Alberto Migliore

Comparing the Transition Planning, Postsecondary Education, and Employment Outcomes of Students With Intellectual and Other Disabilities

This article describes a secondary analysis of variables from the National Longitudinal Transition Survey 2 (NLTS-2) database. Specifically, students with intellectual disability (ID) were compared to students with other disabilities regarding post-school transition goals listed on their IEPs/Transition Plans, contacts/referrals made to outside agencies during transition planning, participation of other agencies/organizations in transition planning (e.g., vocational rehabilitation and higher education representatives), and students’ postsecondary education and employment outcomes. Students with ID were less likely to have postsecondary education or competitive employment goals and outcomes and more likely to have sheltered and supported employment goals and outcomes compared to students with other disabilities. Contacts with and participation of external professionals in IEP/Transition Plan meetings also differed between the two groups of students.

Predictors of Employment and Postsecondary Education of Youth with Autism.

Using logistic and multiple regressions, the authors investigated predictors of employment and postsecondary education outcomes of youth with autism in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Data were obtained from the RSA911 data set, fiscal year 2008. Findings showed that the odds of gaining employment were greater for youth who received job placement services, yet only 48% of youth received this service. In addition, postsecondary education was among the strongest predictors of better earnings, yet only 10% of youth received college services. The authors recommended providing job placement services and college services to more youth with autism. At the same time, due to the relatively moderate effect sizes of these regression models, they recommend investigating additional variables currently not included in the RSA911 data set.

Trends in Outcomes of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program for Adults With Developmental Disabilities: 1995—2005

This article describes national trends in outcomes of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, with a focus on adults with developmental disabilities during the period of 1995 to 2005. Findings show that the VR program has made substantial progress in excluding extended employment from the array of possible employment closures. Efforts are needed, however, to increase the number of people placed in integrated employment and the earnings at closure while reducing the time frame from application to closure. The study suggests that to achieve these results, practices that lead to above-average outcomes should be identified and disseminated to agencies that show below-average outcomes; the Rehabilitation Act should be rigorously interpreted to prioritize self-sufficiency of VR recipients; and data management should be enhanced through better performance measurement and rapid reporting to state VR agencies.

Retaining the Older Workforce: Social Policy Considerations for the Universally Designed Workplace

Even in the midst of massive layoffs that come with an economic downturn, employers must remain aware of the pending impact of their aging workforce. Losing older employees to retirement drains knowledge and expertise. In response, employers are looking at new ways to retain older workers at the same time that older workers are reevaluating the traditional approach to retirement. This article presents findings from case study research consisting of interviews with key employees at 18 companies in 13 states. Five of those companies subsequently participated in in-person site visits. Interviews were held with a wide range of informants, including company leadership, supervisors, and older workers. Findings include a description of the cultural context within which the development of formal and informal older worker retention strategies occurred, as well as the retention strategies themselves. The discussion section explores the universal nature of these retention initiatives and how consideration of universality benefits not only older workers but a range of diverse groups as well.

Trends in Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Outcomes of Youth With Autism 2006–2010

As the number of adults with a diagnosis of autism continues to grow, attention is drawn to whether they receive adequate services and achieve satisfactory employment outcomes, compared with their peers with other disabilities. After examining data from the U.S. state vocational rehabilitation programs from the years 2006–2010, we found that youth with autism received similar levels of services and reported similar employment outcomes compared with their peers with other disabilities. However, these outcomes were modest, declining, and substantially different across states, regardless of the types of disabilities. We recommend continuous monitoring of services and outcomes of people with autism and other disabilities as a means to promote their economic self-sufficiency and inclusion in society.

What Do Employment Specialists Really Do? A Study on Job Development Practices.

This study examined the extent to which employment specialists implemented the job development practices recommended in the research literature when assisting job seekers with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Self-reported data were collected through a Web-based survey from 163 employment specialists from 74 employment programs in 28 states. Questions focused on the following four clusters of activities: Getting to know job seekers, finding job openings, engaging employers to hire, and facilitating transition to a job. Findings showed that some employment specialists self-reported practices conflicted with the practices advocated in the literature. On the basis of our findings, we recommended a greater emphasis on implementing job development activities recommended in the literature as well as furthering research on effective, evidence-based practices.

A state comparison of vocational rehabilitation support of youth with intellectual disabilities' participation in postsecondary education

In this study a secondary data analysis was conducted using the Rehabilitation Services Administrations 911 dataset. The findings provide an update on the role of Vocational Rehabilitation in promoting participation in postsecondary education for individuals with intellectual disabilities, by providing data that focuses on youth with intellectual disabilities in comparison with youth with other disabilities, and by highlighting differences across states nationwide (i.e., postsecondary education status upon exiting the VR system). Overall, this study showed that state VR programs play an important role in assisting youth with intellectual disabilities to participate in postsecondary education, although to a lesser extent than youth with other disabilities. Findings indicated that youth with intellectual disabilities were substantially less likely to participate in postsecondary education while in the VR system compared to youth with other disabilities, their participation varied substantially across states, and participation remained static, nationally, between 2006-2010, despite positive trends in several state VR programs.

Knowledge translation in job development: strategies for involving families.

BACKGROUND Although United States employment policies have increased support for people with disabilities working in community settings, the unemployment rate for this population remains very high, particularly for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Research shows that job developers (direct support professionals who assist people with disabilities to secure, maintain, and advance in employment) are critical to achieving quality employment outcomes. However, the extent to which job developers use practices that are considered promising in their field (such as engaging families) is not well known. METHODS This brief report summarizes findings from a qualitative study about the extent to which job developers use the recommended promising practices when working with individuals and family members. RESULTS Qualitative analysis identified the following themes among job developers: factors affecting family involvement, perceptions of family involvement, and the influence of expectation on strategies. CONCLUSIONS The field of job development faces a challenge common to many professions: translating research on best practices to those who need this knowledge the most and can use it to greatest effect. Future research should address how community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) communicate about and instill best practices, including effective family engagement, within their organizations.

From Research to Practice: Knowledge Translation in Job Development

Abstract Researchers consider job developers key to the successful negotiation of the complex factors that people with intellectual disability face when pursuing employment. Unfortunately, knowledge about the characteristics and their use of research tested strategies in job development is limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the practices and attitudes of job developers and the implementation of best practices as described in the literature. The current study is an outgrowth of a large online survey of job development practices (Migliore, Hall, Butterworth, & Winsor, 2010). Researchers reached out to a subset of survey participants via telephone and conducted qualitative interviews with eight job developers. Findings from this study further explain the conclusions of Migliore et al. (2010) regarding the gap between the literature and field. Findings from the study also indicate that the issues, challenges, and strategies that job developers use with each customer group (famil...