supports and Supported Employment services is that supported employment would include the extended on-going support component that would continue after VR case closure.

The frequency of receipt of certain services did vary noticeably between those who achieved an employment outcome when compared to services received by participants closed in Status 28. For example, a range of 48% to 49.5% of individuals who achieved an employment outcome received College or University Training, compared to 35.7% to 36.7% of those who did not achieve an employment outcome. The same pattern occurred for Assessment, Counseling and Guidance, Diagnosis and Treatment, Transportation, and Job Placement Assistance. Supported Employment is one service where slightly higher percentages of those who did not achieve an employment outcome (a range of 11% to 11.7%) received the service compared to those who did achieve an employment outcome (7.6% to 10.1%). Conversely, On-the-Job Supports for those who did not receive an employment outcome (8.5% to 10.8%) was approximately 50% less than those who achieved an employment outcome (20%). A range of 19.1% to 29.7% of those with an employment outcome received Rehabilitation Technology services compared to a range of 16.9% to 18.0% for those closed without an employment outcome. Rehabilitation Technology services include rehabilitation engineering, assistance technology devices, and assistive technology services.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS CLOSED IN STATUS 26

The following table presents information on number of hours worked per week, as well as weekly and hourly earnings for transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments who terminated VR services with an employment outcome. The average number of hours worked per week was consistent across the three years: 30.6 hours during FY 2011, 30.7 hours in 2012, and 30.4 hours in 2013. Weekly earnings averaged $375.96 across the three fiscal years and average hourly earnings were approximately $12.30.

In comparing the percentage of participants closed with an employment outcome who worked full-time (35 or more hours per week) versus part-time employment (less than 35 hours per week), a slightly higher percentage of the individuals closed in Status 26 during this time worked full-time. Full-time employment outcomes were 52.8% in FY 2011, 51.2% in FY 2012, and 54.5% in FY 2013. The remaining employed individuals worked part-time.

STATE VR AGENCIES AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

Nationally, the percentage of transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments closed with an employment outcome was 29% in FY 2011, 31.4% in FY 2012, and 30.4% in FY 2013. The following table presents the five state VR agencies that had the highest percentage of individuals closed in employment for FYs 2011-2013, ranging from states with the highest success rate to the lowest. Iowa VR had the highest outcome rate in FY 2011 (51.0%) and the second highest rate in both FY 2012 (45.8%) and FY 2013 (46.8%). Vermont VR had the top overall rate for one year (55.6% in FY 2013).

DISCUSSION

Research indicates that youth with disabilities need assistance in advocating for themselves in the workplace and need help with learning how to ask for accommodations. Many youth come from experiences where supports are frequently provided by their school system and/or by parents and guardians. They may find it difficult to know what supports they will need in the workplace and how to ask for these supports. Youth transitioning from school also may worry about being treated differently than their co-workers, yet they cannot receive accommodations without disclosing (Lindsay et al., 2015). In seeking to improve the employment outcome rates for transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairments, VR programs and counselors need to address the inherent challenges youth with disabilities face in areas such as self-advocacy and disclosure.

To increase the successful employment outcome rates for minority populations, VR counselors should recognize that cultural diversity may complicate access and response to services. For example, communication between the VR counselor and a VR participant from a minority ethnic population might be inhibited by variations in diction, speech patterns, vocabulary, and cultural experiences (Amezcua, 2014). VR counselors should strive to provide culturally and linguistically responsive services to help overcome the disadvantages often faced by minority youth with disabilities.

Overall, more transition-age youth with a mobility/dexterity impairments were closed by VR without an employment after an IPE was implemented than those who were closed with an employment outcome. In comparison, the national rehabilitation rate for all individuals closed by VR agencies after an IPE was implemented was 55.4% in FY 2012 and 58.5% in FY 2013 (RSA, 2016). VR agencies and counselors need to focus attention on strategies that hold the most promise for improving employment outcome rates among transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity impairment.

It is apparent from the age and educational level indicators of the study sample at application that a minority of students and youth in this population applied for VR services while still participating in a secondary level program. The average age at application for VR services for the study sample was 19.7. Approximately 60% of applicants had completed their secondary level education at time of application. It is clear that VR programs need to focus on diversifying and expanding transition oriented vocational rehabilitation services to a younger group of secondary level students and youth with a primary disability of mobility/dexterity impairment.

