**[Vocational Rehabilitation]{.smallcaps}**

**[Experiences Among Individuals]{.smallcaps}**

**[Who Achieved A]{.smallcaps}**

**[Supported Employment Outcome]{.smallcaps}**

**[A Longitudinal Study of the]{.smallcaps}**

**[Vocational Rehabilitation Service Program]{.smallcaps}**

**Final Report**

**April 2000**

**Submitted by**

**Research Triangle Institute**

**Submitted to**

**Rehabilitation Services Administration**

**U.S. Department of Education**

**in partial fulfillment of requirements under**

**ED Contract No. HR92-022-001**

**[Vocational Rehabilitation]{.smallcaps}**

**[Experiences Among Individuals]{.smallcaps}**

**[Who Achieved A]{.smallcaps}**

**[Supported Employment Outcome]{.smallcaps}**

**[A Longitudinal Study of the]{.smallcaps}**

**[Vocational Rehabilitation Service Program]{.smallcaps}**

**Final Report**

**April 2000**

**Michael D. Tashjian**

**Holly Schmidt-Davis**

**Submitted by**

**Research Triangle Institute**

**Submitted to**

**Rehabilitation Services Administration**

**U.S. Department of Education**

**in partial fulfillment of requirements under**

**ED Contract No. HR92-022-001**

## 

## 

## Table of Contents

Executive Summary iv

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

Design of the Supported Employment Study 2

Organization of the Report 5

Chapter 2: Characteristics of Supported Employment Consumers 6

Disability and Demographic Characteristics 6

Labor Force Participation 10

History of Labor Force Participation 10

Profile of Most Recent Employment 12

Other Characteristics at Entry into VR Services 15

Summary 17

Chapter 3: The Vocational Rehabilitation Experience 18

Overview of Services Obtained by SE and Other Consumers 18

Employment Outcomes 22

Profile of Supported Employment Positions 23

Consumers\' Perspectives on Their VR Experiences 27

Summary 30

Chapter 4: Post-VR Experiences 32

Extended Services 32

Retention of Employment and Earnings 35

Consumer Satisfaction 40

Summary 42

Chapter 5: Summary of Findings 44

What are the characteristics of consumers in SE? 44

How do the characteristics of SE consumers differ from the
characteristics of other consumers of VR services? 45

To what extent do the number and type of services received by SE
consumers differ from those of other rehabilitants with earnings? 45

To what extent do the outcomes achieved by SE consumers differ from
those of other rehabilitants with earnings? 46

How do consumers exiting VR services in SE perceive the quality and
utility of the services they receive from the VR agency and how do these
perceptions differ from those of other VR consumers? 46

What types of extended services do SE consumers receive and to what
extent are they satisfied with the extended services they receive? 46

What are the post-VR experiences of former consumers in SE with respect
to retention of employment and earnings, and how do they compare with
other VR services consumers? 47

**[List of Figures]{.smallcaps}**

Figure 1: Data Collection Instruments, with Method and Frequency of
Administration 4

Figure 2: Primary Disabilities of Supported Employment and Other
Consumers 7

Figure 3: Overall Work History of Supported Employment and Other
Consumers 11

Figure 4: Types of Services Obtained by Supported Employment and Other
Consumers 20

Figure 5: Type of Employment Obtained by Former Supported Employment
Consumers with an Employment Outcome 23

Figure 6: Percentage of Supported Employment and Other VR Consumers by
Type of Occupation at Exit from VR Services 24

Figure 7: Employment Status of Former Supported Employment and Other
Consumers One Year After Exiting VR Services 36

**[List of Tables]{.smallcaps}**

Table 1: Disability Characteristics of SE and Other Consumers 7

Table 2: Demographic Characteristics of SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type 8

Table 3: Educational Status of SE and Other Consumers, by Disability
Type 9

Table 4: Overall Work History of SE and Other Consumers, by Disability
Type 11

Table 5: Number of Jobs Held in Lifetime for SE and Other Consumers,
by Disability Type 12

Table 6: Type of Most Recent Employment for SE and Other Consumers,
by Disability Type 13

Table 7: Profile of Most Recent Employment for SE and Other Consumers,
by Disability Type 14

Table 8: Receipt of Financial Assistance Among SE and Other Consumers,
by Disability Type 15

Table 9: Sources of Referral to VR for SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type 16

Table 10: Number of Services Obtained by SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type 19

Table 11: Types of Services Obtained by SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type 19

Table 12: Percentage of SE and Other Consumers Who Obtained Specific
Selected Services, by Disability Type 21

Table 13: Costs and Duration of SE With Service as Unit of Analysis, by
Disability Type 21

Table 14: Costs and Duration of SE With the Consumer as Unit of
Analysis, by Disability Type 22

Table 15: Outcome of SE Consumers Selected in Active Status Who Exited
VR Services 23

Table 16: Percentage of SE and Other VR Consumers by Type of Occupation
at Exit, by Disability Type 24

Table 17: Average Hourly Earning and Hours Worked Per Week in the Job at
Exit From VR Services for SE and Other Consumers, by Disability Type 25

Table 18: Percentage of SE and Other Consumers Who Received
Employment-Related Benefits, by Disability Type 26

Table 19: Percentage of SE and Other Consumers Who Reported Obtaining
the Job They Wanted, by Disability Type 26

Table 20: SE and Other Consumers' Satisfaction With Their VR Counselor,
by Disability Type 27

Table 21: SE and Other Consumers' Involvement in Decision Making During
the VR Process and Satisfaction With the Amount of Choice 28

Table 22: SE and Other Consumers' Satisfaction With Various Aspects of
VR Services, by Disability Type 29

Table 23: Perceptions of Former SE and Other Consumers About the VR
Experience Overall, by Disability Type 29

Table 24: Sources of Funding for Extended Services Identified in
Consumers' Case Files 33

Table 25: Services Received from Extended Services Provider, at or Soon
After Exiting VR Services, for Those Reporting any Services as Reported
by SE Consumers and Extended Service Providers 34

Table 26: SE Consumers' Satisfaction With Extended Services 35

Table 27: Employment Status of Former SE and Other Consumers One Year
After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type 36

Table 28: Average Hourly Wage Earned by Former SE and Other Consumers
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type 37

Table 29: Increase in Average Hourly Wage From Exit to First-Year Follow
Up for SE and Other Consumers With an Increase, by Disability Type 38

Table 30: Average Hours Worked Per Week by Former SE and Other Consumers
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type 38

Table 31: Former SE and Other Consumers' Receipt of Benefits Through Job
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type 39

Table 32: Former SE and Other Consumers' Receipt of Financial Assistance
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type 40

Table 33: Former SE and Other Consumers' Satisfaction With Various
Aspects of Employment One Year After Exiting VR Services, By Disability
Type 41

# Executive Summary

This report contains findings from a descriptive study of the
characteristics, services, and outcomes of consumers who achieved a
supported employment (SE) outcome after exiting Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) services. The Research Triangle Institute (RTI)
conducted the study, as part of the larger Longitudinal Study of the VR
Services Program, under contract to the U.S. Department of Education,
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rehabilitation
Services Administration. RTI obtained the data for the study through
case file abstraction, consumer interviews, and an extended service
provider interview for a nationally representative sample of 259 SE
consumers.

Chapter 1 of this report summarizes the study's purpose and methods,
Chapter 2 describes the demographic and disability characteristics of SE
consumers, Chapter 3 discusses the services they received and the
outcomes they achieved, and Chapter 4 contains findings on extended
services and employment and earnings retention. Where appropriate, we
compare the findings for SE consumers to those for other consumers of VR
services with significant disabilities who obtained other types of
employment. In the remainder of this summary, we use the study's
research questions to organize key findings.

####### What are the characteristics of consumers in SE?

-   Mental retardation was the primary disability for one-half of all SE
    consumers, and individuals with mental illness accounted for an
    additional 18 percent.

-   Fifty-four percent of SE consumers had disabilities characterized as
    most significant, and another 42 percent had a significant
    disability.

-   A majority of SE consumers were male (55 percent) and white (79
    percent).

-   The average age of SE consumers was 33.5 years, with nearly
    three-quarters under the age of 40.

-   Eighty-seven percent of SE consumers had a high school diploma or
    GED as their highest educational credential, and over two-thirds (69
    percent) had received special education services in high school.

-   On average, SE consumers performed below the fifth-grade level in
    both reading and mathematics.

-   Educational institutions were the largest single source of referral
    (23 percent), followed by self-referrals (15 percent).

-   Seventy-two percent of SE consumers received some form of financial
    assistance at entry to VR, with SSI and SSDI the most frequent
    sources of assistance.

-   Although 96 percent of SE consumers entered VR with some prior work
    experience, on average that experience was quite limited; over
    one-half (56 percent) had held only one job.

-   Seventy percent of SE consumers' most recent jobs were in either the
    service industry (55 percent) or clerical/sales occupations (15
    percent).

-   On average, SE consumers earned \$4.88 per hour (median of \$4.98)
    and worked 24.5 hours per week (median of 23) in their most recent
    employment prior to applying for VR services; only 16 percent
    received employment-related health insurance.

####### How do the characteristics of SE consumers differ from the characteristics of other consumers of VR services?

-   At entry into VR services, SE consumers were, on average, nine years
    younger than other significantly disabled consumers who exited VR
    services into employment.

-   SE consumers were almost three times more likely than other
    successful, significantly disabled consumers to have received
    special education services. SE consumers performed four grade levels
    below other successful consumers in reading and three and one-half
    grade levels lower in math.

-   Overall, SE consumers were more than twice as likely as other
    significantly disabled consumers who exited VR services into
    employment to be referred to VR services by an educational
    institution, and 27 percent more likely to have received financial
    assistance at entry into VR.

-   In their most recent employment experience, SE consumers earned
    \$2.38 less per hour, worked about 10 fewer hours per week, and
    received employment-related benefits about half as often as did
    other successful VR consumers with significant disabilities.

-   Persons with mental retardation who exited VR services into SE were
    more similar to other mentally retarded consumers of VR services
    (who exited into other forms of employment) than they were to other
    successful SE consumers with respect to age, receipt of special
    education, academic achievement levels, referral sources, and prior
    earnings.

-   SE consumers overall tended to be more significantly disabled, to
    have relied on financial assistance, and to have had a more limited
    work history than other significantly disabled consumers who
    obtained employment.

####### To what extent do the number and type of services received by SE consumers differ from those of other rehabilitants with earnings?

-   Individuals who exited VR into SE received an average of 8.3
    services (median of six), approximately two fewer than the 10.4
    services (median of eight) averaged by other significantly disabled
    consumers, although this difference was not statistically
    significant.

-   SE consumers were less likely than other significantly disabled
    consumers who exited VR services into employment to receive all
    types of services from VR, with the exception of education and
    training, which includes supported employment.

-   SE consumers with a primary disability of mental retardation
    received an average of 7.2 services (median of six), compared to
    other SE consumers, who averaged 9.6 (median of eight).

-   SE consumers were much less likely than other significantly disabled
    consumers who exited VR services into employment to receive
    assessments of sensory functioning, postsecondary education,
    physical restoration services, and transportation.

-   VR agencies almost always purchased SE services for their consumers
    rather than providing such services through comparable benefits or
    directly from VR agency staff.

-   Consumers who ultimately exited VR services into SE had an average
    of 1.7 placements, and spent an average of nine months in SE prior
    to exit from VR.

-   The average cost of SE services for a single consumer was \$4,921.

####### To what extent do the outcomes achieved by SE consumers differ from those of other rehabilitants with earnings?

-   Nearly half (49 percent) of all the jobs that SE consumers obtained
    were in the service industry, more than double the percentage among
    other former consumers with significant disabilities who worked in
    service occupations (21 percent).

-   Individuals who obtained an SE position worked an average of 23
    hours per week and earned an average of \$4.53 per hour, compared to
    other successful consumers with significant disabilities, who worked
    an average of 34 hours per week and earned an average hourly wage of
    \$7.20, or \$2.67 more than SE consumers.

-   On average, individuals with mental retardation in SE earned
    virtually the same wage (\$4.21) as did individuals with mental
    retardation who exited VR services into other forms of employment
    (\$4.19).[^1]

-   Persons with disabilities other than mental retardation who obtained
    SE earned \$2.61 less per hour (\$4.87) than did those with
    significant disabilities who obtained other forms of employment
    (\$7.48).

-   Persons obtaining SE were significantly less likely to receive
    either medical insurance or vacation/sick leave through their job
    than were other employed consumers with significant disabilities.

####### How do consumers exiting VR services in SE perceive the quality and utility of the services they receive from the VR agency and how do these perceptions differ from those of other VR consumers?

-   At least 70 percent of consumers with significant disabilities
    exiting VR services were "very or mostly satisfied" with their VR
    experience, regardless of what aspect of that experience we measured
    (e.g., VR counselor performance, quality of services, amount of
    choice in decision making).

-   SE consumer perceptions on the quality and utility of services they
    received varied little from those of other consumers with
    significant disabilities.

-   Overall, 69 percent of SE consumers reported that their VR
    experience met or exceeded their expectations, 25 percent believed
    VR could have done more, and six percent had no opinion.

####### What types of extended services do SE consumers receive and to what extent are they satisfied with the extended services they receive?

-   Consumers interviewed soon after exiting VR services identified job
    coaching (70 percent), counseling (67 percent), off-site monitoring
    (62 percent), and job skill training (47 percent) as the services
    they most frequently received.

-   Between 65 and 79 percent of SE consumers who held the same job one
    year after exiting VR services continued to receive some type of
    support services. Over 90 percent of these consumers reported
    receipt of job coaching services.[^2]

-   We found no significant differences between consumers with mental
    retardation and other SE consumers in the types of extended services
    they received.

-   Consumer satisfaction with extended services was very high; more
    than three-fourths (77 percent) of all former SE consumers,
    including 82 percent of those with a primary disability of mental
    retardation, reported being "very pleased" with the services they
    were receiving.

####### What are the post-VR experiences of former consumers in SE with respect to retention of employment and earnings, and how do they compare with other VR services consumers?

-   One year after exiting VR services, 84 percent of SE consumers were
    still working; 74 percent in the same job obtained through VR
    services, and an additional 10 percent in another job. Eighty-three
    percent of other employed former consumers with significant
    disabilities were employed one year after VR services ended. The
    majority of those working in the same job reported ongoing receipt
    of support services.

-   The average hourly wage earned by former SE consumers one year after
    exiting VR services was \$4.68 (median of \$5.20), \$3.34 less than
    the average wage earned by other significantly disabled consumers.

-   Over half (53 percent) of former SE consumers received a raise in
    pay. The average increase for all SE consumers who received a raise
    was \$1.11, with little variation by disability. Slightly more than
    half (55 percent) of other significantly disabled consumers also
    obtained a salary increase; however, their average increase of
    \$2.20 was double the amount received by SE consumers.

-   Average hours worked per week by former consumers exiting VR
    services into SE was 22.2 (median of 23), an average that varied
    little by disability. Consumers exiting into employment other than
    SE worked 13 hours more per week.

-   Former SE consumers were significantly less likely to receive health
    insurance and other job-related benefits than were other employed
    former consumers with significant disabilities.

-   While the overall percentage of SE consumers who received financial
    assistance changed little from entry into VR to one year after
    exiting VR services, 19 percent ceased receiving benefits over this
    time.[^3]

-   Overall, SE consumers with retardation reported general satisfaction
    with various aspects of their employment one year of the exiting VR
    services. Other SE consumers were less satisfied; at least 45
    percent reported being "not satisfied" with their earnings,
    benefits, or opportunity for advancement.

# Chapter 1: Introduction

One of the most popular approaches in the rehabilitation of persons with
significant disabilities in the last decade, supported employment (SE)
was originally developed to facilitate the transition of persons with
mental retardation and other developmental disabilities into work
through the use of on-site job coaches and other supports. Supported
employment, as defined by statute, means competitive work in an
integrated work setting with ongoing support services for individuals
with the most significant disabilities for whom competitive employment
has not traditionally occurred, or has been interrupted or intermittent
as a result of significant disabilities.[^4] Using federal funds from
Titles I (basic Vocational Rehabilitation \[VR\] Services program) and
VI-B (Supported Employment services for individuals with significant
disabilities) of the Rehabilitation Act, state VR agencies in recent
years have expanded both the number of SE programs and the types of
consumers served in these programs.

