bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atomic bomb testing and its effects on global male to female ratios at birth
Authors: Grech Victor
Published: December 2019

AIMS: Fallout from atomic bomb testing may travel great distances before precipitating. Males are born in excess of females in a ratio that approximates 0.515 (M/T: male live births divided by total live births. Radiation increases M/T by causing lethal malformations that affect female more than male foetuses, decreasing total births. This study was carried out in order to ascertain whether the effects of increased background radiation levels from atomic weapon testing had any widespread effects on M/T and births in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australasia in relation to the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963. METHODS: Annual live births by gender were obtained from a World Health Organization dataset and annual number of atomic bomb tests were also obtained (historical data). RESULTS: Overall, 94.5% of births studied showed a uniform reduction in M/T between the early 1950s to the late 1960s, followed by an increase to the mid-1970s, with a subsequent decline. A negative correlation of M/T with total births was found in 66% of births studied, and these were the regions which exhibited the rising M/T pattern in the 1970s. The birth deficit for countries with significant correlations of total births with M/T (North America, Europe and Asia) was estimated at 10090701. CONCLUSIONS: A rising M/T was found in most regions in temporal association with atomic weapon testing. Most of these regions also had an associated decline in total births. Elevated levels of man-made ambient radiation may have reduced total births, affecting pregnancies carrying female pregnancies more than those carrying male pregnancies, thereby skewing M/T toward a higher male proportion.
The ethics of randomized placebo controlled trials of antidepressants with pregnant women
Authors: Healy David , Mangin Derelie , Mintzes Barbara
Published: December 2019

In recent years, a number of authors have advocated the merits of conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of antidepressants in women with nervous disorders during the prenatal period. However, a critical review of the literature indicates RCTs are not justifiable. At a time when it has become clear that a significant proportion of the existing literature on the use of pharmaceutical agents is ghostwritten, ethicists and others making assertions that RCTs are needed risk becoming part of an apparatus that plays down the hazards of treatment and promotes the use of treatments that may be harmful.
Obesity, diabetes and hypertension associated with antipsychotic use in remitted schizophrenia
Authors: Saddichha Sahoo , Vishnuvardhan Gopalkrishnan , Akhtar Sayeed
Published: December 2019

Objective: To ascertain the prevalence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension associated with antipsychotic use in remitted patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This study included a cross sectional survey of diabetes, obesity and hypertension among all remitted patients diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (n = 130) on at least 6 months of antipsychotic treatment. Results: A prevalence of 35.4% obesity, 1.5% hypertension and 3.8% (ADA) or 5.4% (WHO) prevalence of diabetes was observed. Conclusions: The use of antipsychotic drugs in the long run may be associated with a significantly greater risk of developing obesity with moderate influence on development of diabetes and minimal to none on hypertension.
Pesticide poisoning in Palestine: A retrospective analysis of calls received by Poison Control and Drug Information Center from 2006–2010
Authors: Sawalha Ansam F. , O'Malley Gerald F. , Sweileh Waleed M.
Published: December 2019

Background and objective: The agricultural industry is the largest economic sector in Palestine and is characterized by extensive and unregulated use of pesticides. The objective of this study was to analyze phone calls received by the Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC) in Palestine regarding pesticide poisoning. Methods: All phone calls regarding pesticide poisoning received by the PCDIC from 2006 to 2010 were descriptively analyzed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16) was used in statistical analysis and to create figures. Results: A total of 290 calls regarding pesticide poisoning were received during the study period. Most calls (83.8%) were made by physicians. The average age of reported cases was 19.6 ± 15 years. Pesticide poisoning occurred mostly in males (56.9%). Pesticide poisoning was most common (75, 25.9%) in the age category of 20–29.9 years. The majority (51.7%) of the cases were deliberate self-harm while the remaining was accidental exposure. The majority of phone calls (250, 86.2%) described oral exposure to pesticides. Approximately one third (32.9%) of the cases had symptoms consistent with organophosphate poisoning. Gastric lavage (31.7%) was the major decontamination method used, while charcoal was only utilized in 1.4% of the cases. Follow up was performed in 45.5% of the cases, two patients died after hospital admission while the remaining had positive outcome. Conclusion: Pesticide poisoning is a major health problem in Palestine, and the PCDIC has a clear mission to help in recommending therapy and gathering information.
Accessing social entrepreneurship: Perspectives of people with disabilities and key stakeholders
Authors: Harris Sarah Parker , Renko Maija , Caldwell Kate
Published: December 2019