The priorities, funding and service guidelines established in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) are a timely resource for VR agencies in diversifying and expanding transition services. WIOA sets a clear goal that youth with disabilities will obtain integrated competitive employment or postsecondary education as a transition outcome. Research has demonstrated that vocational activities, including community work experiences while in secondary education, is a primary predictor of successful employment outcomes individuals with disabilities (Lindstrom et al., 2013; Shandra & Hogan, 2008; Wehman, Sima, et al., 2015). WIOA builds on this research by emphasizing pre-employment transition services. For example, 15% of state Title I VR Funds must be used for pre-employment transition services for in-school youth. These services include:

• job exploration counseling,
• work based learning experiences,
• counseling on post-secondary opportunities,
• workplace readiness training, and
• training on self-advocacy.

Additional specified activities for local VR area offices, based on availability of funds, include:

• attending Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings for Special Education Students with IEPs;
• working with schools to ensure provisions of pre-employment transition services;
• when invited, attending person-centered planning meetings; and
• working with Workforce Boards, One Stop Career Centers, and employers to develop employment opportunities.

These youth oriented revisions to vocational rehabilitation move potential initiation of VR involvement to an earlier age. WIOA extends this involvement to as young as 14 years old, strengthening vocational rehabilitation and school partnership opportunities. WIOA has also expanded the definition of supported employment to include customized employment, thus expanding the employment focused tools available to VR counselors in working with individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities. The goals and service requirements of WIOA, particularly in the area of pre-vocational services, provide VR agencies the opportunity to initiate services to younger and more diverse population of transition-age youth with a primary mobility/dexterity impairment.

There are a number of state VR agencies identified in this study whose success rate at achieving employment outcomes in close to and at times above 50% of applicants for VR services who are transition-age youth with a mobility/dexterity impairment. In comparison, the national average success rate of is approximately 30%. Identifying the specific reasons for these higher success rates was beyond the scope of this study. However, these higher success rates point clearly to the ability of VR participants to achieve employment success and that the current 30% national employment outcome rate for VR participants substantially understates the employment potential of this population. State VR agencies in Iowa, Vermont, Arkansas, Nebraska, and West Virginia can provide valuable information on VR service profiles with demonstrated effectiveness in providing VR services and supports leading to employment outcomes for transition-age youth with mobility/dexterity

In summary, the information gained from this study can serve as a baseline for research and demonstration efforts focused on measuring progress in the coming years in VR efforts to support transition-age youth with a primary disability of mobility/dexterity impairment in achieving post-secondary and employment outcomes consistent with their goals and interests. In recent years, the primary population from this target group benefiting from VR services in terms of achieving an employment outcome was individuals who applied for VR services after completion of their secondary program. Consistent with the goals of the Workforce Innovations and Opportunities Act, VR agencies need to aggressively reach out to a younger secondary-age population while working closely with secondary and post-secondary level programs and employers to assist a more diverse population of transition-age youth enter and benefit from VR services.

References

Amezcua, L. (2014). Multiple sclerosis in the Latino/Hispanic American. Los Angeles, CA: Keck Medical School, University of Southern California.

Benz, M. R., Lindstrom, L., & Yovanoff, P. (2000). Improving graduation and employment outcomes of students with disabilities: Predictive factors and student perspectives. Exceptional Children, 66(4), 509-529.

Lindsay, S., McDougall, C., Menna-Dack, D., Sanford, R., & Adams, T. L. (2015). An ecological approach to understanding barriers to employment for youth with disabilities compared to their typically developing peers: Views of youth, employers, and job counselors. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(8), 701-711.

Lindstrom, L., Kahn, L. G., & Lindsey, H. (2013). Navigating the early career years: Barriers and strategies for young adults with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39(1), 1-12.

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), (2016.) Annual disability statistics compendium: FY 2013.Washington DC. Retrieved April 21, 2016 from: http://disabilitycompendium.org/statistics/vocational-rehabilitation/10-9-vocational-rehabilitation-change-in-the-rehabilitaiton-rate-2012-to-2013

Shandra, C. L., & Hogan, D. P. (2008). School to work program participation and the post high school employment of young adults with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 29(2), 117-130.

Wehman, P., Sima, A. P., Ketchum, J., West, M. D., Chan, F., & Luecking R. (2015). Predictors of successful transition from school to employment for youth with disabilities. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 25(2), 323-334.

Information for this research brief was developed by the VCU-RRTC on Employment of People with Physical Disabilities. The authors for this issue are William G. Revell, Katherine J. Inge, Robert E. Cimera, and Hannah E. Seward. If you have questions on this brief or on the VCU-RRTC, you may contact Dr. Inge, Project Director at kinge@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5956. For more information on the VCU-RRTC, please visit http://www.vcurrtc.org.

VCU-RRTC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran's status, political affiliation, or disability. The VCU-RRTC is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number #90RT503502). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. If accommodations are needed, please contact Dr. Inge at kinge@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5956.