John Butterworth

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.

Pushing the Employment Agenda: Case Study Research of High Performing States in Integrated Employment

Organizational variables, including policies, practices, collaborations, and funding mechanisms resulting in high performance in integrated employment, were described through case study research in 3 states. Findings address how contextual factors, system-level strategies, and goals of the system are related as well as how they sustain systems change. Strategies such as flexibility in funding and practices; communication of values through data, rewards, and funding incentives; and innovation diffusion through relationships and training were most successful when they were embedded within the context of a solid values base, a network of dedicated stakeholders, and clarity about systemic goals. Implications are presented with respect to state systems, community rehabilitation providers as partners in planning, and future leadership in the field.

Achieving Community Membership through Community Rehabilitation Provider Services: Are We There Yet?.

Findings from an analysis of the characteristics and services of community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) in the early years of the 21st century are presented. Services provided by CRPs can be categorized along two dimensions: purpose (work, nonwork) and setting (facility-based, community). The number of individuals with disabilities present provides a third perspective for analysis. The majority of CRPs provided both work and nonwork services, and the majority of those that provide employment services offered both integrated and facility-based employment. Individuals with developmental disabilities were most likely to be supported in facility-based work (41%), followed by nonwork services (33%), and integrated employment (26%). Despite some changes in CRP characteristics, the goal of community membership has not yet been widely achieved.

Entering work: employment outcomes of people with developmental disabilities.

This paper provides a current snapshot of employment outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities who had recently entered integrated employment (individual and group supported jobs) with the support of a community rehabilitation provider. Individual outcomes are based on an analysis of the National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers conducted between 2004 and 2005 by the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Survey results show that the majority of respondents with developmental disabilities worked part-time in individual jobs, predominantly in the entry-level service industry; earned above federal minimum wage; and received paid time off. Differences in employment outcomes by type of integrated employment model are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings. Die vorliegende Veröffentlichung liefert eine Momentaufnahme der Beschäftigungsergebnisse von Menschen mit Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigungen, die unlängst mit Hilfe einer gemeindenahen Reha-Organisation eine integrierte Anstellung (Jobs mit individueller und gruppenorientierter Unterstützung) gefunden haben. Die Einzelergebnisse beruhen auf einer Analyse der National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers, die zwischen 2004 und 2005 vom Institute for Community Inclusion an der University of Massachusetts in Boston durchgeführt wurde. Die Umfrageergebnisse zeigen, dass die Mehrheit der Befragten mit Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigungen Teilzeit in ihren Jobs gearbeitet haben, dass sie überwiegend in Einstiegspositionen im Dienstleistungssektor gearbeitet haben, sowie ein Gehalt über dem staatlichen Mindestgehalt und bezahlten Urlaub erhielten. Erörtert werden die unterschiedlichen Beschäftigungsergebnisse nach Art des integrierten Beschäftigungsmodells. Die Veröffentlichung schließt mit einer Diskussion der Auswirkungen der Ergebnisse. Este estudio presenta el panorama actual de los resultados laborales de individuos con anomalías del desarrollo (AD) que se han incorporado recientemente a un lugar de trabajo integrado (empleos asistidos, individuales y en grupo) con el apoyo de un proveedor de rehabilitación extrahospitalaria. Los resultados individuales se basan en un análisis de la Encuesta Nacional de Proveedores de Rehabilitación Extrahospitalaria realizada entre el 2004 y el 2005 por el Instituto de Inclusión Social de la Universidad de Massachusetts, en Boston. Los resultados de la encuesta muestran que la mayoría de los participantes que padecen AD trabajaban a tiempo parcial en empleos individuales, predominantemente en puestos de trabajo de nivel inicial en la industria de servicios; ganaban más que el salario mínimo nacional estipulado; y podían disfrutar de días de descanso remunerado. Se discuten las diferencias en cuanto a los resultados laborales por tipo de empleo integrado. Este estudio concluye con una exposición sobre las implicaciones de los resultados obtenidos. Ce document offre une image instantanée des résultats en termes demplois pour les individus souffrant de handicap au développement (DD; ‘developmental disabilities’) et qui ont récemment commencé un emploi intégré (travail avec soutien individuel et par groupe) avec le soutien dun prestataire de rééducation au sein de la collectivité. Les résultats individuels reposent sur une analyse de lenquête nationale effectuée auprès des prestataires de rééducation au sein de la collectivité (‘National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers’) entre 2004 et 2005 par lInstitute for Community Inclusion de luniversité de Massachusetts, à Boston. Les résultats de lenquête indiquent que la majorité des personnes interrogées souffrant de DD travaillait à temps partiel dans des postes individuels, principalement des fonctions de premier niveau dans lindustrie des services, pour un salaire supérieur au minimum fédéral, et recevait des congés maladie payés. Les différences dans les résultats au niveau de lemploi selon le type de modèle demploi intégré sont abordées. Le document conclut sur une discussion des implications des résultats de lenquête.

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.

An Analysis of Trends for People with MR, Cerebral Palsy, and Epilepsy Receiving Services from State VR Agencies: Ten Years of Progress.

This article presents the results of a secondary analysis of the RSA-911 database from the Rehabilitation Services Administration. All successful vocational rehabilitation (VR) closures for individuals with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy for five data points between 1985 and 1995 were investigated. Trends in the use of competitive employment versus sheltered workshops and employment outcomes (hours and earnings) are examined. The use of supported employment in the VR system and its outcomes are also discussed. An additional analysis of the impact of the 1992 Rehabilitation Act amendments is included. Findings include increased incidence of competitive employment and supported employment services but a decrease in real earnings.

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.

Survey results from a national survey of community rehabilitation providers holding special wage certificates

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from a national survey of a random sample of community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) that hold Special Wage Certificates established under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. 214(c). The intent of the survey was to identify the types of services provided, the trends in the employment services, and the factors that were perceived as inhibiting and facilitating integrated employment outcomes. The survey results are categorized for this report in the following three areas: 1) characteristics of community rehabilitation programs, 2) organizational change trends, and 3) factors that influence the type of employment program utilized by consumers with disabilities. Representative results from the survey are that overall, facility-based programs continue to be the predominant service provided by community rehabilitation programs holding 14(c) certificates. Of the 20,075 staff members identified as serving consumers, only 1,741 (8.7%) are reported as working with individuals earning at least minimum wage. Although competitive employment and individual supported employment services among these CRPs are growing at a faster rate than other services, use of facility-based services continues to expand. Overall, the findings indicate that the organizations that provide daily services to those Americans with disabilities utilizing 14(c) certificates are continuing to predominately support facility-based work and non-work activities versus services leading to integrated employment outcomes.

Implementation of Job Development Practices

We investigated the extent to which employment consultants implemented job development practices recommended in the literature when assisting job seekers with intellectual or developmental disabilities. We contacted 83 employment consultants from 25 employment programs in Minnesota and Connecticut. Fifty-nine participants were eligible and completed surveys. We found inconsistencies between the employment consultants practices and the job development literature in areas such as involvement of family members and acquaintances, observation of job seekers in work and nonwork environments, analyses of employers needs, development of customized jobs, and assistance with work incentives planning. We recommend a system-wide effort for supporting employment consultants in implementing promising job development practices. This effort needs to involve funding agencies, employment programs, accreditation agencies, training programs, and researchers.

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.