Social entrepreneurship has been gaining increasing attention as a possible employment strategy for people with disabilities. However, little is known about the experiences of social entrepreneurs with disabilities in relation to their resources needs, opportunities for participation, and barriers they encounter. Further, little is understood about how social entrepreneurship differs from self-employment or forms of commercial entrepreneurship. The findings included herein are representative of the first empirical research integrating the fields of disability studies and entrepreneurship studies to explore social entrepreneurship among people with disabilities through interviews with key stakeholders working in the field (n = 19) and focus groups with social entrepreneurs with disabilities themselves (n = 27). Three themes emerged from this qualitative research that hold particular importance to policymakers and professionals working in the field of vocational rehabilitation: 1) education, training and information; 2) finance, funding and asset development; 3) networking and supports. The findings demonstrate that social entrepreneurship can be an effective model of employment but is currently underutilized. With additional investment, it can offer a meaningful way for people with disabilities to participate in the labor market and complement existing strategies in competitive and customized employment to promote choice and self-determination.
The employer's perspective on Supported employment for people with disabilities: Successful approaches of Supported employment organizations
Authors: Gustafsson Johanna , Peralta Julia Prieto , Danermark Berth
Published: December 2019

Supported employment (SE) is one of the most prominent of the various methods designed to combat the exclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. Research on SE has mainly focused on the supply-side rather than the demand-side; the employer perspective regarding the employment of people with disabilities is not as well researched. The aim of this study is to investigate what employers with experience of employing persons with disabilities see as successful support from an SE organization. Fifteen employers and five managers were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed with the help of qualitative content analysis [21]. The results show that the SE organizations played three important roles – as broker, as guide, and as troubleshooter – and that this influenced employers' willingness to collaborate. The SE organizations were able to respond to the demands and market logic that make up employers' everyday reality. The approaches employers pointed to as most successful were provision of security, responsibility for the labor supplied, and the cultivation of relationships of trust with employers.
Employer attitudes toward workers with disabilities: A review of research in the past decade
Authors: Ju Song , Roberts Eric , Zhang Dalun
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this review was to provide an update of research findings on employers' attitudes toward workers with disabilities. Fifteen studies published in the last decade were examined. It was found that employers showed positive general attitudes toward workers with disabilities, but had some reservations toward hiring workers with certain types of disabilities. Positive past experiences with individuals with disabilities were associated with more willingness to hire and retain employees with disabilities. However, fewer concerns were identified in this review than previous reviews.
Industry-Driven Support (IDS) model to build social capital and business skills of low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities
Authors: Heath Karen L. , Reed Danielle L.
Published: December 2019