By regulation, the "ongoing support services" needed by individuals with
significant disabilities to maintain supported employment are to be
provided by the VR agency from the time of job placement until
transition to extended services, and must include twice monthly
monitoring at the work site.[^5] VR agencies may provide ongoing support
services for up to 18 months, unless the counselor and consumer decide a
longer period is needed to achieve job stability. The agency must also
identify (and record in the case file) a source of support for extended
services after the time-limited services that VR provides have ended.
Extended services may be provided by a state agency, a private nonprofit
organization, or other appropriate resource.

Since 1992, the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has been conducting a
Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services
Program, whose overall purpose is to examine the performance of the
state-federal program in assisting consumers to achieve long-term
economic and nonconomic outcomes. To accomplish this purpose, RTI is
collecting information through abstraction of VR agency case files,
questionnaires for VR agency staff, and interviews with a nationally
representative sample of current and former consumers of VR services. In
1996, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) augmented the VR
Longitudinal Study with a supported employment substudy whose central
purpose was to investigate the characteristics, services, and outcomes
of individuals whose employment outcome was supported employment (SE).
This report describes the results of the SE study.

We designed the SE study to obtain descriptive data on individuals
served by the VR program who achieved an SE outcome. Specifically, the
study addressed five broad questions of interest to RSA:[^6]

-   What are the characteristics of consumers in SE, and how do they
    differ from the characteristics of other consumers of VR services?

-   To what extent do the services received and outcomes achieved by SE
    consumers differ from those of other rehabilitants with earnings?

-   How do consumers exiting VR services in SE perceive the quality and
    utility of the services they receive from the VR agency, and how do
    these perceptions differ from those of other consumers?

-   What types of extended services do SE consumers receive, and to what
    extent are they satisfied with the extended services they receive?

-   What are the post-VR experiences of former consumers in SE with
    respect to retention of employment and earnings and how do they
    compare with other consumers of VR services?

This study made no attempt to establish causal relationships among
consumer characteristics, services obtained, and outcomes achieved.
Rather, we aimed to provide a nationally representative description of
the population of consumers who achieved SE outcomes in relation to
other consumers of VR services with significant disabilities who
obtained an employment outcome.

**Design** **of the Supported Employment Study**

We relied on existing data collection instruments used in the ongoing VR
longitudinal study to obtain the majority of information needed to
respond to the SE study's research questions in an effort to maximize
efficiency and to minimize any additional burden on study participants.
We also tried, to the maximum extent possible, to identify potential
participants for the SE study from the pool of consumers already
participating in the main study.

In order to collect the information required to address the main study's
research questions, we used a multistage design that involved selection
of a random sample of 37 local VR offices (in 32 VR state agencies
located in a total of 30 states) and a sample of 8,500 applicants and
current and former consumers of VR services. In order to assess the
longer term outcomes of VR participation, the study implemented a cohort
design that entailed random selection of individuals at one of three
stages of involvement with VR. We selected 25 percent of the total
sample when they were in the application process; 50 percent of the
sample while they were receiving VR services, and 25 percent at or after
exit from VR services.

We followed each individual for three years; some were still receiving
VR services at the end of this time, although most had left VR and were
working, receiving other services, or engaging in a variety of other
activities. Following baseline data collection, we conducted an annual
interview with each study participant, and the interview topics varied
contingent on the individual's VR services and employment experiences.
This design accommodated the average length of stay in VR (nearly two
years) while at the same time permitting us to track the post-VR
earnings, employment, and community integration of individuals following
exit from VR as either "successful" or "unsuccessful" closures.

The SE study design called for completion of all existing longitudinal
study instrumentation, as appropriate, for all participants in the SE
study. We obtained more comprehensive information on consumers' SE
experience, using three additional data collection instruments:

-   ***SE case file abstraction form***: completed in conjunction with
    the abstraction of consumer records at or after the point of exit
    from the VR program, the SE case file abstraction focused on
    documentation useful in describing the SE position obtained and
    plans for extended services.

-   ***SE consumer interviews***: administered in conjunction with the
    annual satisfaction interview and the one-year follow up interview,
    as appropriate, these interviews focused on respondent perspectives
    on their SE experience both during and after participation in VR.

-   ***Extended services provider interview***: completed at or near the
    point of consumers' exit from the VR program, this telephone
    interview with the extended services provider (as identified in the
    consumers' VR files) solicited basic information on the services
    received by former VR consumers who achieved an SE outcome.

**Figure 1** summarizes data collection instruments and administration
schedules.[^7]

Figure 1: Data Collection Instruments, with Method and Frequency of
Administration

+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| **INSTRUMENT**       | **METHOD**          | **FREQUENCY**          |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| ###                  |                     |                        |
|  Consumer interviews |                     |                        |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Work history       | Personal/telephone  | Baseline               |
|                      | interview           |                        |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Functional status  | Personal/telephone  | Baseline and case      |
|                      | interview           | closure                |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Satisfaction       | Personal/telephone  | Baseline and annually  |
|                      | interview           | to closure             |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Annual follow up   | Telephone interview | Annually from closure  |
|                      |                     | of case file           |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| ### Consumer records |                     |                        |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Consumer           | Records abstraction | Baseline with          |
| > characteristics    |                     | quarterly updates      |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Services           | Records abstraction | Baseline and quarterly |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| ### Extende          |                     |                        |
| d Services Providers |                     |                        |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| > Extended services  | Telephone interview | At exit from VR        |
|                      |                     | services               |
+----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+

We set out to identify a total of approximately 550 consumers of VR
services, or around 15 per site, to participate in the SE study. We
wanted to select from each site an average of five VR consumers who were
actively receiving SE services and 10 former consumers who had recently
exited VR services in a supported employment position. The design called
for a majority of participants to be selected at or after exit from VR
services in order to ensure a sufficiently large sample about whom we
could document their post-VR experiences (e.g., retention of employment
and earnings).

We identified active consumers from among those individuals
participating in the main study by determining, through ongoing records
abstraction, which consumers received SE services. Once a field data
collector completed an SE service form for a consumer in the main study,
we asked that consumer to participate in the SE study. We identified
former SE consumers by asking our data collectors to complete a roster
of all consumers who exited VR services into an SE job each month until
we identified our target number of consumers, or until the six-month
sampling period ended. Individuals on these rosters might or might not
already have been participants in the main study.

We experienced difficulty identifying the target of 550 consumers during
the six-month sampling period, in part because some of the participating
sites provided limited or no SE services in those locations. In fact,
three of the 37 local offices in the main study reported no SE
consumers. Many of the other sites identified far fewer SE consumers
than the average of 15 we sought. Ultimately we selected a total of 423
SE consumers from 34 sites that reported provision of SE services.

We completed data collection for 259 of these consumers (61 percent),
including 80 active consumers and 179 former consumers who exited VR
services into SE, and weighted the data to represent SE consumers
nationwide. Reasons we did not complete data collection for the
remaining consumers included an inability to locate the consumer (36
percent), consumer refusal to participate (29 percent), lack of an
agency release (21 percent), and a variety of others, such as death or
consumer transfer to another office (14 percent).

#### Organization of the Report

The remainder of this report presents the findings of the SE study. In
the following chapter we describe SE consumers in terms of disability
type, demographics, history of labor force participation, and other
characteristics. Chapter 3 describes the services SE consumers obtained,
their employment outcomes, and their perspectives on their VR
experience. Chapter 4 summarizes the post-VR experiences of SE consumers
including receipt of extended services and retention of employment and
earnings one-year after exiting VR services. Chapter 5 uses the study's
research questions to organize a summary of study findings.

A few points of clarification are in order before we discuss study
findings. First, supported employment is both a service and an
employment outcome. Unless explicitly described as an "SE service" our
use of the term "SE" refers to an employment outcome. Second, in the
remainder of this report we frequently compare the findings for SE
consumers with other consumers, as appropriate, in an effort to address
the study's central purpose. Unless otherwise specified, the comparison
group includes all consumers with significant or most significant
disabilities who obtained an employment outcome other than SE.

**[Chapter 2: Characteristics of Supported
Employment Consumers]{.smallcaps}**

One of the questions this study was designed to address was: "What are
the characteristics of persons who obtain a supported employment
position as a result of VR services, and how do they differ from other
consumers of VR services who obtain employment?" In this chapter we
respond to this question by first describing the characteristics of
consumers who exited VR services in a SE position during the period of
data collection, Summer 1996 through Summer 1999. We then compare the
characteristics of SE consumers with those of other consumers of VR
services with significant disabilities who obtained employment other
than SE. Our principal aim in this chapter is to provide a detailed
picture of the average SE consumer at the point of application for VR
services, and to identify areas in which the average SE consumer
differed from other successful consumers. Specific topics we discuss
include disability and demographic characteristics, educational status,
work history, sources of financial support, and sources of referral. The
chief data sources for this chapter are consumers' case files and a work
history interview administered to all participants at entry into the
study.

**Disability and Demographic Characteristics**[^8]

Persons with a primary disability of mental retardation accounted for
one-half (50 percent) of all persons who exited VR services in an SE
position. As indicated in **Table 1**, (and **Figure 2)** mental illness
was the primary disability recorded for another 18 percent of SE
consumers, nonorthopedic physical disabilities for an additional nine
percent, and orthopedic disabilities for eight percent. No other single
disability accounted for more than five percent of the total. Over
one-half of SE consumers (54 percent) had disabilities characterized as
"most significant," and an additional 42 percent had a "significant"
disability.[^9] Also, 70 percent of SE consumers had congenital, as
opposed to acquired, disabilities.

Individuals with orthopedic impairments accounted for more than
one-fourth (27 percent) of other consumers, more than three times the
percentage of individuals with such impairments exiting VR services in
an SE position. Individuals with mental illness constituted roughly
equal

Table 1: Disability Characteristics of SE and Other Consumers

+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| **Characteristics**            | **Percentage of  | **Percentage of  |
|                                | SE Consumers**   | Other            |
|                                |                  | Consumers**      |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| ### Type of disability         |                  |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Mental retardation\*           | 50%              | 8%               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Mental illness                 | 18%              | 17%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Nonorthopedic physical         | 9%               | 9%               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Orthopedic\*                   | 8%               | 27%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Learning disability            | 5%               | 7%               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Hearing impairment\*           | 4%               | 13%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Traumatic brain injury         | 3%               | 1%               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| All other conditions           | 2%               | 1%               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Vision impairment              | 1%               | 12%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Substance abuse\*              | 1%               | 5%               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| **Significance of disability** |                  |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Most significant               | 54%              | 33%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Significant\*                  | 42%              | 67%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Not significant                | 4%               | \-               |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| **Onset of disability**        |                  |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Congenital\*                   | 70%              | 29%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Acquired\*                     | 30%              | 71%              |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

![](media/image1.wmf){width="5.585416666666666in"
height="4.230555555555555in"}

percentages of the total in both groups; 18 percent of those in SE
positions and 17 percent of those in other employment. Only eight
percent of the individuals in other employment were individuals with
mental retardation. As indicated in the table, consumers with
significant disabilities who exited VR services in a job that was not
supported employment were more than twice as likely to have acquired
disabilities. A smaller percentage of these consumers had disabilities
recorded as most significant (33 percent to 54 percent for SE), although
the difference was not statistically significant.

**Table 2** summarizes study findings on the demographic characteristics
of SE and other consumers. Owing to the high percentage of consumers
with mental retardation in SE, this table, and most subsequent tables,
examine the data separately for consumers with mental retardation and
consumers with other disabilities. As shown, the majority of SE
consumers were male (55 percent) and white (79 percent), with 21 percent
African American.[^10] The average age of SE consumers was 33. 5 years,
with nearly three-fourths (74 percent) aged 39 or less. SE consumers
with mental retardation were more likely to be female (54 percent
compared to 36 percent) and were an average of over four years younger
than other SE consumers, although these differences were not
statistically significant. On average, consumers with significant
disabilities exiting VR services in jobs other than SE were nine years
older than were SE consumers; we found no statistically significant
differences with respect to gender or race.

Table 2: Demographic Characteristics of SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type

+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Dem    | **Per   |         |         | **Per   |         |         |
| ographic | centage |         |         | centage |         |         |
| Characte | of      |         |         | of**    |         |         |
| ristic** | Supp    |         |         |         |         |         |
|          | orted** |         |         | **Other |         |         |
|          |         |         |         | Cons    |         |         |
|          | **Emp   |         |         | umers** |         |         |
|          | loyment |         |         |         |         |         |
|          | Cons    |         |         |         |         |         |
|          | umers** |         |         |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|          | **SE    | **Other | **Total | **Cons  | **      | **      |
|          | Cons    | SE**    | SE**    | umers** | Other** | Total** |
|          | umers** |         |         |         |         |         |
|          |         | #       | **Cons  | **With  | **Cons  | **Cons  |
|          | **With  | #### Co | umers** |  Mental | umers** | umers** |
|          |  Mental | nsumers |         | Retard  |         |         |
|          | Retard  |         |         | ation** |         |         |
|          | ation** |         |         |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **       |         |         |         |         |         |         |
| Gender** |         |         |         |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Male     | 46%     | 64%     | 55%     | 48%     | 52%     | 51%     |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Female   | 54%     | 36%     | 45%     | 52%     | 48%     | 49%     |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Race** |         |         |         |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| White    | 77%     | 80%     | 79%     | 78%     | 88%     | 87%     |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| African  | 22%     | 19%     | 21%     | 22%     | 11%     | 11%     |
| American |         |         |         |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other    | 1%      | 1%      | 1%      | \-      | 2%      | 1%      |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Age**  |         |         |         |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Mean\*   | 31.4    | 35.7    | 33.5    | 31.0    | 43.8    | 42.8    |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Median   | 33.0    | 35.5    | 34.0    | 27.0    | 42.0    | 41.0    |
+----------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Eighty-seven percent of SE consumers had a high school diploma or GED as
their highest educational credential, and 69 percent received special
education services in secondary school (**Table 3**). The average number
of years of education completed was 11.7. Average achievement levels for
SE consumers in reading and mathematics were 4.5 and 4.4, respectively.
As indicated in **Table 3**, receipt of special education services and
achievement levels varied widely by disability type; consumers with
mental retardation were more than twice as likely to have received
special education services and performed approximately 2.5 grade levels
below other SE consumers in both subject areas.

Table 3: Educational Status of SE and Other Consumers, by Disability
Type

+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                 | **Per   |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                 | centage |       |       | Perce |       |       |
|                 | of      |       |       | ntage |       |       |
|                 | Supp    |       |       | of**  |       |       |
|                 | orted** |       |       |       |       |       |
|                 |         |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                 | **Emp   |       |       | Other |       |       |
|                 | loyment |       |       | C     |       |       |
|                 | Cons    |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|                 | umers** |       |       | ers** |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                 | **SE    | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                 | Cons    | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                 | umers** | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|                 |         |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|                 | **With  | #     | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                 |  Mental | ##### | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                 | Retard  |  cons | ers** | ental |       |       |
|                 | ation** | umers |       | Ret   |       |       |
|                 |         |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|                 |         |       |       | ion** |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ###### Highest  |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| Degree Obtained |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| High school or  | 100%    | 81%   | 87%   | 97%   | 80%   | 81%   |
| GED†            |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Postsecondary†  | 0%      | 19%   | 12%   | 3%    | 20%   | 19%   |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Average       | 11.0    | 12.3  | 11.7  | 11.0  | 12.2  | 12.1  |
| number of years |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| of education    |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| completed†**    |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Evidence of   | 94%     | 44%   | 69%   | 91%   | 17%   | 24%   |
| special         |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| education in    |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| case file\*†**  |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Average       |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| achievement     |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| levels**        |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Reading\*†      | 3.0     | 5.8   | 4.5   | 3.9   | 9.3   | 8.5   |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Mathematics\*†  | 3.0     | 5.5   | 4.4   | 3.8   | 8.5   | 7.8   |
+-----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Average grade level achievement in both reading and math for consumers
with significant disabilities who exited VR services into employment
other than SE was nearly double that of SE consumers. Overall, SE
consumers were almost three times more likely to have received special
education (69 percent compared to 24 percent). However, over 90 percent
of all consumers with mental retardation received special education
regardless of employment outcome. In fact, on characteristics such as
age, gender, receipt of special education, and achievement levels,
consumers with mental retardation in SE were far more similar to other
persons with mental retardation, than they were to other SE consumers.

