EFFECTS OF WORK EXPERIENCES ON THE POST-SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES OF YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES: A STUDY OF ONE STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY’S TRANSITION PROGRAM

Abstract

This dissertation presents information on the predictive impact of work experiences, age at time of application for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, and priority group category of eligibility on successful VR case closure (i.e., achievement of competitive, integrated employment outcomes) for transition age youth served by one state’s VR agency. Using logistic regression, extant data were analyzed for transition age clients served by the agency over an eight-year time period, consisting of 8,966 participants. Results indicated age at time of application for VR services, priority group category, gender identification, and racial identification were each statistically significantly predictors of the ability of transition age clients to achieve a successful VR case closure. Work experience as a predictor was not found to predict outcomes. Among work experiences, Project SEARCH was the only work experience to significantly predict successful employment outcomes. Those individuals achieving higher rates of competitive, integrated employment tended to be in the less severe priority category of eligibility, older at the time of application for VR services, those who identified as male, and those who identified as White. Findings such as this inform the fields of special education and VR in considering the possible factors behind the results, examining their data further, and potentially changing their existing programs, policies, and practices or creating new ones to increase the employment outcomes of transition age clients.