Self-employment is a viable option for individuals with disabilities; however traditional self-employment services typically do not meet the needs of entrepreneurs with disabilities. Further, social capital is important for starting and maintaining a business; yet individuals with disabilities are considered to have low social capital. As a result, low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities often experience difficulties finding adequate resources to start and maintain a business. The Industry-Driven Support (IDS) model, developed over a two year period with a Participatory Action Research team, was designed to increase business skills and social capital of low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities. The program offers training sessions on a specific business topic (e.g., marketing), networking sessions on building social capital, and one-on-one business support to a cohort of entrepreneurs in a specific industry (e.g., Arts and Crafts). Sessions were provided using web-conferencing technology. The model has been piloted with 38 low-income Alaskan entrepreneurs with disabilities, including those living in rural areas. The IDS model demonstrates promise as a cost-effective method for delivering training, providing needed supports, and connecting low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities to each other and needed resources.
Navigating the early career years: Barriers and strategies for young adults with disabilities
Authors: Lindstrom Lauren , Kahn Laurie G. , Lindsey Heather
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND: Young adults with disabilities in their early career years face limited access to high wage/high skill jobs, barriers in the workplace, and inadequate opportunities for career retention and advancement. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this literature review was to examine the process of career development for young adults with disabilities entering the workforce and document strategies for vocational rehabilitation counselors to facilitate career advancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the online databases Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and PsychInfo. Key words for the search included the terms: disabilities, emerging adulthood, young adults, career advancement, vocational development, and early career. Articles included in this review met the following criteria: (a) published in peer reviewed journals in or after the year 2000, (b) findings addressed either processes, barriers, or strategies for emerging adults with disabilities entering the workforce. RESULTS: Major barriers to career advancement include: a) lack of work experience and restricted aspirations, b) sporadic patterns of early employment, c) limited access to postsecondary education and training, and d) discrimination and prejudice in the workforce. Strategies to enhance early career development included: a) developing individual attributes and skills, b) broadening the range of careers explored, c) creating initial work experience opportunities, d) obtaining postsecondary education/training, e) providing supports to facilitate advancement on the job, and f) advocating for changes in the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Using an ecological framework to impact individual skills, create training opportunities, and enhance work place environments, rehabilitation counselors can help young adults with disabilities gain equal access to career options and ultimately achieve economic independence and stability.
Bridging the knowing-doing gap: Researching a new approach to disability and employment programming
Authors: Rudstam Hannah , Hittleman Margo , Pi Sukyeong , Gower Wendy Strobel
Published: December 2019

Despite significant program efforts since the ADA was passed in 1990, the employment rates of people with disabilities have changed little. While the causes behind these disappointing outcomes are multi-facetted and complex, it is clear that a knowing-doing gap has limited the effectiveness of efforts to change these disappointing statistics. That is, though employers have a basic knowledge of the ADA, this knowledge is largely not being translated into actions or practices. Approaches are needed that go beyond merely disseminating information to actively engage employers in bringing about organizational change. We designed, implemented and researched a program aiming to bridge the knowing-doing gap. This program was based on a blended learning approach designed to build organizational change strategies and partnerships. A comprehensive program research effort included both a measure of immediate program impact (using the BIAT – a researcher-developed and validated tool) and longer-term impact (using a grounded theory, open-ended interviewing protocol). Implications for further research and practice are discussed using findings from both the short-term and long-term studies.
The relationship between participation in Project SEARCH and job readiness and employment for young adults with disabilities
Authors: Müller Eve , VanGilder Rebecca
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND: Although there are currently more than 200 Project SEARCH programs throughout the U.S., evidence supporting the program's efficacy remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examines the relationship between participation in Project SEARCH, a business-led transition program, and job readiness and employment rates of 10 young adults with disabilities. METHODS: Baseline and end-of-year data were gathered on participants' job readiness skills using a 29-item Job Readiness Assessment Tool (JRAT) developed for this purpose. Interviews with key stakeholders were conducted in order to identify perceptions regarding areas of growth for participants, as well as ongoing challenges. RESULTS: Based on JRAT scores, participants demonstrated significant growth overall, as well as demonstrating significant growth in a majority of specific entry-level job skills and workplace behaviors. Sixty percent of participants were offered permanent jobs within three months of the program's conclusion. No significant differences emerged between job coach/instructor evaluations and supervisor evaluations. End-of-year JRAT scores were significantly higher for participants offered jobs than for those not offered jobs. CONCLUSIONS: The Project SEARCH model holds promise for increasing participants' job readiness and employment rates. Further, the JRAT may offer a useful means of predicting job readiness for Project SEARCH participants.
Evidence-based supported employment for people with severe mental illness: Past, current, and future research
Authors: Luciano Alison , Drake Robert E. , Bond Gary R. , Becker Deborah R. , Carpenter-Song Elizabeth , Lord Sarah , Swarbrick Peggy , Swanson Sarah J.
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND: Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based vocational rehabilitation intervention for people with severe mental illness. IPS emphasizes client choice, rapid job finding, competitive employment, team-oriented approaches, benefits counseling, and ongoing supports. OBJECTIVE: This paper summarizes 20 years of research on IPS, describes studies in the field now, and proposes priorities for future research. METHODS: To identify published and unpublished IPS research studies, we conducted an electronic search of qualitative and quantitative IPS studies, findings from recent reviews, and sought expert recommendation. RESULTS: Past research indicates that IPS supported employment is the most effective and cost-effective approach for helping people with psychiatric disabilities find and maintain competitive employment. Employment improves clinical, social, and economic outcomes. Current studies on IPS address several research gaps: IPS modification, generalizability, program settings, international dissemination, cultural awareness, and supportive technology. Looking forward, the field needs studies that report long-term outcomes, financing mechanisms, cost offsets, and standardized supported education models. CONCLUSIONS: While IPS is one of the most extensively studied of all vocational models, significant literature gaps remain.
The national costs of supported employment to Vocational	Rehabilitation: 2002 to 2006
Authors: Cimera Robert Evert
Published: December 2019

