Career and work-based learning interventions for young recipients of Supplemental Security Income

BACKGROUND: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act prioritized provision of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to young adults with disabilities, reinforcing the importance of assisting young persons with disabilities to prepare for and engage in employment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine patterns of provision of career and work-based learning interventions to young SSI recipients. METHODS: This investigation was accomplished through analysis of case service data of 1,646 individuals who participated in a multiyear program designed to improve educational and employment outcomes. Discrepancies in career and work-based learning interventions were examined based upon age, gender, disability type, parent employment status, parent education level, and youth and parent expectations about work and education. RESULTS: No differences in interventions were observed by gender, age at enrollment, or type of disability. Affirmative expectations about going to work or attending college after completing high school were associated with higher mean intervention scores for some types of career and work-based learning interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that gender, age, and disability did not contribute to differences in provision of services to young SSI recipients. Additional findings underscore the importance of fostering youth and parent expectations about youth engaging in work after completing high school.

[1]  Jennifer L. Cmar,et al.  In-School Predictors of Postschool Employment for Youth Who Are Deaf-Blind , 2018 .

[2]  M. West,et al.  Students at High Risk of Poor School-to-Work Outcomes: Mitigating Factors , 2018, Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education.

[3]  Jack Johnson.  Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center , 2017 .

[4]  F. Balcazar,et al.  Vocational Rehabilitation of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities: A Propensity-Score Matched Study , 2017, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.

[5]  Anne V. Kirby.  Parent Expectations Mediate Outcomes for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2016, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[6]  C. McKay,et al.  Appealing Features of Vocational Support Services for Hispanic and non-Hispanic Transition Age Youth and Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions , 2015, The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research.

[7]  M. West,et al.  Predictors of Successful Transition from School to Employment for Youth with Disabilities , 2015, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.

[8]  David W. Test,et al.  Strategies for Creating Work-Based Learning Experiences in Schools for Secondary Students With Disabilities , 2015 .

[9]  M. R. Boer,et al.  Expectations from Different Perspectives on Future Work Outcome of Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities , 2015, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.

[10]  M. Olney,et al.  It Takes a Village: Influences on Former SSI/DI Beneficiaries Who Transition to Employment , 2014 .

[11]  J. Taylor,et al.  Frequency and Correlates of Service Access Among Youth with Autism Transitioning to Adulthood , 2014, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[12]  Valerie L. Mazzotti,et al.  Secondary Transition Evidence-Based Practices and Predictors , 2014 .

[13]  Audrey A. Trainor,et al.  Transition Assessment and Planning for Youth With Severe Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities , 2014 .

[14]  Erik W. Carter,et al.  Preparing Transition-Age Students with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders for Meaningful Work , 2012 .

[15]  J. Gau,et al.  The Relationship between Parent Expectations and Postschool Outcomes of Adolescents with Disabilities , 2012 .

[16]  Diane M. Austin,et al.  Predictors of Postschool Employment Outcomes for Young Adults With Severe Disabilities , 2012 .

[17]  Larry J. Kortering,et al.  Career Ambitions , 2010 .

[18]  Paula D. Kohler,et al.  Evidence-Based Secondary Transition Predictors for Improving Postschool Outcomes for Students With Disabilities , 2009 .

[19]  A. Blackhurst,et al.  Precursors to the Gender Gap in College Enrollment: Children's Aspirations and Expectations for Their Futures , 2008 .

[20]  P. Loprest,et al.  Early Transition Experiences of Transition-Age Child SSI Recipients , 2007 .

[21]  M. Wagner,et al.  Perceptions and Expectations of Youth with Disabilities. A Special Topic Report of Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2). NCSER 2007-3006. , 2007 .

[22]  Meg Grigal,et al.  Parents' In-School Values and Post-School Expectations for Transition-Aged Youth with Disabilities , 2004 .

[23]  E. S. Rogers,et al.  A Study of the Social Security Work Incentives and Their Relation to Perceived Barriers to Work Among Persons With Psychiatric Disability , 2003 .

[24]  R. Ladner,et al.  Work-based learning experiences help students with disabilities transition to careers: a case study of University of Washington projects. , 2014, Work.

[25]  F. Balcazar,et al.  Predicting community- versus facility-based employment for transition-aged young adults with disabilities: The role of race, ethnicity, and support systems , 2009 .

[26]  J. Reynolds,et al.  Rising College Expectations among Youth in the United States: A Comparison of the 1979 and 1997 NLSY , 2001 .