The most significant differences on these disability and demographic
characteristics occurred between individuals with disabilities other
than mental retardation in SE and individuals without retardation in
other employment. SE consumers with disabilities other than mental
retardation were an average of over eight years younger, and nearly
twice as likely to have a congenital disability, than were consumers in
other employment with disabilities other than mental retardation.
Moreover, the achievement levels of SE consumers with disabilities other
than mental retardation, although more than two grade levels higher than
individuals with mental retardation in SE, were three or more grade
levels below those for individuals with disabilities other than mental
retardation not in SE.

#### Labor Force Participation

Our source of information on labor force participation among VR
consumers is a work history interview we administered to all
participants at entry into the study. The interview asks consumers to
report the type of occupation, wages earned, hours worked, receipt of
employment-related benefits, and overall job satisfaction, for each job
held in the two years prior to applying for VR services, and for their
longest uninterrupted period of employment, regardless of when they held
the job. We have organized the findings on labor force participation
into two broad areas. The first area, consumers' overall history of
labor force participation, discusses the extent to which SE consumers
had employment experience and describes the employment status of
consumers at the time of application to VR. We then provide a summary
description of consumers' most recent employment experience.

**History of Labor Force Participation**

Data from the work history interview indicate that 96 percent of the
consumers who exited VR services in SE had some amount of employment
experience before applying for VR services (**Table 4** and **Figure
3**). Nearly one-fourth (24 percent) were working at application.[^11]
Another quarter (24 percent), though not working at entry, had worked at
some point in the two years prior to applying for VR services. Overall,
slightly less than one-half (48 percent) had a current or recent history
of employment prior to entry into VR, and an equal number had worked at
some time in their life, but not during the two years prior to applying
for VR services. A significantly higher percentage of consumers with
significant disabilities exiting VR services in employment other than SE
had worked in the two years prior to entry (38 percent compared to
24 percent for SE consumers). Twenty-four percent of both groups were
working at the time of application.

Table 4: Overall Work History of SE and Other Consumers, by Disability
Type

+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+
| **Work History** | **Perc |       |       | **Perc |        |       |
|                  | entage |       |       | entage |        |       |
|                  | of     |       |       | of**   |        |       |
|                  | Suppo  |       |       |        |        |       |
|                  | rted** |       |       | *      |        |       |
|                  |        |       |       | *Other |        |       |
|                  | **Empl |       |       | Consu  |        |       |
|                  | oyment |       |       | mers** |        |       |
|                  | Consu  |       |       |        |        |       |
|                  | mers** |       |       |        |        |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+
|                  | **SE   | **    | **    | *      | **O    | **To  |
|                  | Consu  | Other | Total | *Consu | ther** | tal** |
|                  | mers** | SE**  | SE**  | mers** |        |       |
|                  |        |       |       |        | *      | **C   |
|                  | *      | **C   | **C   | *      | *Consu | onsum |
|                  | *With  | onsum | onsum | *With  | mers** | ers** |
|                  | Mental | ers** | ers** | Mental |        |       |
|                  | R      |       |       | R      |        |       |
|                  | etarda |       |       | etarda |        |       |
|                  | tion** |       |       | tion** |        |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+
| Never worked for | 6%     | 2%    | 4%    | 13%    | 5%     | 5%    |
| two consecutive  |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| weeks            |        |       |       |        |        |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+
| Have worked, but | 47%    | 50%   | 48%   | 34%    | 28%    | 30%   |
| not in two years |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| prior to         |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| application to   |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| VR\*             |        |       |       |        |        |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+
| Have worked in   | 24%    | 23%   | 24%   | 32%    | 36%    | 38%   |
| two years prior  |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| to application   |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| to VR, but not   |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| working at entry |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| to VR\*          |        |       |       |        |        |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+
| Working at       | 23%    | 25%   | 24%   | 21%    | 32%    | 24%   |
| application to   |        |       |       |        |        |       |
| VR               |        |       |       |        |        |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+--------+--------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

![](media/image2.wmf){width="6.4125in" height="4.856944444444444in"}

Although most SE consumers entered VR with some amount of work
experience, data from the work history interview indicate that such
experience was quite limited. As shown, over half of all SE consumers
(56 percent) held only one job in their lifetime prior to applying for
VR services, compared to 42 percent of other consumers (**Table 5**).
Other consumers were twice as likely as SE consumers to have held three
jobs. SE consumers whose disability is mental retardation had an
especially limited work history. Seventy percent of those consumers had
held only one job, compared to 41 percent of other SE consumers.
Overall, over three-fourths (76 percent) of SE consumers with mental
retardation had no more than a single job prior to VR entry, compared to
43 percent of other SE consumers.

Table 5: Number of Jobs Held in Lifetime for SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type

+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| ######     | **Per   |       |        | **Perc |        |        |
|  Number of | centage |       |        | entage |        |        |
|  Jobs Held | of      |       |        | of**   |        |        |
|            | Supp    |       |        |        |        |        |
|            | orted** |       |        | *      |        |        |
|            |         |       |        | *Other |        |        |
|            | **Emp   |       |        | Consu  |        |        |
|            | loyment |       |        | mers** |        |        |
|            | Cons    |       |        |        |        |        |
|            | umers** |       |        |        |        |        |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|            | **SE    | **    | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|            | Cons    | Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|            | umers** | SE**  | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|            |         |       |        |        | *      | *      |
|            | **With  | **C   | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|            |  Mental | onsum | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|            | Retard  | ers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|            | ation** |       |        | R      |        |        |
|            |         |       |        | etarda |        |        |
|            |         |       |        | tion** |        |        |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| None       | 6%      | 2%    | 4%     | 14%    | 5%     | 5%     |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| One\*†     | 70%     | 41%   | 56%    | 53%    | 41%    | 42%    |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Two†       | 16%     | 37%   | 26%    | 27%    | 32%    | 31%    |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Three\*    | 3%      | 11%   | 7%     | 6%     | 15%    | 14%    |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Four       | 3%      | 8%    | 5%     | 1%     | 5%     | 5%     |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Five       | 1%      | 0%    | 1%     | \-     | 3%     | 2%     |
+------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

**Profile of Most Recent Employment**

We asked consumers with a work history to provide information about
their most recent job, regardless of when they held the job in relation
to the time of entry into VR. As shown in **Table 6**, nearly one-third
of these SE consumers worked in a supported employment position in their
most recent employment, including 40 percent of consumers with a
disability of mental retardation; an additional nine percent worked in a
sheltered job.[^12] SE consumers with mental retardation were
significantly more likely than other SE consumers to have worked in an
SE job before entry into VR services and significantly less likely to
have worked in the competitive (unsupported) labor market. Persons with
significant disabilities exiting VR services in employment other than SE
were much more likely to have worked in the competitive labor market (86
percent compared to 54 percent) prior to application to VR, and much
less likely to have worked in supported employment.

Table 6: Type of Most Recent Employment for SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type

+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| ####           | **Per   |        |        | **    |       |       |
| ## Type of Job | centage |        |        | Perce |       |       |
|                | of      |        |        | ntage |       |       |
|                | Supp    |        |        | of**  |       |       |
|                | orted** |        |        |       |       |       |
|                |         |        |        | **    |       |       |
|                | **Emp   |        |        | Other |       |       |
|                | loyment |        |        | C     |       |       |
|                | Cons    |        |        | onsum |       |       |
|                | umers** |        |        | ers** |       |       |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
|                | **SE    | *      | *      | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                | Cons    | *Other | *Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                | umers** | SE**   | SE**   | ers** |       |       |
|                |         |        |        |       | **C   | **C   |
|                | **With  | *      | *      | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                |  Mental | *Consu | *Consu | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                | Retard  | mers** | mers** | ental |       |       |
|                | ation** |        |        | Ret   |       |       |
|                |         |        |        | ardat |       |       |
|                |         |        |        | ion** |       |       |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| Competitive    | 43%     | 64%    | 54%    | 67%   | 88%   | 86%   |
| labor          |         |        |        |       |       |       |
| market\*†      |         |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| Sheltered work | 12%     | 7%     | 9%     | 25%   | 2%    | 4%    |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| S              | 0%      | 4%     | 2%     | \-    | 5%    | 5%    |
| elf-employment |         |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| Supported      | 40%     | 24%    | 32%    | 4%    | 1%    | 1%    |
| employment\*†  |         |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| Other          | 6%      | \-     | 3%     | 4%    | 4%    | 4%    |
+----------------+---------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

**Table 7** summarizes findings about SE and other consumers' most
recent employment experience prior to receiving VR services. For SE
consumers, service occupations accounted for more than half (55 percent)
of these jobs, followed by clerical/sales (15 percent), and
miscellaneous (22 percent). No other single category of occupations
accounted for more than five percent of SE consumers' most recent
employment experience. The distribution by occupation type is very
similar for consumers with mental retardation and other SE consumers. In
comparison, significantly fewer other consumers had worked in service
occupations (25 versus 55 percent), and significantly more had held a
professional, managerial, or technical position (24 versus 2 percent),
prior to entry into VR.

On average, SE consumers held their most recent job for 2.3 years
(median of 1.4). The mean hourly wage in the most recent jobs held by SE
consumers was \$4.88 (median of \$4.98), with nearly one-third (32
percent) earning minimum wage or less.[^13] SE consumers with mental
retardation earned an average of more than one dollar less per hour in
their most recent employment than did SE consumers with other
disabilities (\$4.30 an hour compared to \$5.42 an hour). Overall, SE
consumers worked an average of 24.5 hours per week (median of 23) in
their most recent employment. Although only 16 percent of SE consumers
received health insurance through their most recent employment, 91
percent reported that they liked the job either "very much" (51 percent)
or fairly well (40 percent).

Table 7: Profile of Most Recent Employment for SE and Other Consumers,
by Disability Type

+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| *               | **Per   |        |        | **Perc |       |       |
| *Characteristic | centage |        |        | entage |       |       |
| of Most         | of      |        |        | of**   |       |       |
| Rece            | Supp    |        |        |        |       |       |
| nt employment** | orted** |        |        | *      |       |       |
|                 |         |        |        | *Other |       |       |
|                 | **Emp   |        |        | Consu  |       |       |
|                 | loyment |        |        | mers** |       |       |
|                 | Cons    |        |        |        |       |       |
|                 | umers** |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
|                 | **SE    | *      | *      | *      | **Ot  | **To  |
|                 | Cons    | *Other | *Total | *Consu | her** | tal** |
|                 | umers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |       |       |
|                 |         |        |        |        | **C   | **C   |
|                 | **With  | *      | *      | *      | onsum | onsum |
|                 |  Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | ers** | ers** |
|                 | Retard  | mers** | mers** | Mental |       |       |
|                 | ation** |        |        | R      |       |       |
|                 |         |        |        | etarda |       |       |
|                 |         |        |        | tion** |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| **Type of       |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| occupation**    |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Service\*       | 55%     | 54%    | 55%    | 40%    | 24%   | 25%   |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Clerical/sales  | 17%     | 13%    | 15%    | 9%     | 19%   | 18%   |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Benchwork       | 5%      | 5%     | 5%     | 12%    | 4%    | 5%    |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Professional,   | \-      | 4%     | 2%     | 5%     | 26%   | 24%   |
| managerial,     |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| technical\*     |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Miscellaneous   | 20%     | 22%    | 22%    | 24%    | 14%   | 15%   |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| All other\*     | 3%      | 2%     | 3%     | 24%    | 24%   | 24%   |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| ###### Average  |         |        |        |        |       |       |
|  years held job |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Mean\*          | 2.3     | 2.3    | 2.3    | 3.5    | 4.4   | 4.4   |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Median          | 1.1     | 1.8    | 1.4    | 2.2    | 2.4   | 2.4   |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| ##              |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| #### Average ea |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| rnings per hour |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Mean\*†         | \$4.30  | \$5.42 | \$4.88 | \$4.24 | \     | \     |
|                 |         |        |        |        | $7.50 | $7.26 |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Median          | \$4.58  | \$5.25 | \$4.98 | \$4.25 | \     | \     |
|                 |         |        |        |        | $6.00 | $6.00 |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| ######          |         |        |        |        |       |       |
|  Average hours  |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| worked per week |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Mean\*          | 22.3    | 26.5   | 24.5   | 27.5   | 35.8  | 35.1  |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Median          | 20      | 25     | 23     | 30     | 40    | 40    |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| **Percentage    | 12%     | 19%    | 16%    | 23%    | 39%   | 38%   |
| with health     |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| insurance       |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| through         |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| employment\***  |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| ###### Satisf   |         |        |        |        |       |       |
| action with Job |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Liked the job   | 62%     | 39%    | 51%    | 51%    | 52%   | 52%   |
| very much†      |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Liked the job   | 28%     | 51%    | 40%    | 38%    | 34%   | 35%   |
| fairly well†    |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Did not like    | 7%      | 7%     | 7%     | 8%     | 8%    | 8%    |
| the job much    |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+
| Did not like    | 3%      | 3%     | 3%     | 3%     | 6%    | 6%    |
| the job at all  |         |        |        |        |       |       |
+-----------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

As shown, consumers exiting VR services in employment other than SE
earned an average of \$2.38 more per hour, worked an average of nearly
11 more hours per week, held the job nearly twice as long, and were more
than twice as likely to have received health insurance through their
most recent employment. In terms of average wages, most of the
difference between these two groups of consumers was accounted for by
individuals with disabilities other than mental retardation; hourly
wages earned by persons with mental retardation varied less by SE
status, (\$4.30 for SE consumers and \$4.24 for other consumers).
Differences between persons with mental retardation and those with other
disabilities, in terms of average hours worked per week were also
evident but less dramatic. With respect to job tenure and availability
of health insurance, the greatest differences are found between those in
SE at exit and those in other forms of employment. Individuals in SE
held their most recent jobs about half as long and received benefits
through their job about half as frequently as did other successful,
significantly disabled consumers.

#### Other Characteristics at Entry into VR Services

Data we abstracted from consumer' case files included several other data
elements that help us describe SE consumers at entry into VR services,
including receipt of financial assistance, prior receipt of VR services,
and sources of referral. **Table 8** summarizes the data for receipt of
financial assistance.

Table 8: Receipt of Financial Assistance Among SE and Other Consumers,
by Disability Type

+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|             | **Perc |       |        | **Perc |        |        |
|             | entage |       |        | entage |        |        |
|             | of     |       |        | of**   |        |        |
|             | Suppo  |       |        |        |        |        |
|             | rted** |       |        | *      |        |        |
|             |        |       |        | *Other |        |        |
|             | **Empl |       |        | Consu  |        |        |
|             | oyment |       |        | mers** |        |        |
|             | Consu  |       |        |        |        |        |
|             | mers** |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|             | **SE   | **    | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|             | Consu  | Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|             | mers** | SE**  | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|             |        |       |        |        | *      | *      |
|             | *      | **C   | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|             | *With  | onsum | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|             | Mental | ers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|             | R      |       |        | R      |        |        |
|             | etarda |       |        | etarda |        |        |
|             | tion** |       |        | tion** |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Received  | 74%    | 70%   | 72%    | 60%    | 43%    | 45%    |
| financial   |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| ass         |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| istance**\* |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Most      |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| frequent    |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| types of    |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| financial   |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| assistance  |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| received by |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| those       |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| receiving   |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| any         |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| a           |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| ssistance** |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| SSI --      | 64%    | 46%   | 55%    | 69%    | 23%    | 28%    |
| disabled\*  |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| SSDI\*      | 30%    | 43%   | 36%    | 24%    | 23%    | 23%    |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Family and  | 11%    | 12%   | 11%    | 17%    | 23%    | 22%    |
| friends\*   |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Other       | 1%     | 11%   | 6%     | 3%     | 4%     | 4%     |
| disability  |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| General     | 7%     | 1%    | 4%     | 14%    | 11%    | 11%    |
| a           |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| ssistance\* |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Other       | 4%     | 1%    | 3%     | 3%     | 16%    | 14%    |
| public      |        |       |        |        |        |        |
| support     |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Private     | 1%     | 4%    | 2%     | 4%     | 3%     | 3%     |
| insurance   |        |       |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| AFDC\*      | \-     | 5%    | 2%     | 5%     | 9%     | 8%     |
+-------------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Overall, 72 percent of SE consumers were receiving financial assistance
at entry into VR, a percentage that varied little by disability. In
comparison, only 45 percent of other VR consumers with significant
disabilities received financial assistance at entry into VR, including
60 percent of individuals with mental retardation and 43 percent of
those with other disabilities. The more frequent receipt of financial
assistance among SE consumers is consistent with, and probably a
reflection of, the relatively higher percentage of SE consumers who have
the most significant disabilities. SE consumers were significantly more
likely than other consumers to have received Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) for Disability (55 versus 28 percent), Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) (36 versus 23 percent), and significantly
less likely to have received assistance from family and friends (11
versus 22 percent), general assistance (4 versus 11 percent), and AFDC
(2 versus 8 percent). Of those SE consumers who received assistance, 80
percent relied on such assistance as their primary source of support.

