Vocational rehabilitation services and employment for SSDI beneficiaries with visual impairments

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A considerable proportion of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) consumers with visual impairments are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. The consumer and the effectiveness of VR and the Social Security Administration can benefit from greater understanding of the processes leading to improved employment outcomes for this population. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate service patterns and evaluate the impact of VR services on competitive employment outcomes for consumers with visual impairments who also are SSDI beneficiaries. METHODS: Using FY 2011 RSA-911 data on 3,610 consumers who received SSDI, closed after receiving services, we conducted descriptive, factor analytic, and multilevel analyses to determine service patterns and what services predicted competitive employment. RESULTS: We found service groupings related to special and remedial services, job-related services, evaluation, and training and supports. Job placement, job search, on-the-job supports, on-the-job training, counseling and guidance, rehabilitation technology, other services, and maintenance were positively related to competitive employment, but reader services, interpreter services, job readiness training, augmentative skills training, and assessment were negatively related to employment. CONCLUSIONS: Pattern groupings of services suggest a systematic, holistic approach in VR. A new perspective is needed when examining the service-outcome relationship. Services positively related to competitive employment can have direct, direct-assistive, or indirect effects. Services negatively related to employment can be viewed as risk indicators.

Employment Outcomes and Job Quality of Vocational Rehabilitation Consumers With Deaf-Blindness

“…These studies can provide insight into factors that may be associated with employment for VR consumers who are deaf-blind. In some cases, researchers focused on specific subgroups such as consumers with congenital hearing loss (Moore, 2002), transition-age youth with visual impairments (Cimera, Rumrill, Chan, Kaya, & Bezyak, 2015; Giesen & Cavenaugh, 2012), consumers who received college or university training (Boutin & Wilson, 2009), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries (Giesen & Cavenaugh, 2013; Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016).…”

“…Researchers have consistently found positive outcomes for consumers who received job-related services (Giesen & Cavenaugh, 2012), including job placement assistance (Boutin, 2009; Boutin & Wilson, 2009; Bradley et al, 2013; Cimera et al, 2015; Dutta et al, 2008; Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016; Moore, 2001, 2002), on-the-job supports (Boutin, 2009; Cimera et al, 2015; Dutta et al, 2008; Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016), and on-the-job training (Moore, 2001). Most studies have supported the efficacy of job search assistance: It was a positive predictor of employment for consumers in three studies (Boutin & Wilson, 2009; Cimera et al, 2015; Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016) but it was a negative predictor for consumers without college/university training in one study (Boutin, 2009). Rehabilitation technology is another service that has frequently been associated with positive employment outcomes for consumers with sensory disabilities (Boutin, 2009; Boutin & Wilson, 2009; Cimera et al, 2015; Dutta et al, 2008; Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016).…”

“…College or university training was associated with employment outcomes (Cimera et al, 2015;Giesen & Cavenaugh, 2012;Moore, 2001Moore, , 2002 as was receipt of educational services resulting in a certificate or degree (Capella-McDonnall, 2005). VR counseling and guidance has positively predicted employment outcomes in some studies (Boutin, 2009;Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016) but not others (Cimera et al, 2015;Dutta et al, 2008). Receipt of general or vocational supports (Giesen & Cavenaugh, 2012) has also predicted employment outcomes, including business and vocational training (Moore, 2001(Moore, , 2002, maintenance (Boutin, 2009;Boutin & Wilson, 2009;Cimera et al, 2015;Dutta et al, 2008), and other services (Boutin & Wilson, 2009;Dutta et al, 2008).…”

“…Receipt of general or vocational supports (Giesen & Cavenaugh, 2012) has also predicted employment outcomes, including business and vocational training (Moore, 2001(Moore, , 2002, maintenance (Boutin, 2009;Boutin & Wilson, 2009;Cimera et al, 2015;Dutta et al, 2008), and other services (Boutin & Wilson, 2009;Dutta et al, 2008). Job readiness training, disability-related augmentative skills training, and interpreter services were negative predictors of employment in several studies (Boutin, 2009;Cimera et al, 2015;Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016).…”

Predictors of Earnings Enabling Likely Roll Departure for SSDI Beneficiaries With Visual Impairments in Vocational Rehabilitation

“…Service measures. These were based on the 22 available services in the RSA (2008) Case Service Report and were placed into four groups based on factor analysis and validated outcome analysis procedures (Giesen & Hierholzer, 2016). The four factors represented special and remedial services, job-related services, evaluation, and training and support services.…”