Race as a correlate of vocational rehabilitation acceptance: Revisited

The study at hand replicated Wilson's (1999) investigation to see whether African Americans and White Americans with disabilities differ in vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance in another midwestern state (Michigan). The results showed a statistically significant difference between race and VR acceptance, although the association was small (phi coefficient =.046). African Americans in this study were less likely than White Americans to be accepted for VR services. These results challenge earlier results reported by Wilson (1999), Wheaton (1995), and Peterson (1996) in that no differences appeared in VR acceptance rates by race. The authors also suggest further research and highlight possible obstacles that counselors need to overcome to be more sensitive to ethnic and racial minorities seeking VR services.