This study investigated the costs accrued by all supported employees (i.e., 192,756) funded by Vocational Rehabilitation from 2002 to 2006 throughout the entire United States and its territories. Costs were examined in relation to the number of hours supported employees worked, and total wages that they earned, per week. The impact of disability, presence of secondary disabilities, the supported employee's level of education and employment history were also examined.
Return to work of individuals with arthritis: A review of job	performance and retention
Authors: Crockatt Satoko Yasuda , Targett Pam , Cifu David , Wehman Paul
Published: December 2019

With so many people affected by arthritis and the significant impact it has on themselves and on their families, employers as well as on society, employment of individuals with arthritis is an important topic to consider. A review of literature was conducted to examine the issues that arise from arthritis, factors that influence work disability and employment retention, and interventions and services that are available to promote and retain employment for individuals with arthritis. In recent years, employers have begun to proactively intervene in terms of both prevention activities as well as provision of accommodation. Work disability is a common occurrence for individuals with arthritis and factors that influence work disability for those with arthritis include employment factors, employee factors, disease factors, and other factors such as access to health care and vocational rehabilitation. It is critical to consider the complex interaction of these factors in order for individuals with arthritis to remain productive and future research must consider all of these aspects when developing and implementing interventions.
The Florida Freedom Initiative on employment of people with significant disabilities: Lessons to be learned
Authors: Conley Ron , Conroy James W.
Published: December 2019

The Florida Freedom Initiative (FFI) was an innovative demonstration project that utilized Waivers from the Medicaid program and the Supplemental Security Income Program, and greatly expanded counseling to increase integrated employment and independence among persons with significant disabilities. Although the FFI Waiver was not renewed at the end of three years, a subsequent assessment provided significant insights as to needed future program directions.

It was clear that enrollees were as interested in being able to save for items such as car, home, or starting a business, as they were in improving their earnings. Unfortunately, many obstacles were encountered. There was considerable resistance from families due to: the prospect of low earnings; transportation problems; fear of losing benefits; and a lack of trust in the continuity of the FFI. In addition, some local agencies were not fully conversant with the FFI, some resisted efforts to place certain people in employment because of prior negative assessments of capability to work, and some responded very slowly to requests from FFI participants on such issues as program eligibility or the effect of employment on benefits.

Ultimately, for these and other reasons, one must conclude that current programs to assist persons with significant disabilities to achieve vocational and other goals are dysfunctional, and significant changes are needed.
Employment and vocational rehabilitation services use among veterans with spinal cord injury
Authors: Ottomanelli Lisa , Bradshaw Ledjona D. , Cipher Daisha J.
Published: December 2019

Although there is a considerable body of literature documenting poor return towork rates among persons with SCI in the general population, little attention has been given to understanding patterns of return to work and use of vocational rehabilitation services among veterans with SCI. The purposes of the present study were to investigate the extent to which veterans are able to obtain competitive employment after a spinal cord injury and to explore veterans' use of existing vocational rehabilitation services. This study surveyed 30 veterans receiving healthcare at the VA North Texas Healthcare System Spinal Cord Injury Center. Thirty percent of our sample had a history of employment after SCI, a rate that is comparable to figures reported in prior studies of employment rates among non-veterans with SCI. Most veterans were unaware of vocational services either within or outside of the VA, and awareness of services was significantly lower for persons with tetraplegia compared to veterans with paraplegia. Of those who were aware of vocational services, only a minority used them. The findings of this study emphasize the need to educate veterans, especially those with more severe injuries, about vocational rehabilitation services as a possible means of improving employment outcomes in this special population.
A Multicomponent Evaluation System of Supported Employment Programs
Authors: Verdugo M.A. , Jordán de Urríes F.B. , Vicent C.
Published: December 2019

