The Influence of Race, Causal Attribution, and In-Group Favoritism on Recommendations for Rehabilitation Services

Abstract

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a program that provides individualized and supportive services to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment compatible with their skills, abilities, and interests (Parker & Patterson, 2012;Rubin & Roessler, 2008). Eligibility for these services requires that an individual has a disability that includes a physical or mental impairment that constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, benefits from services in achieving an employment outcome, and an individual must use these services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment (Parker & Patterson). Legislation such as the Civil Rights Act and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 were passed in an attempt to end discrimination based on race, disability, gender, religion, as well as other factors. However, studies have yielded results that show discrimination may still occur for specific populations of people with disabilities.The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992 established the Cultural Diversity Initiative to (a) "address disproportionately higher rates of disabilities among minority individuals" (Bellini, 2003, p. 1) and (b) enhance the quality of rehabilitation services to these populations (Jenkins, Ayers, & Hunt, 1996). The preamble to the 1992 amendments mentioned that persons from ethnic and racial minority groups experience unequal access to VR services. However, not everyone agreed with this assertion. Bolton and Cooper (1980), Dziekan andOkocha (1993), andHerbert andMartinez (1992) have suggested the differences in acceptance of African Americans and Caucasian consumers were small, and possibly insignificant (as cited in Wilson, 2000Wilson, , 2002.

Impact of substance use disorders on employment for veterans.

“…The unemployment rate for veterans across the United States ranges between 2.7% and 11.3%, with labor force participation rates (percentage of people participating in work from the total amount able to participate in work) were 46.8% for veterans and 64.3% for nonveterans (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). However, when SUDs are present for individuals seeking these services, there have been disparities in eligibility criteria among different VR agencies as shown in Sprong et al (2014). Specifically, many agencies in the community (37%) required completion of drug/alcohol treatment and evidence of abstinence prior to being eligible for entry into the VR program and receiving services (job readiness training, job-seeking skills, job placement services).…”

“…Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). However, when SUDs are present for individuals seeking these services, there have been disparities in eligibility criteria among different VR agencies as shown in Sprong et al (2014). Specifically, many agencies in the community (37%) required completion of drug/alcohol treatment and evidence of abstinence prior to being eligible for entry into the VR program and receiving services (job readiness training, job-seeking skills, job placement services).…”

“…This research also showed that veterans with co-occurring anxiety and co-occurring general medical problems had lower odds of having any earnings compared to veterans without co-occurring disorders. Since employment has been negatively impacted by SUDs (Atherton et al, 2010; Sprong et al, 2014), interventions such as VR have been developed within the Department of Veteran Affair’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care system to reduce employment-related barriers so that veterans can obtain and maintain meaningful employment. Two important factors that have been identified to assist in the recovery of SUDs include early intervention resulting in the enrollment in treatment (Sprong et al, 2012), and the completion of treatment increases if employment/VR services are provided concurrently (Melvin et al, 2012).…”

“…Prior research has indicated that approximately 10% of veterans with SUDs utilize treatment (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2019a). Additionally, the contribution that homelessness or lack of stable housing, or treatment for co-occurring psychiatric disabilities might negatively impact the obtainment of employment(Sprong et al, 2014). Specific explanations for lack of completion or…”

Persons With Disabilities in Self-Employment Served by the Federal/State Vocational Rehabilitation System: Differences Between 2011–2013 and 2017–2019

“…Females earned lower hourly wages compared with males in this study, similar to previous findings (Yamamoto & Alverson, 2015). Research on gender differences in VR has noted differences in services provided and “gendered” types of employment (Sprong et al, 2017), and may influence self-employment outcomes. A positive finding showed that the increase in hourly pay rate from FY2011–FY2013 to FY2017–FY2019 was larger (percentagewise) for females (30.7%; from $12.7 to $16.6) than for males (21.8%; from $14.7 to $17.9).…”