Case files included evidence of a prior VR experience for 30 percent of
SE consumers. Over one-half of these prior experiences were successful
(i.e., the consumer exited VR services in employment), including 90
percent of those SE consumers with mental retardation. In contrast, only
17 percent of other VR consumers with significant disabilities who
exited into employment had a prior VR experience.

Based on information contained in consumers' case files, educational
institutions were the most frequent single source of referral to VR for
those individuals who exited VR in an SE position (**Table 9**). SE
consumers were significantly more likely than were other significantly
disabled consumers who exited VR services into employment to be referred
to VR by an educational institution (23 versus 12 percent), or a local
agency (32 versus 20 percent). SE consumers were significantly less
likely to be self-referred (15 versus 26 percent), or to be referred by
a family or friend (4 versus 10 percent). Overall, the most frequent
sources of referral for other (nonSE) VR consumers were self (26
percent), physician or hospital (20 percent), and community agencies (20
percent). However, the most frequent sources of referral for individuals
with mental retardation who exited into employment other than SE were
the same as those for consumers who exited into SE (i.e., schools and
local agencies).

Table 9: Sources of Referral to VR for SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type

+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ###### So         | **Per   |       |       | **    |       |       |
| urces of Referral | centage |       |       | Perce |       |       |
|                   | of      |       |       | ntage |       |       |
|                   | Supp    |       |       | of    |       |       |
|                   | orted** |       |       | Other |       |       |
|                   |         |       |       | C     |       |       |
|                   | **Emp   |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|                   | loyment |       |       | ers** |       |       |
|                   | Cons    |       |       |       |       |       |
|                   | umers** |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                   | **SE    | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                   | Cons    | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                   | umers** | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|                   |         |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|                   | **With  | **C   | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                   |  Mental | onsum | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                   | Retard  | ers** | ers** | ental |       |       |
|                   | ation** |       |       | Ret   |       |       |
|                   |         |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|                   |         |       |       | ion** |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Educational       | 31%     | 15%   | 23%   | 40%   | 10%   | 12%   |
| institutions\*    |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Self\*            | 14%     | 15%   | 15%   | 12%   | 27%   | 26%   |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Hospital or       | 10%     | 15%   | 12%   | 7%    | 21%   | 20%   |
| physician         |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Rehabilitation    | 13%     | 3%    | 8%    | 7%    | 5%    | 5%    |
| facility -        |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| community-based   |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| rehabilitation    |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| program†          |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Family or         | 3%      | 5%    | 4%    | 9%    | 10%   | 10%   |
| friend\*          |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Residential       | 3%      | 1%    | 2%    | 3%    | 1%    | 1%    |
| institution       |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Other agency\*    | 24%     | 40%   | 32%   | 17%   | 20%   | 20%   |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Other source of   | 2%      | 6%    | 4%    | 5%    | 6%    | 6%    |
| referral          |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

#### Summary

The research question directly addressed by this chapter is "What are
the characteristics of SE consumers and how do they differ from the
characteristics of other VR consumers who obtain employment?" Based on
the foregoing discussion we can say that, relative to other
significantly disabled VR consumers who obtained employment, persons who
obtained SE were about six times as likely to have mental retardation as
their primary disability (50 percent compared to eight percent) and were
an average of nine years younger. SE consumers were much more likely to
have received special education while in school, and entered VR services
with academic achievement levels at least three grade levels below other
successful, significantly disabled consumers. SE consumers were
significantly more likely to have received financial assistance at entry
into VR, and to be referred to VR services by an educational
institution.

SE consumers were significantly less likely to have worked in the two
years prior to VR entry, and of those with a work history, SE consumers
were more than twice as likely to have worked in the service sector than
were other successful consumers. In their most recent employment
experience SE consumers earned \$2.38 less per hour, worked about 10
fewer hours per week, and received employment-related benefits about
half as often as other successful VR consumers with significant
disabilities.

Much of the difference between SE and other VR consumers may be
explained by the relatively higher percentage of persons with mental
retardation in SE. Persons with mental retardation who exited VR
services into SE were more similar to other mentally retarded consumers
of VR services than they were to SE consumers with other disabilities on
several characteristics, including age, receipt of special education,
academic achievement, referral sources, and prior earnings. At the same
time, SE consumers were consistently more likely to be most
significantly disabled, to have relied on financial assistance, and to
have had a more limited work history than other significantly disabled
consumers who obtained employment.

**[Chapter 3: The Vocational]{.smallcaps}**

**[Rehabilitation Experience]{.smallcaps}**

In this chapter we describe the VR experiences of persons who exited VR
services into SE. In this discussion we identify (1) the number and
types of services consumers obtained; (2) the employment outcomes
achieved, including wages, hours worked, and receipt of benefits; and
(3) consumers' perspectives on their VR experience, including their
levels of satisfaction with their VR counselor, VR services, and service
providers. Once again, we compare the data for SE consumers with those
for other successful VR consumers with significant disabilities and
examine differences between consumers with mental retardation and
consumers with all other significant disabilities. The data sources we
rely on include case file abstraction and a satisfaction interview we
administered at the point of consumers' exit from VR services.

#### Overview of Services Obtained by SE and Other Consumers

As shown in **Table 10**, consumers who achieved an SE outcome received
an average of 8.3 services (median of six), compared with 10.4 (median
of eight) for other significantly disabled consumers who obtained
employment, although this difference was not statistically
significant.[^14] Consumers with a primary disability of mental
retardation received significantly fewer services than did other VR
consumers, regardless of their employment outcome. SE consumers with
mental retardation averaged 7.2 and other consumers with mental
retardation averaged 7.9 services. In comparison, consumers with other
significant disabilities averaged 9.6 services and 10.7 services,
respectively.

Virtually all SE consumers, and nearly all other significantly disabled
consumers who achieved an employment outcome, received counseling and
guidance, and, since we categorized supported employment as a training
service, all SE consumers received this service as well (**Table 11**).
SE consumers were less likely than other consumers to receive all other
types of

Table 10: Number of Services Obtained by SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type

+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *       | **Per   |         |         | **Per   |         |         |
| *Number | centage |         |         | centage |         |         |
| of      | of      |         |         | of**    |         |         |
| Ser     | Supp    |         |         |         |         |         |
| vices** | orted** |         |         | **Other |         |         |
|         |         |         |         | Cons    |         |         |
|         | **Emp   |         |         | umers** |         |         |
|         | loyment |         |         |         |         |         |
|         | Cons    |         |         |         |         |         |
|         | umers** |         |         |         |         |         |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|         | **SE    | **Other | **Total | **Cons  | **      | **      |
|         | Cons    | SE**    | SE**    | umers** | Other** | Total** |
|         | umers** |         |         |         |         |         |
|         |         | **Cons  | **Cons  | **With  | **Cons  | **Cons  |
|         | **With  | umers** | umers** |  Mental | umers** | umers** |
|         |  Mental |         |         | Retard  |         |         |
|         | Retard  |         |         | ation** |         |         |
|         | ation** |         |         |         |         |         |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 1-3†    | 23%     | 7%      | 15%     | 12%     | 9%      | 9%      |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 4-6     | 35%     | 31%     | 33%     | 28%     | 28%     | 28%     |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 7-9     | 23%     | 29%     | 26%     | 30%     | 23%     | 24%     |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 10-12   | 7%      | 13%     | 10%     | 20%     | 14%     | 15%     |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 13 or   | 12%     | 20%     | 16%     | 10%     | 26%     | 24%     |
| more    |         |         |         |         |         |         |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Mean†   | 7.2     | 9.6     | 8.3     | 7.9     | 10.7    | 10.4    |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Median  | 6.0     | 8.0     | 6.0     | 7.0     | 8.0     | 8.0     |
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Table 11: Types of Services Obtained by SE and Other Consumers, by
Disability Type

+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Type of    | **Per   |       |        | **Perc |        |        |
| Services**   | centage |       |        | entage |        |        |
|              | of      |       |        | of**   |        |        |
|              | Supp    |       |        |        |        |        |
|              | orted** |       |        | *      |        |        |
|              |         |       |        | *Other |        |        |
|              | **Emp   |       |        | Consu  |        |        |
|              | loyment |       |        | mers** |        |        |
|              | Cons    |       |        |        |        |        |
|              | umers** |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|              | **SE    | **    | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|              | Cons    | Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|              | umers** | SE**  | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|              |         |       |        |        | *      | *      |
|              | **With  | **C   | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|              |  Mental | onsum | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|              | Retard  | ers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|              | ation** |       |        | R      |        |        |
|              |         |       |        | etarda |        |        |
|              |         |       |        | tion** |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Counseling & | 100%    | 100%  | 100%   | 98%    | 97%    | 97%    |
| Guidance     |         |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Diagnostic & | 57%     | 78%   | 67%    | 89%    | 84%    | 85%    |
| E            |         |       |        |        |        |        |
| valuation\*† |         |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Education &  | 100%    | 100%  | 100%   | 52%    | 47%    | 48%    |
| Training\*   |         |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| R            | 8%      | 28%   | 18%    | 15%    | 44%    | 42%    |
| estoration\* |         |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Support      | 14%     | 19%   | 16%    | 29%    | 35%    | 35%    |
| Services\*   |         |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Other        | 6%      | 12%   | 8%     | 7%     | 24%    | 21%    |
| Services\*   |         |       |        |        |        |        |
+--------------+---------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

services, including diagnostic and evaluation services (67 percent
compared to 85 percent), restoration (18 percent compared to 42
percent), and support services such as housing, transportation, or
maintenance (16 percent compared to 35 percent) as shown in **Figure
4**. Among SE consumers, individuals with a primary disability of mental
retardation were significantly less likely to receive diagnostic and
evaluation services.

![](media/image3.wmf){width="5.490277777777778in"
height="4.158333333333333in"}

**Table 12** summarizes the percentages of consumers who received
specific selected services within these broad categories, by type of
employment outcome and disability (i.e., mental retardation or other).
As shown, overall, SE consumers were significantly less likely to
receive vision assessments, postsecondary or business schooling,
assistive technology services or devices, and transportation. Among SE
consumers we found no statistically significant differences between
consumers with mental retardation and other consumers with respect to
specific services, with the exception of business or vocational
schooling, a service more often received by SE consumers with
disabilities other than mental retardation.

Information obtained from consumers' case files concerning receipt of
supported employment services included the source of the service, the
duration of the service, use of comparable benefits, and service costs.
Since any one consumer may have more than a single SE experience while
an active VR consumer, we analyzed the data with both the consumer as
the unit of analysis and the individual service as the unit of analysis.

Table 12: Percentage of SE and Other Consumers Who Obtained Specific
Selected Services, by Disability Type

+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Type of      | **Per   |       |       | **    |       |       |
| Services**     | centage |       |       | Perce |       |       |
|                | of      |       |       | ntage |       |       |
|                | Supp    |       |       | of**  |       |       |
|                | orted** |       |       |       |       |       |
|                |         |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                | **Emp   |       |       | Other |       |       |
|                | loyment |       |       | C     |       |       |
|                | Cons    |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|                | umers** |       |       | ers** |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                | **SE    | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                | Cons    | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                | umers** | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|                |         |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|                | **With  | **C   | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                |  Mental | onsum | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                | Retard  | ers** | ers** | ental |       |       |
|                | ation** |       |       | Ret   |       |       |
|                |         |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|                |         |       |       | ion** |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ########       | 57%     | 78%   | 67%   | 89%   | 84%   | 85%   |
| # Diagnostic & |         |       |       |       |       |       |
|  Evaluation\*† |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Medical        | 37%     | 54%   | 45%   | 56%   | 57%   | 57%   |
| evaluation     |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Hearing        | 5%      | 13%   | 9%    | 5%    | 14%   | 13%   |
| assessment     |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Vision         | 2%      | 3%    | 3%    | 5%    | 14%   | 13%   |
| assessment\*   |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ######         | 77%     | 87%   | 82%   | 52%   | 47%   | 48%   |
| ### Education  |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| and training\* |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Four-year      | \-      | \-    | \-    | 1%    | 7%    | 7%    |
| college\*      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Two-year       | \-      | \-    | \-    | 2%    | 10%   | 10%   |
| college\*      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Busin          | \-      | 5%    | 2%    | 2%    | 19%   | 17%   |
| ess/vocational |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| schools\*†     |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| #########      | 8%      | 28%   | 18%   | 15%   | 44%   | 42%   |
|  Restoration\* |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Medical        | 6%      | 18%   | 12%   | 6%    | 15%   | 14%   |
| services       |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Assistive      | 1%      | 7%    | 4%    | 6%    | 27%   | 25%   |
| devices\*      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Psychological  | 1%      | 11%   | 6%    | 2%    | 7%    | 6%    |
| treatment      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ######### Supp | 14%     | 19%   | 16%   | 29%   | 45%   | 45%   |
| ort Services\* |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Tr             | 13%     | 13%   | 13%   | 20%   | 29%   | 28%   |
| ansportation\* |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+----------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Data available from consumers' case files indicate that the VR agency
almost always (96 percent) purchased SE services for consumers; we found
evidence of the use of comparable benefits in only five percent of
consumers' files. On average, a single SE service lasted a little over
six months (median 3 months) and cost approximately \$2,848 (median
\$1,300). As shown in **Table 13**, the average cost per service
(placement) and the average duration of each SE experience were greater
for consumers with mental retardation compared to other SE consumers,
although these differences were not statistically significant.

Table 13: Costs and Duration of SE With Service as Unit of Analysis, by
Disability Type

+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
|                 | **SE            | **Other SE**    | **Total SE**    |
|                 | Consumers**     |                 |                 |
|                 |                 | **Consumers**   | **Consumers**   |
|                 | **With Mental   |                 |                 |
|                 | Retardation**   |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| #####           |                 |                 |                 |
| ### Costs to VR |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Mean            | \$3,088         | \$2,623         | \$2,848         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Median          | \$1,300         | \$1,338         | \$1,300         |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| ######          |                 |                 |                 |
| ## Months in SE |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Mean            | 8.3 months      | 4.7 months      | 6.3 months      |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Median          | 3 months        | 3 months        | 3 months        |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Consumers who exited VR services into an SE position had an average of
just under two (1.73) SE placements, a figure that varied little by type
of disability (1.76 for individuals with mental retardation and 1.71 for
other SE consumers). **Table 14** summarizes the total costs and
duration of SE with the individual consumer as the unit of analysis. As
shown, the average cost of SE services for a single consumer over the
life of his or her VR experience was nearly \$5,000: \$5,556 for
consumers with mental retardation and \$4,731 for other SE consumers,
although once again this difference was not statistically
significant.[^15] On average, consumers spent a little over nine months
(median of five months) in SE services.

