Carolyn E. Hawley

Adolescence to adulthood in STEM education and career development: The experience of students at the intersection of underrepresented minority status and disability

Several systemic barriers exist to the successful recruitment and retention of students for Science, Technology, Engineer- ing and Mathematics (STEM) education programs and careers when students are both members of an underrepresented minority group and an individual with a disability. The authors have designed intervention programs in higher education settings and in this article they identify and discuss well-entrenched impediment that are programmatic, economic, psychological, architectural, and attitudinal in nature. Unless and until these obstacles are addressed (particularly in early adolescence), marginal gains in recruitment and retention is the most that may be expected for STEM education among underrepresented minority students with disabilities.

ADA Perceived Disability Claims: A Decision-Tree Analysis

Introduction The purpose of this study is to examine the possible interactions of predictor variables pertaining to perceived disability claims contained in a large governmental database. Specifically, it is a retrospective analysis of US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) data for the entire population of workplace discrimination claims based on the “regarded as disabled” prong of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of disability. Methods The study utilized records extracted from a “master database” of over two million charges of workplace discrimination in the Integrated Mission System of the EEOC. This database includes all ADA-related discrimination allegations filed from July 26, 1992 through December 31, 2008. Chi squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) was employed to analyze interaction effects of relevant variables, such as issue (grievance) and industry type. The research question addressed by CHAID is: What combination of factors are associated with merit outcomes for people making ADA EEOC allegations who are “regarded as” having disabilities? Results The CHAID analysis shows how merit outcome is predicted by the interaction of relevant variables. Issue was found to be the most prominent variable in determining merit outcome, followed by industry type, but the picture is made more complex by qualifications regarding age and race data. Although discharge was the most frequent grievance among charging parties in the perceived disability group, its merit outcome was significantly less than that for the leading factor of hiring.

Factors Influencing Functional Outcomes and Return-to-Work After Amputation: A Review of the Literature

Purpose Amputation is a life changing event that can significantly impact an individual’s physical and mental well-being. Our objective was to review literature exploring the impact of amputation upon a person’s functioning and inclusion in the workplace. Methods Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched using keywords related to amputation, employment and community reintegration. Eligible studies were published since 2000 and one of the following study designs: randomized controlled trial, non-randomized controlled trial, retrospective study, prospective study, concurrent cohort study, or cross sectional study. Studies for civilians with amputation as well as service members and Veterans with amputation were considered for inclusion. Results The search identified 995 articles, 25 of which met inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in the review. While strong evidence for correlations and predictors of outcomes after amputation were limited, multiple factors were identified as contributing to physical functioning and employment after amputation. Conclusions Outcomes after amputation can vary widely with many potentially inter-related factors contributing. The factors identified may also serve to inform the development of interventions aiming to improve functional performance and reintegration after amputation. Furthermore, the review highlights the need for more high quality prospective studies.

Psychosocial Adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disability: A Virtue Based Model

Purpose Psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability (CID) is an area of study where a positive psychology perspective, especially the study of virtues and character strengths, can be implemented within the rehabilitation framework. A carefully developed theory to guide future interdisciplinary research is now timely. Methods A traditional literature review between philosophy and rehabilitation psychology was conducted in order to develop a virtue-based psychosocial adaptation theory, merging important perspectives from the fields of rehabilitation and positive psychology. Results The virtue-based psychosocial adaptation model (V-PAM) to CID is proposed in the present study. Conclusions The model involves five qualities or constructs: courage, practical wisdom, commitment to action, integrity and emotional transcendence. Each of these components of virtue contributes to an understanding of psychosocial adaptation. The present study addresses the implications and applications of V-PAM that will advance this understanding.

College Graduation to Employment in STEM Careers: The Experience of New Graduates at the Intersection of Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minority Status and Disability.

Purpose: To examine the recent labor market indicators of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) versus non-STEM college graduates with disabilities. Method: The sample included bachelor of science (B.S.)/B.S.-level college graduates including 1,567,527 with a disability and 32,512,446 without a disability. Data were derived from the American Community Survey public use microdata files 2009–2011 inclusive. Three measures of labor market activity were used: labor force participation rate, unemployment ratio, and employment-to-population ratio. Results: Nonparametric tests of proportion with stringent alpha levels indicated that overall labor market participation was much lower for graduates with disabilities. Indicators improved somewhat for STEM graduates with disabilities perhaps because they persisted longer in their job search efforts. Within the sample of STEM graduates with disabilities, Whites experienced greater labor market participation than ethnic minorities. It was also found that supply-side interventions to improve STEM employment (i.e., government investment) have been markedly less effective than demand-side interventions (i.e., expanded recruitment of foreign STEM degree holders). Conclusion: Recent labor economics data and the expanded recruitment of foreign STEM degree holders bring into question whether or not a true STEM crisis exists today.

Resilience From a Virtue Perspective

Resilience refers to one’s ability to adapt and navigate through challenges in the face of a chronic illness and disability (CID). Originally reported in posttraumatic stress literature, resilience has been studied in various contexts; however, very few studies have been conducted from a virtue perspective. Virtue, in psychological terms, is consistent, everyday action toward a worthwhile pursuit, based on one’s values. From a virtue perspective, resilience is defined as a positive by-product of having endured adversities while transforming them into insightful opportunities for renewal. This article introduces the virtue-based psychosocial adaptation model (V-PAM) and its applicability to the study of resilience. College students with CID (N = 256) were recruited, and their resilience was empirically examined based on the proposed model.

Charting Our Course: Chaplain Documentation as a Performance Improvement Project

This article presents the results of a 30-month process improvement initiative examining the spiritual assessment documentation patterns of staff chaplains as well as CPE residents and interns at an academic medical center. Preliminary examination of chaplain documentation patterns led to a multidimensional intervention to address perceived documentation limitations and enhance reliability. The intervention resulted in positive changes in documentation patterns as assessed by an expert panel of experienced chaplains. Results offer opportunities for the use of electronic medical record documentation in training of chaplains.