The Multicomponent Evaluation System of Supported Employment Programs "MESSEP", from the Spanish acronym Sistema de Evaluación Multicomponente de Programas de Empleo Con Apoyo "SEMECA", has been developed as a practical tool using qualitative and quantitative approaches to evaluate all the features of any supported employment initiative. This article shows all of its components, which has been originally developed or adapted to address relevant information from all the participants, comparing data with national and international references and standards. The MESSEP provides different reports from each toll and a final executive report integrating information of each tool. The final objective is to facilitate the decision making for managers and professionals in a supported employment service. The usability and capacity of the MESSEP has been checked in a real context.
Sources of information about multiple sclerosis: Information seeking and personal, demographic, and MS variables
Authors: Bishop Malachy , Frain Michael P. , Espinosa Christina T. , Stenhoff Donald M.
Published: December 2019

Being well-informed about multiple sclerosis (MS) and its treatment is associated with a number of positive clinical and psychosocial outcomes, including higher levels of quality of life and personal control, better coping and adjustment after diagnosis, and reduced dependence on health providers. Understanding the sources from which people with MS seek information is important in assuring that timely, accurate, and useful information is available in a medium and format that is accessible. The purpose of this study was to explore the information seeking behavior of people with MS and to analyze the extent to which information source was associated with personal, demographic, and illness variables. A sample of 409 adults with MS recruited through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) completed questionnaires about their primary source of MS information and demographic and illness characteristics. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and bivariate correlation analyses were applied to the data to identify the most frequently utilized sources of MS information and examine relationships between information source and to personal, demographic, and illness variables. The most frequently identified sources of information about MS and its treatment was physicians or neurologists, followed by the Internet. Age was an important variable in distinguishing the primary information source between groups. Generally, younger patients are more likely to obtain MS information primarily through the Internet while older patients obtain information primarily through their neurologist. This study provides information useful in effectively targeting MS information and understanding how persons with MS access information, Further research is needed to understand differences in the quality, quantity, and sources of MS information available, the extent to which differences in sources of MS information may affect patients' decisions about their treatment, and how individual variables may affect patients' ability to access, understand, and remember educational material.
Nonvocational outcomes for clients with~severe mental illness
Authors: Siu Phoebe S.K. , Tsang Hector W.H. , Bond Gary R.
Published: December 2019

This study focuses primarily on the non-vocational outcomes and the changes in psychosocial functioning of individuals with severe mental illness through competitive employment. Thirteen out of 56 participants in the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) group who were competitively employed were recruited from two community based mental health settings for the first interview. Eight of them who met the selection criteria for the second interview were interviewed again for comparison. Data were collected through a tailor-made interview guide during their third and sixth months of employment and were analyzed through an inductive process. Data analyses indicated that the employed participants in the IPS group showed positive outcomes in both personal well-being and self-efficacy after three months of employment, while positive and negative impacts were obtained after six months of employment. A dynamic model was suggested based on the findings to explain the job tenure of participants. Further integration of this model to the existing supported employment model is explored.
Predictors of employment among individuals with disabilities: A Bayesian analysis of the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program
Authors: Xu Yonghong Jade , Martz Erin
Published: December 2019

The Rehabilitation Services Administration commissioned the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (LSVRSP) to study the effectiveness of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs in the U.S. The purpose of this exploratory research was to examine the LSVRSP data by using Bayesian Network (BN) analysis, in order to determine the most effective predictors of employment among individuals with disabilities who had a case-closed status in the U.S.’s VR system. The results indicated that of the person-related variables that were studied, three demographic and disability-related variables (age, age of disability-onset, and type of disability) and two employment-related variables (employed at the time of applying for VR services and number of jobs since onset of disability) were strong predictors of employment at case closure. In view that work experience improves the accuracy of predicting employment among this sample and is a factor that can be modified, implications of the findings are briefly proposed for rehabilitation counselors.
A-Visions: A Scripps supported employment program
Authors: Gold Jerry
Published: December 2019