Table 14: Costs and Duration of SE With the Consumer as Unit of
Analysis, by Disability Type

+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | **SE           | **Other SE**   | **Total SE**   |
|                 | Consumers**    |                |                |
|                 |                | **Consumers**  | **Consumers**  |
|                 | **With Mental  |                |                |
|                 | Retardation**  |                |                |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| #####           |                |                |                |
| ### Costs to VR |                |                |                |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Mean            | \$5,556        | \$4,371        | \$4,921        |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Median          | \$4,126        | \$3,678        | \$3,814        |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| ######          |                |                |                |
| ## Months in SE |                |                |                |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Mean            | 11.7           | 7.1            | 9.3            |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Median          | 5.1            | 6.1            | 5.1            |
+-----------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

#### Employment Outcomes

As explained in the introductory chapter, we selected approximately
one-third of our sample of SE consumers while they were actively
obtaining services. Of these consumers, approximately 85 percent had
exited VR services by the time we ended data collection activities.
Seventy-four percent of those individuals who exited VR services
achieved an employment outcome, including 43 percent who obtained an SE
position. As indicated in **Table 15** and **Figure 5**, another 34
percent obtained unsupported jobs in the competitive market, and 22
percent obtained sheltered employment.

Table 15: Outcome of SE Consumers Selected in Active Status Who Exited
VR Services

+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| **Outcomes**                                     | **Percentage of** |
|                                                  |                   |
|                                                  | **SE Consumers**  |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| ######## Obtained employment                     |                   |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| Yes, obtained employment following VR services   | 74%               |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| No, did not obtain employment following VR       | 26%               |
| services                                         |                   |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| ######## Type of employment obtained b           |                   |
| y former SE consumers with an employment outcome |                   |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| Supported employment                             | 43%               |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| Other competitive employment                     | 34%               |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| Sheltered employment                             | 22%               |
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

![](media/image4.wmf){width="4.740277777777778in"
height="3.5902777777777777in"}

**Profile of Supported Employment Positions**

The overwhelming majority of SE jobs consumers obtained were individual
placements (86 percent); the remaining 14 percent of consumers worked in
a group or enclave.[^16] Nearly half of all consumers who exited VR
services into SE positions worked in the service sector (49 percent)
(**Table 16** and **Figure 6**). Clerical or sales positions accounted
for another 23 percent of SE positions, followed by miscellaneous at 15
percent. As shown, other significantly

Table 16: Percentage of SE and Other VR Consumers by Type of Occupation
at Exit by Disability Type

+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Type of        | **Perc |       |       | **    |       |       |
| Occupation at    | entage |       |       | Perce |       |       |
| Exit from VR     | of     |       |       | ntage |       |       |
| Services**       | Suppo  |       |       | of**  |       |       |
|                  | rted** |       |       |       |       |       |
|                  |        |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                  | **Empl |       |       | Other |       |       |
|                  | oyment |       |       | C     |       |       |
|                  | Consu  |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|                  | mers** |       |       | ers** |       |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                  | **SE   | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                  | Consu  | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                  | mers** | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|                  |        |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|                  | *      | **C   | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                  | *With  | onsum | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                  | Mental | ers** | ers** | ental |       |       |
|                  | R      |       |       | Ret   |       |       |
|                  | etarda |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|                  | tion** |       |       | ion** |       |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Service\*        | 54%    | 45%   | 49%   | 35%   | 20%   | 21%   |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Clerical/sales   | 19%    | 27%   | 23%   | 17%   | 23%   | 23%   |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Benchwork        | 8%     | 3%    | 5%    | 26%   | 7%    | 8%    |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Ag/fish/forest   | 3%     | 3%    | 3%    | 3%    | 1%    | 1%    |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Processing       | 1%     | 3%    | 2%    | 4%    | 1%    | 1%    |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Machine trades\* | 1%     | 1%    | 1%    | 2%    | 4%    | 4%    |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Professional,    | \-     | 3%    | 1%    | 2%    | 24%   | 22%   |
| managerial,      |        |       |       |       |       |       |
| technical\*      |        |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Structural       | 1%     | \-    | \-    | 3%    | 5%    | 5%    |
| work\*           |        |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Miscellaneous    | 15%    | 16%   | 15%   | 8%    | 16%   | 15%   |
+------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

![](media/image5.wmf){width="6.490277777777778in"
height="4.915972222222222in"}

disabled former consumers were much more likely to obtain professional,
managerial, or technical jobs; much less likely to have entered a
service occupation; and equally likely to have worked in a clerical or
sales position.[^17] Among SE consumers we found no significant
differences in the types of occupations obtained by individuals with
mental retardation and individuals with other disabilities. Individuals
with mental retardation who obtained employment other than SE were
significantly more likely to work in the service sector and less likely
to work in professional, managerial, or technical occupations.

Individuals who obtained an SE position worked far fewer hours per week
and earned significantly less per hour than did other employed
significantly disabled former consumers with earnings (**Table 17**).
Persons who obtained an SE position worked an average of 23 hours per
week, with average hourly earnings of \$4.53 (median of \$4.75).
Consumers with a primary disability of mental retardation earned an
average of \$0.66 less per hour than did other SE consumers, a
difference that was not statistically significant. In comparison, other
significantly disabled consumers worked an average of 34 hours per week
(median of 40) and earned an average of \$7.20 per hour (median of
\$5.77). Earnings for consumers with mental retardation at exit from VR
were virtually the same for both types of employment; SE consumers with
mental retardation averaged \$4.21 per hour, and consumers with mental
retardation who obtained other forms of employment averaged \$4.19 per
hour.[^18]

Table 17: Average Hourly Earning and Hours Worked per Week in the Job at
Exit from VR Services for SE and Other Consumers, by Disability Type

+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|         | * |         |        |        | **Perc |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        | entage |        |        |
|         | P |         |        |        | of**   |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | r |         |        |        | *      |        |        |
|         | c |         |        |        | *Other |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        | Consu  |        |        |
|         | n |         |        |        | mers** |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | a |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | g |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | o |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | f |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | S |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | u |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | p |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | p |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | o |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | r |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | d |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | E |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | m |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | p |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | l |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | o |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | y |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | m |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | n |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | C |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | o |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | n |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | s |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | u |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | m |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | r |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | s |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|         | * |         | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|         | * |         | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|         | S |         | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|         | E |         |        |        |        | *      | *      |
|         | C |         | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|         | o |         | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|         | n |         | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|         | s |         |        |        | R      |        |        |
|         | u |         |        |        | etarda |        |        |
|         | m |         |        |        | tion** |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | r |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | s |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | W |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | i |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | h |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | M |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | n |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | a |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | l |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | R |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | e |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | a |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | r |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | d |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | a |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | t |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | i |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | o |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | n |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | * |         |        |        |        |        |        |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| #       |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| ####### |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| # Earni |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| ngs at  |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| closure |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Mean\*  |   | \$4.21  | \$4.87 | \$4.53 | \$4.19 | \$7.48 | \$7.20 |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Median  |   | \$4.75  | \$5.00 | \$4.75 | \$4.75 | \$6.28 | \$5.77 |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Hours |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| worked  |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| per     |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| week at |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| cl      |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
| osure** |   |         |        |        |        |        |        |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Mean\*  |   | 23.0    | 24.0   | 23.0   | 29.7   | 34.3   | 34.0   |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Median  |   | 20.0    | 25.0   | 20.0   | 30.0   | 40.0   | 40.0   |
+---------+---+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Persons who obtained an SE position at exit from VR services were much
less likely than consumers who exited VR services into other types of
employment to receive employment-related fringe benefits (**Table 18**).
Specifically, these consumers received medical or health insurance
through their employment about one-third as often as other consumers,
and vacation or sick leave about one-fifth as frequently as other
employed former consumers. We found no significant differences between
SE consumers with mental retardation and other SE consumers with respect
to receipt of job-related benefits at exit from VR services.

Table 18: Percentage of SE and Other Consumers Who Received Employment
Related Benefits, by Disability Type

+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Fringe   | **Pe     |        |        | **Perc |        |        |
| benefits   | rcentage |        |        | entage |        |        |
| received** | of       |        |        | of     |        |        |
|            | Sup      |        |        | Other  |        |        |
|            | ported** |        |        | Consu  |        |        |
|            |          |        |        | mers** |        |        |
|            | **Em     |        |        |        |        |        |
|            | ployment |        |        |        |        |        |
|            | Con      |        |        |        |        |        |
|            | sumers** |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|            | **SE     | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|            | Con      | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|            | sumers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|            |          |        |        |        | *      | *      |
|            | **Wit    | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|            | h Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|            | Retar    | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|            | dation** |        |        | R      |        |        |
|            |          |        |        | etarda |        |        |
|            |          |        |        | tion** |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Medical    | 12%      | 11%    | 11%    | 20%    | 34%    | 33%    |
| i          |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| nsurance\* |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Vac        | 4%       | 5%     | 5%     | 14%    | 27%    | 26%    |
| ation/sick |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| leave\*    |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Other      | 4%       | 2%     | 3%     | 2%     | 5%     | 5%     |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Despite the relatively lower earnings and the decreased likelihood of
receiving employment-related benefits associated with SE jobs,
three-fourths of all persons exiting VR services into SE reported that
the job they obtained was the one they wanted (**Table 19**). We found
no significant differences in job satisfaction among or between SE or
other successful former consumers.

Table 19: Percentage of SE and Other Consumers Who Reported Obtaining
the Job They Wanted, by Disability Type

+-------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Is the    | **Per   |        |        | **Perc |        |        |
| job         | centage |        |        | entage |        |        |
| obtained    | of      |        |        | of**   |        |        |
| the one you | Supp    |        |        |        |        |        |
| wanted?**   | orted** |        |        | *      |        |        |
|             |         |        |        | *Other |        |        |
|             | **Emp   |        |        | Consu  |        |        |
|             | loyment |        |        | mers** |        |        |
|             | Cons    |        |        |        |        |        |
|             | umers** |        |        |        |        |        |
+-------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|             | SE      | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|             | Co      | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|             | nsumers | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|             |         |        |        |        | *      | *      |
|             | **With  | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|             |  Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|             | Retard  | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|             | ation** |        |        | R      |        |        |
|             |         |        |        | etarda |        |        |
|             |         |        |        | tion** |        |        |
+-------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Yes         | 85%     | 69%    | 75%    | 81%    | 70%    | 71%    |
+-------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| No          | 15%     | 31%    | 25%    | 19%    | 30%    | 30%    |
+-------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

#### Consumers' Perspectives on Their VR Experiences

The satisfaction interview we administered to participants examined
their level of satisfaction with numerous aspects of the VR experience,
including specifically their VR counselor; the amount of choice afforded
them in the selection of vocational goals, services, and providers; and
the quality and timeliness of VR services. Overall, we found a
consistently high level of satisfaction across all these measures; at
least 75 percent of consumers, whether in SE or other employment,
reported being either "very satisfied" or "mostly satisfied" with
virtually all aspects of their VR experience.

Consumers' satisfaction with their vocational rehabilitation counselor
(VRC) was especially high, as indicated in **Table 20**. Between 71 and
84 percent of former consumers reported being satisfied with their VR
counselors in terms of frequency of interaction, level of interest,
willingness to listen, and overall performance. The percentages varied
little by disability or SE status.

Table 20: SE and Other Consumers' Satisfaction With Their VR Counselor,
by Disability Type

+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
| **Measures of   | **Pe     |        |        | **Perc |      |      |
| Satisfaction    | rcentage |        |        | entage |      |      |
| With VR         | of       |        |        | of**   |      |      |
| Counselor       | Sup      |        |        |        |      |      |
| (VRC)**         | ported** |        |        | *      |      |      |
|                 |          |        |        | *Other |      |      |
|                 | **Em     |        |        | Consu  |      |      |
|                 | ployment |        |        | mers** |      |      |
|                 | Con      |        |        |        |      |      |
|                 | sumers** |        |        |        |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
|                 | **SE     | *      | *      | *      | *    | *    |
|                 | Con      | *Other | *Total | *Consu | *Oth | *Tot |
|                 | sumers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** | er** | al** |
|                 |          |        |        |        |      |      |
|                 | **Wit    | *      | *      | *      | *    | *    |
|                 | h Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | *Con | *Con |
|                 | Retar    | mers** | mers** | Mental | sume | sume |
|                 | dation** |        |        | R      | rs** | rs** |
|                 |          |        |        | etarda |      |      |
|                 |          |        |        | tion** |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
| Met with VRC as | 78%      | 74%    | 76%    | 81%    | 82%  | 82%  |
| often as you    |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| would have      |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| liked           |          |        |        |        |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
| Spoke with VRC  | 82%      | 81%    | 81%    | 82%    | 84%  | 84%  |
| as often as     |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| would have      |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| liked           |          |        |        |        |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
| VRC always      | 72%      | 70%    | 71%    | 76%    | 76%  | 76%  |
| showed enough   |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| interest        |          |        |        |        |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
| VRC always      | 78%      | 81%    | 79%    | 80%    | 81%  | 80%  |
| willing to      |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| listen          |          |        |        |        |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+
| Overall, very   | 89%      | 77%    | 84%    | 84%    | 79%  | 79%  |
| or mostly       |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| satisfied with  |          |        |        |        |      |      |
| VRC             |          |        |        |        |      |      |
+-----------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+------+------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Consumer perspectives on the amount of choice they had in their VR
experience varied somewhat by disability, although not significantly.
**Table 21** indicates the percentage of consumers who reported
involvement in decision-making in various aspects of their VR experience
and the percentage who believed they had enough choice in decision
making.[^19]

Table 21: SE and Other Consumers' Involvement in Decision Making During
the VR Process and Satisfaction With The Amount of Choice

+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                  | **Per   |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                  | centage |       |       | Perce |       |       |
|                  | of      |       |       | ntage |       |       |
|                  | Supp    |       |       | of**  |       |       |
|                  | orted** |       |       |       |       |       |
|                  |         |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                  | **Emp   |       |       | Other |       |       |
|                  | loyment |       |       | C     |       |       |
|                  | Cons    |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|                  | umers** |       |       | ers** |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                  | **SE    | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                  | Cons    | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                  | umers** | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|                  |         |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|                  | **With  | **C   | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                  |  Mental | onsum | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                  | Retard  | ers** | ers** | ental |       |       |
|                  | ation** |       |       | Ret   |       |       |
|                  |         |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|                  |         |       |       | ion** |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ########         |         |       |       |       |       |       |
|  Vocational Goal |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Consumer         | 69%     | 78%   | 73%   | 71%   | 80%   | 79%   |
| involved in      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| selection        |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Had enough       | 90%     | 75%   | 83%   | 88%   | 83%   | 84%   |
| choice in        |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| selection of     |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| goal†            |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ######## Vo      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| cational Rehabil |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| itation Services |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Consumers        | 64%     | 80%   | 71%   | 73%   | 89%   | 88%   |
| involved in      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| selection        |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Very or somewhat | 93%     | 74%   | 84%   | 85%   | 81%   | 81%   |
| satisfied with   |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| choice†          |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Vocational     |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| rehabilitation   |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| service          |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| providers**      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Consumer         | 45%     | 43%   | 44%   | 61%   | 66%   | 65%   |
| involved in      |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| selection        |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Very or somewhat | 84%     | 83%   | 84%   | 86%   | 83%   | 83%   |
| satisfied with   |         |       |       |       |       |       |
| choice           |         |       |       |       |       |       |
+------------------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

As shown, persons with mental retardation, whether in SE or not,
generally reported lower rates of involvement in decision making
regarding their vocational goals, services, and providers, but higher
levels of satisfaction with the amount of choice in all areas, although
these differences were not statistically significant.

Consumers' satisfaction with VR services was also consistently high
across a number of specific measures, as indicated in **Table 22**. Over
three-fourths of all SE consumers reported that most or all of their
service needs were met, that the quality of services was either
excellent or good, and that the speed of service delivery was adequate.
Other successful former consumers also reported high levels of
satisfaction on these measures of VR services. SE consumers with mental
retardation were significantly more likely than other SE consumers to
report that all their services needs were met, that they received all
the services they wanted, and that they were very or mostly satisfied
with VR services.

