Abstract
BACKGROUND: Supported employment has long been recognized as one of the most effective services for individuals with the most significant disabilities in achieving competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of supported employment interventions on the employment outcomes of transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities served by state vocational rehabilitation agencies using a propensity score matching (PSM) approach. METHODS: We conducted a non-experimental causal comparative study with PSM to create a treatment group (n=2162) and a comparison group (n=2191) using the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report database (Program Year 2018). Chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the differences between the treatment and control groups on employment outcomes, hourly wage and hours worked per week. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities who received supported employment were more likely to achieve CIE, earn higher wages, and work longer hours weekly than the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that supported employment is an effective service for enhancing the vocational rehabilitation outcomes of transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities and provides valuable information for policy makers, health care providers, rehabilitation counselors, and educators.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 39-48 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023-The authors. Published by IOS Press.
Funding
This study was funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Grant number: 90RTEM0003-03-00), a center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (Grant number: H264K200003) from the U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal government.
Funders | Funder number |
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Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment | H264K200003 |
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | |
U.S. Department of Education, OSERS | |
National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) | 90RTEM0003-03-00 |
Keywords
- Transition-age youth
- competitive integrated employment
- gainful employment
- intellectual disability
- supported employment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Occupational Therapy