In addition to their views on services, we asked former consumers to
comment on their perceptions of the VR experience overall (**Table
23**). As indicated, over two-thirds of all SE consumers (69 percent)
reported that VR either exceeded or met their expectations, while
another one-fourth believed VR could have done more. While in the
aggregate the percentages for SE

Table 22: SE and Other Consumers' Satisfaction with Various Aspects of
VR Services, by Disability Type

+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Measures of     | **    |       |       | **    |       |       |
| Satisfaction with | Perce |       |       | Perce |       |       |
| VR Services**     | ntage |       |       | ntage |       |       |
|                   | of    |       |       | of**  |       |       |
|                   | S     |       |       |       |       |       |
|                   | uppor |       |       | **    |       |       |
|                   | ted** |       |       | Other |       |       |
|                   |       |       |       | C     |       |       |
|                   | **    |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|                   | Emplo |       |       | ers** |       |       |
|                   | yment |       |       |       |       |       |
|                   | C     |       |       |       |       |       |
|                   | onsum |       |       |       |       |       |
|                   | ers** |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                   | **SE  | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                   | C     | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                   | onsum | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|                   | ers** |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|                   |       | **C   | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                   | **W   | onsum | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                   | ith M | ers** | ers** | ental |       |       |
|                   | ental |       |       | Ret   |       |       |
|                   | Ret   |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|                   | ardat |       |       | ion** |       |       |
|                   | ion** |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| All or most       | 85%   | 72%   | 78%   | 69%   | 72%   | 72%   |
| service needs     |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| were met†         |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Received all      | 88%   | 66%   | 77%   | 80%   | 69%   | 70%   |
| services wanted†  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Service quality   | 85%   | 72%   | 79%   | 82%   | 83%   | 83%   |
| was either        |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| excellent or good |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Very or mostly    | 87%   | 75%   | 82%   | 86%   | 83%   | 84%   |
| satisfied with    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| speed of service  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| arrangements      |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Overall, very or  | 91%   | 75%   | 83%   | 85%   | 85%   | 85%   |
| mostly satisfied  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| with VR services† |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Table 23: Perceptions of Former SE and Other Consumers about the VR
Experience Overall, by Disability Type

+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Consumers    | **Pe     |        |        | **    |       |       |
| Perceptions    | rcentage |        |        | Perce |       |       |
| About the V    | of       |        |        | ntage |       |       |
| R Experience** | Sup      |        |        | of**  |       |       |
|                | ported** |        |        |       |       |       |
|                |          |        |        | **    |       |       |
|                | **Em     |        |        | Other |       |       |
|                | ployment |        |        | C     |       |       |
|                | Con      |        |        | onsum |       |       |
|                | sumers** |        |        | ers** |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
|                | **SE     | *      | *      | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|                | Con      | *Other | *Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|                | sumers** | SE**   | SE**   | ers** |       |       |
|                |          |        |        |       | **C   | **C   |
|                | **Wit    | *      | *      | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|                | h Mental | *Consu | *Consu | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|                | Retar    | mers** | mers** | ental |       |       |
|                | dation** |        |        | Ret   |       |       |
|                |          |        |        | ardat |       |       |
|                |          |        |        | ion** |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| ***Consumers'  |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| reports of     |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| whether the VR |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| experience met |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| e              |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| xpectations*** |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| VR exceeded    | 14%      | 11%    | 12%    | 20%   | 25%   | 25%   |
| expectations\* |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| VR lived up to | 64%      | 52%    | 57%    | 49%   | 43%   | 44%   |
| expectations   |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| VR could have  | 23%      | 27%    | 25%    | 19%   | 28%   | 27%   |
| done more      |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| No opinion     | \-       | 10%    | 6%     | 12%   | 4%    | 4%    |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| ***Consumers'  |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| perceptions on |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| the usefulness |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| of services    |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| and            |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| experiences    |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| received       |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| through VR***  |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| If I had to    | 69%      | 65%    | 67%    | 69%   | 63%   | 64%   |
| pay for it I   |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| would buy      |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| exactly the    |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| same services  |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| I would buy    | 20%      | 21%    | 21%    | 24%   | 28%   | 27%   |
| better or      |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| different      |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| services       |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| I would not    | 10%      | 13%    | 12%    | 7%    | 9%    | 9%    |
| spend the      |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| money on       |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| r              |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| ehabilitations |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| services at    |          |        |        |       |       |       |
| all            |          |        |        |       |       |       |
+----------------+----------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

and other consumers are very similar, persons in SE were about half as
likely as other significantly disabled successful former consumers to
report that VR "exceeded" their expectations.

Finally, asked a series of questions whose intent was to illuminate
whether consumers believed VR was worth the investment, two-thirds (67
percent) of SE consumers said that if they had to pay for their own
services they would buy exactly the same services they received from the
VR program. Another 21 percent of SE consumers would buy "better or
different" services, while 12 percent thought they would not purchase
rehabilitation services at all but would spend the money on other needs.

#### Summary

SE consumers with a primary disability of mental retardation received
fewer services than SE consumers with other significant disabilities.
Overall, SE consumers were less likely than other significantly disabled
consumers who exited VR services into employment other than SE to
receive all types of services from VR, with the exception of education
and training, which included supported employment. With the exception of
transportation, differences between the types of services most
frequently received by SE and other consumers is probably explained by
the relatively higher percentage of consumers with mental retardation
who exited VR services into SE.

The VR agency almost always purchased SE services for its consumers.
Consumers who ultimately exited VR services into SE had an average of
1.7 SE placements, and spent an average of nine months in SE services
prior to exit. Overall, the average cost of SE services for a single
consumer was \$4,921. We found no statistically significant differences
between SE consumers with mental retardation and other SE consumers with
respect to average cost of, or time spent receiving, SE services.

Nearly half (49 percent) of all the jobs obtained by SE consumers were
in the service industry, while only 21 percent of other former consumers
with significant disabilities obtained work in the service industry.
Individuals who obtained an SE position worked an average of 23 hours
per week and earned an average of \$4.53 per hour, compared to other
successful consumers with significant disabilities who worked an average
of 34 hours per week and earned an average hourly wage of \$7.20. On
average, individuals with mental retardation in SE earned virtually the
same wage as all other consumers with mental retardation who exited VR
services in employment with earnings. Persons with other types of
disabilities who obtained SE earned 35 percent less per hour (\$4.87)
than did those who obtained other forms of employment (\$7.48). Finally,
persons obtaining SE were uniformly less likely to receive either
medical insurance or vacation/sick leave through their job than were
other employed consumers.

We found that at least 70 percent of consumers who exited VR services
into employment were "very or mostly satisfied" with their VR
experience, regardless of what aspect of that experience we measured
(e.g., VR counselor performance, quality of services, amount of choice
in decision making), or what subset of the consumer population we
queried. Over two-thirds (69 percent) of SE consumers reported that
their VR experience met or exceeded their expectations; another
one-fourth (25 percent) believed VR could have done more, and six
percent had no opinion.

# Chapter 4: Post-VR Experiences

Of great interest to this study were the experiences of consumers after
they obtained SE services, achieved job stability, and exited VR
services. In this chapter we describe the post-VR experiences of former
SE consumers, including the types of extended services former VR
consumers obtained to help them maintain employment, consumers'
employment status one year after exiting VR services, and consumers'
satisfaction with extended services and with the employment itself.
Where possible and useful, we compare key characteristics of consumers'
employment, such as earnings, from the point of exit from VR services to
one year later. Once again, we focus our analyses on (1) former
consumers who obtained SE as a result of VR services, and (2) other
significantly disabled consumers who obtained other forms of employment
(with earnings) as a result of VR services. Data sources for this
chapter include consumers' case files; interviews with consumers at, or
soon after, the point of exiting VR services and again one year later;
and a brief telephone interview with extended services providers
administered as soon as possible after the consumer exited VR services.

Findings from the interviews with extended services providers are
somewhat limited, owing to difficulties we encountered in completing
these interviews. Among the problems we experienced were (1) consumers'
refusal to allow us to contact their service providers, (2) providers'
requiring us to obtain written consent from the consumers (who had given
us verbal approval) prior to responding[^20], and (3) difficulties in
locating the appropriate respondent (i.e., the worker most familiar with
the consumer in question) at the provider organization, owing to staff
turnover. As a result, we present data from the provider interview only
when the number of respondents to a particular item is adequate.

#### Extended Services

By regulation, VR agencies may provide ongoing support services to a
consumer in SE for up to 18 months, although this time period may be
extended if the VR counselor and consumer believe doing so would help
the consumer achieve job stability. Stability, of course, means
different things for different individuals, but is often measured by the
achievement of specific objectives articulated in the individual
rehabilitation plan, such as working a certain number of hours per week,
mastery of needed job skills, or employer satisfaction with the
consumer's performance. Our review of case files found that VR agencies
extended the period of agency support beyond the 18-month period for 13
percent of their SE consumers.

VR counselors (or other agency staff) are also required to document in
the SE consumer's case file the source of financial support for extended
services, and we found that this information was available in 78 percent
of the files we reviewed, as summarized in **Table 24**.[^21] As shown,
case file documentation identified local agencies or boards as the
source of support for 26 percent of former consumers, and mental
retardation service funds for another 19 percent (including 30 percent
of the consumers with a primary disability of mental retardation). VR
state funds were the next most frequent source of funding (15 percent)
for extended services identified in case files, followed by mental
health service funds (seven percent).[^22] Case files for SE consumers
with disabilities other than mental retardation were six times more
likely than the files for consumers with mental retardation to identify
VR state funds and mental health service funds as the source of support
for extended services.

Table 24: Sources of Funding for Extended Services Identified in
Consumers' Case Files

  ------------------------------ --------------- -------------- --------------
  **Source of Funding Identified **Percentage of **Percentage   **Percentage
  in Case Files**                SE Consumers    of Other SE    of Total SE
                                 with Mental     Consumers**    Consumers**
                                 Retardation**                  

  County board or other local    26%             30%            28%
  funding source                                                

  Mental retardation service     30%             8%             19%
  funds†                                                        

  VR state funds†                4%              26%            15%

  Mental health service funds†   2%              12%            7%

  Title 19 HCB waiver            8%              \-             4%

  Medicaid case management       2%              1%             1%

  Social Security                1%              1%             1%
  Administration - Plan to                                      
  Achieve Self Support (PASS)                                   

  Other funding source           2%              6%             4%

  Can not determine              25%             18%            22%
  ------------------------------ --------------- -------------- --------------

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Consumers' case files are also required to include a description of the
extended services to be provided after the consumers exit VR services;
we found this information in less than half (47 percent) of the files we
reviewed. In 38 percent of the files we found some form of written
agreement between the VR agency and the extended service provider
governing the terms of the transition of responsibility for service
provision. The extended services most often identified in VR case files
containing such information included employer follow up (83 percent),
off-site monitoring (80 percent) counseling (63 percent) and on-site job
coaching (58 percent).

We collected information on consumers' receipt of extended services from
a consumer interview administered soon after exit from VR services and
through a telephone interview with providers of those services we also
administered soon after a consumer exited VR services. As indicated in
**Table 25**, the percentage of consumers who were receiving job
coaching services, as reported by consumers (70 percent) and providers
(75 percent) did not markedly differ.[^23] Little variation is also
evident for counseling (67 and 61 percent), off-site monitoring (62 and
59 percent), and assistive technology services or devices (15 and 14
percent). Although the percentages across data sources for these key
services are similar, the percentages reported for receipt of job skill
training, transportation services, and job development do differ by 10
percent or more, with a higher percentage reported by providers for all
three services. Possible explanations for this disparity across data
sources are (1) the two interviews may have been completed one to two
months apart, and (2) consumers and providers may not perceive services
in the same way. For example, the much higher percentage reported by
providers for job skill training and job development and placement
services may reflect a view among providers that all of what they do
might be characterized as job skill training and job development.

Table 25: Services Received from Extended Services Provider, at or Soon
After Exiting VR Services, for Those Reporting any Services as Reported
by SE Consumers and Extended Service Providers

+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
|                             | **Percentage of   |                   |
|                             | SE Consumers**    |                   |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| ### Extended Services       | **Reported by**   | **Reported by     |
|                             |                   | Se                |
|                             | **Consumers**     | rvice Providers** |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Job coaching                | 70%               | 75%               |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Counseling                  | 67%               | 61%               |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Off-site monitoring         | 62%               | 59%               |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Job skill training          | 47%               | 83%               |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Transportation              | 43%               | 64%               |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Job development or          | 38%               | 98%               |
| placement                   |                   |                   |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Independent living skills   | 24%               | 34%               |
| training                    |                   |                   |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Assistive technology        | 15%               | 14%               |
| services or devices         |                   |                   |
+-----------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

One year after their exit from VR services we asked employed consumers
if they continued to receive services needed to maintain their
employment; some items asked specifically about receipt of services from
an "extended services provider" and others asked about services more
generally. Data obtained from these items indicate that between 65 and
79 percent of SE consumers who held the same job one year after exiting
VR services continued to receive some type of support services. Over 90
percent of these consumers reported receipt of job coaching services.

We are unable to provide more precise information in this area, because
one year after exiting VR services consumers were often unable to
differentiate the source of the services they received. We are also not
able to report an average duration of extended services because of
former consumers who ceased receiving these services in the first year
after exiting VR services over 40 percent were unable to provide a date.
Finally, although a low number of responses constrains our ability to
discuss in detail the reasons why some former consumers no longer
received extended services, we are able to say a majority of these
consumers indicated that they no longer needed such services.

Former VR consumers in SE reported being very satisfied with the
services they received from extended service providers, as indicated in
**Table 26**. Overall, 77 percent of SE consumers were "very pleased"
with their services after the transition from the VR agency to an
extended service provider, and another 24 percent were "somewhat
pleased."

Table 26: SE Consumers' Satisfaction With Extended Services

  ------------------------------- ---------------------- -------------- --------------
  **Level of Satisfaction with    **Percentage of SE     **Percentage   **Percentage
  Extended Services**             Consumers with         of Other SE    of Total SE
                                  Mental Retardation**   Consumers**    Consumers**

  Very pleased with services      82%                    73%            77%

  Somewhat pleased with services  18%                    27%            23%

  Not pleased with services       \-                     \-             \-
  ------------------------------- ---------------------- -------------- --------------

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

#### Retention of Employment and Earnings

As **Table 27** and **Figure 7** show, one year after exiting VR
services, 84 percent of former consumers who obtained supported
employment were still employed; 74 percent in the job they

Table 27: Employment Status of Former SE and Other Consumers One Year
After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type

+--------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+
| ########     | **Pe     |        |        | **Perc |        |       |
|  Work Status | rcentage |        |        | entage |        |       |
|              | of       |        |        | of**   |        |       |
|              | Sup      |        |        |        |        |       |
|              | ported** |        |        | *      |        |       |
|              |          |        |        | *Other |        |       |
|              | **Em     |        |        | Consu  |        |       |
|              | ployment |        |        | mers** |        |       |
|              | Con      |        |        |        |        |       |
|              | sumers** |        |        |        |        |       |
+--------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+
|              | **SE     | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **To  |
|              | Con      | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | tal** |
|              | sumers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |       |
|              |          |        |        |        | *      | **C   |
|              | **Wit    | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | onsum |
|              | h Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | ers** |
|              | Retar    | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |       |
|              | dation** |        |        | R      |        |       |
|              |          |        |        | etarda |        |       |
|              |          |        |        | tion** |        |       |
+--------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+
| Held same    | 72%      | 77%    | 74%    | 67%    | 64%    | 64%   |
| job          |          |        |        |        |        |       |
+--------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+
| Obtained     | 18%      | 4%     | 10%    | 13%    | 20%    | 19%   |
| another      |          |        |        |        |        |       |
| job\*†       |          |        |        |        |        |       |
+--------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+
| Not working  | 10%      | 19%    | 16%    | 20%    | 16%    | 16%   |
+--------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

![](media/image6.wmf){width="5.590277777777778in"
height="4.2347222222222225in"}

obtained through VR, and another 10 percent who changed jobs but
continued to be employed.[^24] SE consumers with mental retardation were
more than four times as likely as other SE consumers to have obtained a
different job during the first year after exiting VR services. The types
of employment obtained by the 10 percent of former SE consumers who
secured other employment during this time included (1) another supported
employment job (44 percent), (2) other competitive employment (40
percent), and (3) sheltered employment (16 percent). Overall, the
percentage of other significantly disabled former consumers who were
employed one-year later (83 percent) is virtually the same as the
percentage of former SE consumers who remained employed: 64 percent held
the same job and another 19 percent secured another job.

The average hourly wage earned by former SE consumers who worked one
year after exiting VR services was \$4.68 (median of \$5.20), \$3.34
less than the average wage earned by former consumers with significant
disabilities who obtained other forms of employment (**Table 28**). The
modest difference in average hourly earnings between SE consumers with
mental retardation (\$0.62 less per hour) and other SE consumers was not
statistically significant. However, while the average hourly wage earned
by former consumers with mental retardation varied little by type of
employment (\$4.37 versus \$4.22), the average difference in earnings
between other former consumers was \$3.37 per hour (\$4.99 versus
\$8.36).

Table 28: Average Hourly Wage Earned by Former SE and Other Consumers
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type

+--------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Hourly     | **Pe     |       |       | **    |       |       |
| Wages for    | rcentage |       |       | Perce |       |       |
| Job at       | of       |       |       | ntage |       |       |
| One-year     | Sup      |       |       | of**  |       |       |
| Follow up**  | ported** |       |       |       |       |       |
|              |          |       |       | **    |       |       |
|              | **Em     |       |       | Other |       |       |
|              | ployment |       |       | C     |       |       |
|              | Con      |       |       | onsum |       |       |
|              | sumers** |       |       | ers** |       |       |
+--------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|              | **SE     | **    | **    | **C   | **Ot  | **To  |
|              | Con      | Other | Total | onsum | her** | tal** |
|              | sumers** | SE**  | SE**  | ers** |       |       |
|              |          |       |       |       | **C   | **C   |
|              | **Wit    | **C   | **C   | **W   | onsum | onsum |
|              | h Mental | onsum | onsum | ith M | ers** | ers** |
|              | Retar    | ers** | ers** | ental |       |       |
|              | dation** |       |       | Ret   |       |       |
|              |          |       |       | ardat |       |       |
|              |          |       |       | ion** |       |       |
+--------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Mean\*       | \$4.37   | \     | \     | \     | \     | \     |
|              |          | $4.99 | $4.68 | $4.22 | $8.36 | $8.02 |
+--------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Median       | \$5.00   | \     | \     | \     | \     | \     |
|              |          | $5.25 | $5.20 | $4.33 | $7.00 | $6.75 |
+--------------+----------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Over half of former SE consumers (53 percent) and other significantly
disabled consumers (55 percent) received an increase in pay at some
point between exiting VR services and the one-year follow-up interview.
The average amount of increase for SE consumers who experienced an
increase was \$1.11, and the average increase received by other
significantly disabled former consumers who had an increase of some
kind, was \$2.20, which while almost double the increase for SE
consumers, was not statistically significant (**Table 29**).[^25] The
increases received by SE consumers with mental retardation (\$1.13) and
other SE consumers (\$1.09) were fairly comparable.

Table 29: Increase in Average Hourly Wage From Exit to First Year Follow
Up for SE and Other Consumers with an Increase, by Disability Type

+---------+-----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **I     | **P       |        |        | **Perc |        |        |
| ncrease | ercentage |        |        | entage |        |        |
| in      | of        |        |        | of**   |        |        |
| Hourly  | Su        |        |        |        |        |        |
| Wages** | pported** |        |        | *      |        |        |
|         |           |        |        | *Other |        |        |
|         | **E       |        |        | Consu  |        |        |
|         | mployment |        |        | mers** |        |        |
|         | Co        |        |        |        |        |        |
|         | nsumers** |        |        |        |        |        |
+---------+-----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|         | **SE      | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|         | Co        | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|         | nsumers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|         |           |        |        |        | *      | *      |
|         | **Wi      | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|         | th Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|         | Reta      | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|         | rdation** |        |        | R      |        |        |
|         |           |        |        | etarda |        |        |
|         |           |        |        | tion** |        |        |
+---------+-----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Mean    | \$1.13    | \$1.09 | \$1.11 | \$0.91 | \$2.30 | \$2.20 |
+---------+-----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Median  | \$0.50    | \$0.75 | \$0.55 | \$0.39 | \$0.99 | \$0.96 |
+---------+-----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Average hours worked per week by former consumers one year after exiting
VR services in SE was a little over 22 hours (median of 23); 22.4 for
consumers with mental retardation (median of 20) and 21.6 for other SE
consumers (median of 25) (**Table 30**). On average, former consumers
with significant disabilities who obtained other forms of employment
worked about 35 hours per week (median of 40). We found virtually no
change in average number of hours worked per week from exit to one year
later for former SE consumers or other former consumers.

Table 30: Average Hours Worked Per Week by Former SE and Other Consumers
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type

+---------------+----------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Hours       | **Pe     |       |        | **Perc |        |        |
| Worked per    | rcentage |       |        | entage |        |        |
| Week at       | of       |       |        | of**   |        |        |
| One-year      | Sup      |       |        |        |        |        |
| Follow up**   | ported** |       |        | *      |        |        |
|               |          |       |        | *Other |        |        |
|               | **Em     |       |        | Consu  |        |        |
|               | ployment |       |        | mers** |        |        |
|               | Con      |       |        |        |        |        |
|               | sumers** |       |        |        |        |        |
+---------------+----------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|               | **SE     | **    | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|               | Con      | Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|               | sumers** | SE**  | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|               |          |       |        |        | *      | *      |
|               | **Wit    | **C   | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|               | h Mental | onsum | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|               | Retar    | ers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|               | dation** |       |        | R      |        |        |
|               |          |       |        | etarda |        |        |
|               |          |       |        | tion** |        |        |
+---------------+----------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Mean\*        | 22.4     | 21.6  | 22.2   | 29.0   | 35.7   | 35.2   |
+---------------+----------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Median        | 20.0     | 25.0  | 23.0   | 30.0   | 40.0   | 40.0   |
+---------------+----------+-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Overall, former SE consumers continued to be much less likely to receive
job-related benefits than other former consumers, as shown in **Table
31**. One year after exiting VR services, consumers in employment other
than SE were five times more likely than consumers in SE to receive
health or medical insurance through their job, twice as likely to get
sick leave, and one- third more likely to have vacation leave. Consumers
with disabilities other than mental retardation were far more likely to
receive benefits if they obtained employment other than SE; receipt of
job-related benefits by consumers with mental retardation varied less by
type of employment.

Table 31: Former SE and Other Consumers' Receipt of Benefits Through Job
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type

+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| #######    | **Pe     |        |        | **Perc |        |        |
| # Benefits | rcentage |        |        | entage |        |        |
|            | of       |        |        | of**   |        |        |
|            | Sup      |        |        |        |        |        |
|            | ported** |        |        | *      |        |        |
|            |          |        |        | *Other |        |        |
|            | **Em     |        |        | Consu  |        |        |
|            | ployment |        |        | mers** |        |        |
|            | Con      |        |        |        |        |        |
|            | sumers** |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|            | **SE     | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|            | Con      | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|            | sumers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|            |          |        |        |        | *      | *      |
|            | **Wit    | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|            | h Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|            | Retar    | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|            | dation** |        |        | R      |        |        |
|            |          |        |        | etarda |        |        |
|            |          |        |        | tion** |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Health     | 11%      | 7%     | 9%     | 18%    | 46%    | 44%    |
| in         |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| surance\*† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Vacation   | 39%      | 25%    | 32%    | 35%    | 57%    | 55%    |
| leave      |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Sick       | 32%      | 14%    | 23%    | 26%    | 48%    | 46%    |
| leave\*    |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Life       | 5%       | 11%    | 7%     | 16%    | 37%    | 35%    |
| in         |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| surance\*† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Pension    | 2%       | 9%     | 5%     | 10%    | 34%    | 32%    |
| plan/      |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ret        |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| irement\*† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Dental     | 6%       | 9%     | 7%     | 13%    | 31%    | 30%    |
| insurance† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Seventy-three percent of former SE consumers reported that they received
financial assistance one year after exiting VR services, including 76
percent of former SE consumers with mental retardation (**Table 32**).
In comparison, only 28 percent of former consumers with significant
disabilities who obtained employment other than SE reported receiving
financial assistance one year later. However, consistent with their
relatively lower earnings, individuals with mental retardation who
exited VR services into employment other than SE were nearly twice as
likely as individuals with other disabilities to receive assistance (50
percent to 26 percent). Most of the assistance received by former
consumers one year after exiting VR services was SSI disability or SSDI,
as was also true at entry into VR services.

Table 32: Former SE and Other Consumers' Receipt of Financial Assistance
One Year After Exiting VR Services, by Disability Type

+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
|             | **Pe     |        |       | **Perc |        |        |
|             | rcentage |        |       | entage |        |        |
|             | of       |        |       | of**   |        |        |
|             | Sup      |        |       |        |        |        |
|             | ported** |        |       | *      |        |        |
|             |          |        |       | *Other |        |        |
|             | **Em     |        |       | Consu  |        |        |
|             | ployment |        |       | mers** |        |        |
|             | Con      |        |       |        |        |        |
|             | sumers** |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
|             | **SE     | *      | **    | *      | **O    | **T    |
|             | Con      | *Other | Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|             | sumers** | SE**   | SE**  | mers** |        |        |
|             |          |        |       |        | *      | *      |
|             | **Wit    | *      | **C   | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|             | h Mental | *Consu | onsum | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|             | Retar    | mers** | ers** | Mental |        |        |
|             | dation** |        |       | R      |        |        |
|             |          |        |       | etarda |        |        |
|             |          |        |       | tion** |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| #######     | 76%      | 68%    | 73%   | 50%    | 26%    | 28%    |
| # Received  |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| financial a |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| ssistance\* |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| #########   |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| Most freque |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| nt types of |          |        |       |        |        |        |
|  financial  |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| assistance  |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| received by |          |        |       |        |        |        |
|  those rece |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| iving any a |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| ssistance o |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| ne year aft |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| er exiting  |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| VR services |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| SSI --      | 85%      | 66%    | 77%   | 78%    | 41%    | 47%    |
| disabled\*  |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| SSDI        | 17%      | 48%    | 32%   | 23%    | 33%    | 32%    |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| Family and  | 4%       | 2%     | 4%    | 15%    | 7%     | 8%     |
| friends     |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| Other       | 1%       | 13%    | 6%    | 1%     | 3%     | 3%     |
| disability  |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| General     | 4%       | 1%     | 3%    | 14%    | 7%     | 8%     |
| a           |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| ssistance\* |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| Other       | 1%       | \-     | 1%    | \-     | 12%    | 10%    |
| public      |          |        |       |        |        |        |
| support\*   |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| Private     | \-       | \-     | \-    | 1%     | 1%     | 1%     |
| insurance   |          |        |       |        |        |        |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+
| AFDC\*      | \-       | 1%     | 1%    | 3%     | 5%     | 5%     |
+-------------+----------+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

Two-thirds (67 percent) of former SE consumers who received some form of
financial assistance one year after exiting VR services relied on these
benefits as their primary means of support. These data suggest that
earnings from SE have little impact on most workers' receipt of and
reliance on financial assistance. However, 19 percent of SE consumers
who received financial assistance at entry into VR (as documented in
case files) no longer received assistance one year after exiting VR
services in a SE job. Also, 14 percent of those who relied on financial
assistance as their primary means of support at entry into VR services
relied on their own earnings one year after exiting VR services into
SE.[^26]

#### Consumer Satisfaction

We asked former consumers to report their level of satisfaction with
various dimensions of their employment (e.g., earnings, benefits,
integration) as part of our follow-up interview, and we summarize their
responses in **Table 33**. As shown, 95 percent of SE consumers were
satisfied with their level of integration into the workplace, which we
explained to respondents as "the sense of belonging and extent of
involvement you have experienced at work."[^27] An even higher
percentage (97 percent) of SE consumers reported satisfaction with the
amount of support they received from their employer to help them
maintain employment, including 46 percent who reported being "very
satisfied." The percentages of other former consumers with significant

Table 33: Former SE and Other Consumers' Satisfaction With Various
Aspects of Employment One Year After Exiting VR Services, By Disability
Type

+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|          | **Pe     |        |        | **Perc |        |        |
|          | rcentage |        |        | entage |        |        |
|          | of       |        |        | of**   |        |        |
|          | Sup      |        |        |        |        |        |
|          | ported** |        |        | *      |        |        |
|          |          |        |        | *Other |        |        |
|          | **Em     |        |        | Consu  |        |        |
|          | ployment |        |        | mers** |        |        |
|          | Con      |        |        |        |        |        |
|          | sumers** |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
|          | **SE     | *      | *      | *      | **O    | **T    |
|          | Con      | *Other | *Total | *Consu | ther** | otal** |
|          | sumers** | SE**   | SE**   | mers** |        |        |
|          |          |        |        |        | *      | *      |
|          | **Wit    | *      | *      | *      | *Consu | *Consu |
|          | h Mental | *Consu | *Consu | *With  | mers** | mers** |
|          | Retar    | mers** | mers** | Mental |        |        |
|          | dation** |        |        | R      |        |        |
|          |          |        |        | etarda |        |        |
|          |          |        |        | tion** |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| ##       |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ###### S |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| atisfact |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ion with |          |        |        |        |        |        |
|  integra |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| tion in  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| the work |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| place on |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| e year a |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| fter exi |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ting VR  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| services |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Very     | 38%      | 34%    | 35%    | 31%    | 32%    | 32%    |
| s        |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| atisfied |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| S        | 61%      | 56%    | 60%    | 61%    | 55%    | 56%    |
| atisfied |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Not      | 2%       | 10%    | 5%     | 7%     | 13%    | 12%    |
| sat      |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| isfied\* |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| ######   |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ## Satis |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| faction  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| with emp |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| loyer su |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| pport on |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| e year a |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| fter exi |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ting VR  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| services |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Very     | 32%      | 63%    | 46%    | 30%    | 34%    | 34%    |
| sati     |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| sfied\*† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Sa       | 67%      | 34%    | 52%    | 62%    | 52%    | 52%    |
| tisfied† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Not      | 1%       | 3%     | 3%     | 8%     | 15%    | 14%    |
| sat      |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| isfied\* |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| ######   |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ## Satis |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| faction  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| with ear |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| nings on |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| e year a |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| fter exi |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ting VR  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| services |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Very     | 6%       | 10%    | 8%     | 16%    | 13%    | 13%    |
| s        |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| atisfied |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Sati     | 82%      | 45%    | 67%    | 52%    | 54%    | 55%    |
| sfied\*† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Not      | 12%      | 45%    | 25%    | 22%    | 33%    | 32%    |
| sa       |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| tisfied† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| ######   |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ## Satis |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| faction  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| with ben |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| efits on |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| e year a |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| fter exi |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ting VR  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| services |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Very     | 3%       | 4%     | 3%     | 4%     | 16%    | 15%    |
| sat      |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| isfied\* |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| S        | 70%      | 37%    | 55%    | 51%    | 44%    | 44%    |
| atisfied |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Not      | 27%      | 59%    | 42%    | 44%    | 40%    | 40%    |
| s        |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| atisfied |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| #        |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| #######  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| Satisfac |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| tion wit |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| h opport |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| unity fo |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| r advanc |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ement on |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| e year a |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| fter exi |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| ting VR  |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| services |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Very     | 3%       | 8%     | 5%     | 11%    | 16%    | 16%    |
| sat      |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| isfied\* |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Sa       | 76%      | 44%    | 62%    | 59%    | 49%    | 50%    |
| tisfied† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+
| Not      | 22%      | 47%    | 33%    | 30%    | 35%    | 34%    |
| sa       |          |        |        |        |        |        |
| tisfied† |          |        |        |        |        |        |
+----------+----------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+

\*Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between supported
employment and all other employment outcomes.

†Indicates a significant difference (p\<.05) between SE consumers with
mental retardation and other SE consumers.

Source: Supported Employment Study, VR Longitudinal Study, November
1999.

disabilities exiting VR into employment who reported satisfaction with
these aspects of their job were also high (88 percent for integration
and 86 percent for employer support), but slightly lower overall than
the levels reported by SE consumers.

Generally speaking, former consumers were less satisfied with their
earnings, benefits, and opportunity for advancement, especially former
SE consumers with disabilities other than mental retardation. Forty-five
percent of these individuals were not satisfied with their earnings, 59
percent were not satisfied with their benefits, and 47 percent were not
satisfied with their opportunity for advancement; more than double the
percentage of former SE consumers with mental retardation who were not
satisfied in each area.

#### Summary

The two main questions of interest answered by the findings discussed in
this chapter are (1) what types of extended services do SE consumers
receive after exiting VR services, and (2) what are the longer term
employment outcomes for consumers who exit VR services in SE and how do
they compare with other consumers? The extended services most often
identified in consumer files included employer follow up, off-site
monitoring, counseling, and job coaching. Consumers interviewed soon
after exiting VR services identified job coaching (73 percent),
counseling (70 percent), off-site monitoring (67 percent), and job skill
training (53 percent) as the services they most frequently received. One
year after exiting VR services, between 65 and 79 percent of SE
consumers who held the same job they obtained through VR services
continued to receive some type of support services. Consumer
satisfaction with extended services was very high; three-fourths of all
former SE consumers, including 83 percent of those with a primary
disability of mental retardation, reported being "very pleased" with the
services they were receiving.

The major finding in the area of employment and earnings retention is
that one year after exiting VR services, 84 percent of SE consumers were
still working; 74 percent in the same job obtained through VR services,
and an additional 10 percent in another job. The average hourly wage SE
consumers earned one year after exiting VR services was \$4.68 (median
of \$5.20). Over half (53 percent) of former SE consumers received a
raise in pay, and the average increase for those who received an
increase was \$1.11. Average hours worked per week by former consumers
who exited VR services into SE was 22.2 (median of 23), an average that
varied little by disability.

In terms of employment retention from exit to one year later, there is
virtually no difference between former SE consumers (84 percent still
working) and other employed former consumers with significant
disabilities (83 percent). There are significant differences between the
two groups with respect to average wage and average hours worked per
week. Consumers exiting into employment other than SE earned \$3.34 more
per hour and worked 13 hours more per week. The average increase in
wages for former consumers who exited VR services into employment other
than SE was nearly twice the average increase received by former SE
consumers, although this difference was not statistically significant.
Earnings for individuals with mental retardation varied little by type
of employment, while earnings for individuals with other significant
disabilities varied greatly. Average hours worked were uniformly lower
for SE consumers.

Former SE consumers were significantly less likely to receive health
insurance and other job-related benefits than were other former
consumers. Ninety-eight percent of former SE consumers reported
satisfaction with the amount of employer support they received on the
job; they were less satisfied with earnings (75 percent), opportunities
for advancement (67 percent), and benefits (58 percent). Former SE
consumers with disabilities other than mental retardation were
particularly dissatisfied with their earnings (45 percent not
satisfied), benefits (49 percent), and opportunity for advancement (47
percent).

Overall, the percentage of former SE consumers who received financial
assistance changed little from entry into VR (72 percent) to one year
after exiting VR services (73 percent). However, 19 percent of those
consumers who received financial assistance at entry no longer received
such assistance one year after exiting VR services.

# Chapter 5: Summary of Findings

This study collected descriptive data on the VR experiences of
individuals who achieved an SE outcome. In the preceding chapters we
described the characteristics of SE consumers, the services they
received, and the outcomes they achieved, both at exit from VR services
and one year later. Where possible and appropriate, we compared these
findings to analogous information for other consumers of VR services
with significant disabilities who obtained other types of employment. In
this final chapter we summarize study findings that address each of the
research questions.

####### What are the characteristics of consumers in SE?

Mental retardation was the primary disability for one-half of all SE
consumers, and individuals with mental illness accounted for an
additional 18 percent. Fifty-four percent had disabilities characterized
as most significant, and another 42 percent had a significant
disability. A majority of SE consumers were male (55 percent) and white
(79 percent). The average age of SE consumers was 33.5 years, with
nearly three-quarters under the age of 40. Eighty-seven percent of SE
consumers had a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma as
their highest educational credential, and over two-thirds (69 percent)
received special education services. On average, SE consumers performed
below the fifth-grade level in both reading and mathematics.

Educational institutions were the largest single source of referral (23
percent), followed by self-referrals (15 percent). Thirty percent of SE
consumers had a previous experience as a consumer of VR services.
Seventy-two percent of SE consumers received some form of financial
assistance at entry to VR, with SSI and SSDI the most frequent sources
of assistance.

Although most SE consumers (96 percent) entered VR with some prior work
experience, on average that experience was quite limited; over one-half
(56 percent) had held only one job. Of those SE consumers with a work
history, 54 percent worked in the competitive labor market during their
most recent job, and 32 percent worked in a previous SE position.
Seventy percent of SE consumers' most recent jobs were in either the
service industry (55 percent) or clerical/sales occupations (15
percent). On average, SE consumers earned \$4.88 per hour (median of
\$4.98) and worked 24.5 hours per week (median of 23) in their most
recent employment prior to applying for VR services; only 16 percent
received employment-related health insurance.

####### How do the characteristics of SE consumers differ from the characteristics of other consumers of VR services?

At entry into VR services, SE consumers were, on average, nine years
younger than other significantly disabled consumers who exited VR
services into employment. SE consumers were almost three times more
likely to have received special education, and performed four grade
levels below other consumers in reading and three and one-half grade
levels lower in math. Overall, SE consumers were more than twice as
likely to be referred to VR services by an educational institution, and
nearly twice as likely to have had a prior VR experience. SE consumers
were 27 percent more likely to have received financial assistance at
entry into VR. In their most recent employment experience, SE consumers
earned \$2.38 less per hour, worked about 10 fewer hours per week, and
received employment-related benefits about half as often as did other VR
consumers with significant disabilities who exited VR services into
employment other than SE.

Persons with mental retardation who exited VR services into SE were more
similar to other mentally retarded consumers of VR services (who exited
into other forms of employment) than they were to other successful SE
consumers with respect to age, receipt of special education, academic
achievement levels, referral sources, and prior earnings. At the same
time, SE consumers overall tended to be more significantly disabled, to
have relied on financial assistance, to have had a prior VR experience,
and to have had a more limited work history than other significantly
disabled consumers who obtained employment, regardless of disability.

####### To what extent do the number and type of services received by SE consumers differ from those of other rehabilitants with earnings?

Individuals who exited VR into SE received an average of 8.3 services
(median of six), approximately two fewer than the 10.4 services (median
of eight) averaged by other significantly disabled consumers, although
the difference was not statistically significant. SE consumers were less
likely to receive all types of services from VR, with the exception of
education and training, which includes supported employment. SE
consumers with a primary disability of mental retardation received an
average of 7.2 services (median of six), compared to other SE consumers,
who averaged 9.6 (median of eight).

VR agencies almost always purchased SE services for their consumers
rather than providing these services through comparable benefits or
directly from VR agency staff. Consumers who ultimately exited VR
services into SE had an average of 1.7 placements, and spent an average
of nine months in SE prior to exit from VR. The average cost of SE
services for a single consumer was \$4,921.

####### To what extent do the outcomes achieved by SE consumers differ from those of other rehabilitants with earnings?

Nearly half (49 percent) of all the jobs that SE consumers obtained were
in the service industry, while 21 percent of other former consumers with
significant disabilities worked in service occupations. Individuals who
obtained an SE position worked an average of 23 hours per week and
earned an average of \$4.53 per hour; other successful consumers with
significant disabilities worked an average of 34 hours per week and
earned an average hourly wage of \$7.20, or \$2.67 more than SE
consumers.

On average, individuals with mental retardation in SE earned virtually
the same wage as consumers with mental retardation who exited into other
types of employment. (\$4.21 versus \$4.19). Persons with other types of
disabilities who obtained SE earned \$2.61 less per hour (\$4.87) than
did those who obtained other forms of employment (\$7.48). Persons
obtaining SE were one-third as likely to receive medical insurance and
one-fifth as likely to receive vacation/sick leave through their job
than were other employed consumers.

####### How do consumers exiting VR services in SE perceive the quality and utility of the services they receive from the VR agency and how do these perceptions differ from those of other VR consumers?

At least 70 percent of consumers with significant disabilities exiting
VR services into employment were "very or mostly satisfied" with their
VR experience, regardless of what aspect of that experience we measured
(e.g., VR counselor performance, quality of services, amount of choice
in decision making). SE consumer perceptions on the quality and utility
of services they received varied little from those of other consumers
with significant disabilities. Individuals with mental retardation
tended to report somewhat lower levels of involvement in the decision
making process, but expressed relatively higher levels of satisfaction
with the amount of choice they had, although neither of these
differences were statistically significant. Overall, 69 percent of SE
consumers reported that their VR experience met or exceeded their
expectations, 25 percent believed VR could have done more, and six
percent had no opinion.

####### What types of extended services do SE consumers receive and to what extent are they satisfied with the extended services they receive?

Consumers interviewed soon after exiting VR services identified job
coaching (73 percent), counseling (70 percent), off-site monitoring (67
percent), and job skill training (53 percent) as the services they most
frequently received. Consumers with a primary disability of mental
retardation were 15 percent more likely to have received on-site job
coaching, while SE consumers with other significant disabilities were 16
percent more likely to have received off-site monitoring, although these
differences were not statistically significant. One year after exiting
VR services, between 65 and 79 percent of SE consumers who held the same
job they obtained through VR continued to receive some type of support
services. Consumer satisfaction with extended services was very high;
three-fourths of all former SE consumers, including 83 percent of those
with a primary disability of mental retardation, reported being "very
pleased" with the services they were receiving.

####### What are the post-VR experiences of former consumers in SE with respect to retention of employment and earnings, and how do they compare with other VR services consumers?

One year after exiting VR services, 84 percent of SE consumers were
still working; 74 percent in the same job obtained through VR services,
and an additional 10 percent in another job. The average hourly wage
earned by former SE consumers one year after exiting VR services was
\$4.68 (median of \$5.20). Over half (53 percent) of former SE consumers
received a raise in pay. The average increase for all SE consumers who
received a raise was \$1.11, with little variation by disability.
Average hours worked per week by former consumers exiting VR services
into SE was 22.2 (median of 23), an average that varied little by
disability.

In terms of employment retention from exit to one year later, there is
virtually no difference between former SE consumers (84 percent still
working) and other employed former consumers with significant
disabilities (83 percent). There were significant differences between
the two groups with respect to average wage, and hours worked per week.
Consumers exiting into employment other than SE earned \$3.34 more per
hour and worked 13 hours more per week. Earnings for individuals with
mental retardation varied much less by type of employment than did the
earnings for individuals with other significant disabilities. Average
hours worked were uniformly lower for SE consumers.

Former SE consumers were much less likely to receive health insurance
and other job-related benefits than were other former consumers. They
were also much more likely to receive financial assistance one year
after exiting VR services. While the overall percentage of former SE
consumers who received financial assistance changed little from entry
into VR to one year after exiting VR services, 19 percent ceased
receiving benefits over this time.

Former SE consumers with mental retardation were generally satisfied
with their employment one year after exiting VR services. Other former
SE consumers were much less satisfied: 45 percent were not satisfied
with their earnings, 59 percent were not satisfied with their benefits,
and 47 percent were not satisfied with their opportunity for
advancement. These percentages were at least twice as high as the
percentage of former SE consumers with mental retardation who reported
dissatisfaction with these aspects of their employment one year after
exiting VR services.

[^1]: Twenty-five percent of the individuals with mental retardation who
    exited VR services into other forms of employment worked in
    sheltered jobs.

[^2]: We are unable to provide more precise information in this area, in
    part because consumers were often unable to differentiate the
    sources of the services they received

[^3]: Fifty-eight percent of the consumers who did not receive financial
    assistance at entry received such assistance one year later.

[^4]: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Sec. 7(18)(A).

[^5]: The regulations allow for off-site monitoring where determined
    appropriate by the consumer and counselor. If appropriate, off-site
    monitoring must include two meetings with the consumer and one
    contact with the employer each month.

[^6]: Another issue we set out to explore in this study was why some
    people with a goal of SE do not achieve an SE outcome. We were not
    able to address this issue because SE was rarely identified as a
    goal on consumers' individual rehabilitation plans.

[^7]: The main study also collected data from the VR agency through a
    variety of forms.

[^8]: ^1^Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons /differences appearing
    in the text (not the tables) are statistically significant at a
    probability level of .05 or lower. All significant differences are
    indicated in each table by an asterisk.

[^9]: ^2^Case records for many of the consumers used the terms "most
    severe" and "severe;" we take these terms to be synonymous with
    "most significant" and "significant."

[^10]: ^3^For comparison purposes, the U.S. Census estimates that 83
    percent of the U.S. population is white.

[^11]: ^4^On average, these individuals worked for 24 hours per week
    (median of 22.5) and earned \$4.78 per hour (median \$4.75).

[^12]: ^5^Owing to the overlap between the competitive labor market and
    SE, it may be that a larger (or smaller) percentage of SE consumers
    actually worked in a noncompetitive or supported position than shown
    here.

[^13]: ^6^Minimum wage at the time most of these data were collected was
    \$4.25 an hour.

[^14]: Our study collected data from consumers' case files on a total of
    58 different services that we categorized into six broad areas: (1)
    counseling and guidance, which includes, for example, plan
    development and job placement, among others; (2) diagnostic and
    evaluation services, which includes 15 different types of
    evaluations or assessments; (3) education and training, which
    includes 15 services including SE; (4) physical and mental
    restoration services, such as physical therapy or assistive
    technology devices; (5) support services, such as transportation and
    housing assistance; and (6) other services, including family
    services and independent living services. Because of the way in
    which we classified services, our findings regarding average number
    of services received are not directly comparable to the data on
    services available through the RSA-911.

[^15]: VR agencies used Title VI-C funds to fund SE services, at least
    in part, for 45 percent of SE consumers, with an average VI-C
    expenditure of \$4,246 (median of \$3,538), according to
    documentation in VR case files.

[^16]: This discussion of SE positions is based on all consumers who
    were employed in SE at exit from VR services, not only those
    selected as active consumers.

[^17]: Data on the types of occupations entered by other significantly
    disabled former consumers are only for those individuals with
    earnings; approximately 10 percent of these consumers exited VR
    services in homemaker status.

[^18]: Approximately 25 percent of consumers with mental retardation who
    obtained employment other than SE exited VR services into sheltered
    employment. With the data for these consumers removed from the
    analysis, the average hourly wage for the comparison group was
    \$5.06 (median of \$5.00).

[^19]: The interview asks respondents to identify who was involved in
    the selection of their vocational goal, services, and providers, and
    offers seven preprinted response choices: you decided, counselor
    decided, you and your counselor decided together, other VR staff
    decided, etc.) We calculated the percentages in the table for
    consumer involvement by adding the percentage who reported "you
    decided" to the percentage who reported "you and your counselor
    decided together."

[^20]: This consent was in addition to the written consent we obtained
    from consumers at the study's outset.

[^21]: Actual providers of extended services were identified in 95
    percent of the files.

[^22]: A large majority (87 percent) of the extended service providers
    who responded to this question identified VR state funding as the
    source of payment for the services they provided to former consumers
    of VR services.

[^23]: We found not significant differences in the percentage of
    consumers with mental retardation who received extended services and
    the percentage for consumers with other disabilities.

[^24]: ^5^We asked former SE consumers not working at the time of our
    follow-up interview to identify why they no longer worked; 40
    percent responded that they had quit their job for a variety of
    reasons (e.g., they did not like the job, they could not do the
    work); another 19 percent were fired; 12 percent were laid off; 18
    percent cited health problems that prevented them from working; and
    two percent said their job was a temporary position that had
    expired.

[^25]: ^6^The average change in earnings for all former consumers
    exiting VR services in SE (i.e., including consumers who did not
    receive an increase) was +\$0.34.

[^26]: ^7^At the same time, 58 percent of consumers who did not receive
    financial assistance at entry received assistance one year later,
    which explains why the overall percentage of consumers who received
    assistance changed little from entry to one year after exit.
    Determination of the percentage of SE consumers who eventually cease
    receiving public assistance would require data collection over a
    longer period of time than a single year.

[^27]: ^8^Integration, in the context of defining SE, refers to a
    workplace where persons with disabilities work alongside persons
    without disabilities.