This expository paper describes an innovative Scripps designed supported employment program, using an evidence-based practice model based on recovery by Scripps Behavioral Health Services staff to fill a gap in the continuum of care for Behavioral Health Services. The A-Visions Program was also developed to increase offerings to mental health consumers (typically those with serious and persistent mental illness) struggling to find help in an under funded, fragmented mental health system of care. The program has grown since its inception and has received commendations from external stakeholders. This paper reviews the prevalence of mental illness in the United States, a review of the classic and recent evidence-based literature, a comprehensive description of the program (including analyses of outcome measures), a plan to spread this innovation across the Scripps enterprise, and conclusions. Due to the success of the program in providing essential services to individuals with serious mental illness, the authors recommend replication in other Scripps facilities. The author makes a strong case for the spread of this innovation, as these services typically are not a part of the mental health care continuum. These program development strategies are replicable in other mental health programs.
Closures are the tip of the iceberg: Exploring the variation in state vocational rehabilitation program exits after service receipt
Authors: Stapleton David , Honeycutt Todd , Schechter Bruce
Published: December 2019

Despite the important role that state vocational rehabilitation (VR)agencies play in promoting employment for people with disabilities,little is known about how their exits after service receipt vary withindividual characteristics and across states compared to the general population with disabilities. We used fiscal year 2007 RSA administrative data and American Community Survey public use files to calculate the ratio of the number of individuals exiting VR after service receipt to the estimated number of working-age people with disabilities in 2007 at the national and state levels and the ratios for demographic, educational, and disability subgroups. Our results show that 1.3 of every 100 working-age adults with a disability in the household population exited a VR agency after receiving services, with state variation ranging from 0.6 percent in Washington and Puerto Rico to 4.0 percent in Vermont. We also found large differences across subgroups – differences that are much larger in some states than in others. These disparities raise questions about why some groups are more likely to complete VR services than others and whether VR agencies should systematically target more resources to certain groups. Further research is needed to better understand how well people with disabilities complete VR agency services.
Roles and functions of benefits counseling specialists: A multi-trait analysis
Authors: Lui John W. , Chan Fong , Fried Juliet H. , Lin Chen-Ping , Anderson Catherine A. , Peterson Megan
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the roles and functions of benefits counseling specialists. One-hundred and forty-eight benefits counseling specialists rated the Benefits Specialists Practice Inventory – Revised using a 5-point importance rating scale. Data were analyzed using multi-trait analysis. The multi-trait analysis tentatively supported the three-factor structure of the Benefits Specialists Practice Inventory – Revised, indicating that benefits screening (M = 4.43, SD = 0.47), benefits advisement (M = 4.49, SD = 0.56), and benefits management (M = 4.07, SD = 0.88) are most central to the job performance of benefits counseling specialists. In addition, benefits counseling specialists in the current study rated themselves as relatively well prepared to perform these benefits counseling job functions, with benefits advisement rated the highest (M = 4.23, SD = 0.76), followed by benefits screening (M = 4.15, SD = 0.70), and then by benefits management (M = 3.75, SD = 0.96). However, multi-trait analysis also suggested that there might be more than three essential job functions for benefits counseling specialists and more comprehensive research in the future is warranted.
Factors associated with labor force participation after spinal cord injury
Authors: Krause James S. , Terza Joseph V. , Dismuke Clara E.
Published: December 2019

Our purpose was to identify demographic, injury, educational, and vocational predictors of labor force participation (LFP) after spinal cord injury (SCI) performing secondary analysis of existing data. Labor force participation was defined as gainful employment. We used survey data from 1398 adults one or more years post-injury and under the age of 65 at onset. A two-stage regression model was used to predict two parameters: (a) LFP at some time after SCI onset (post-injury LFP) and (b) current LFP. Just under 55% of the participants reported LFP since the onset of SCI. Several variables were significantly related to each outcome, including race, gender, ambulation, post-injury bachelor’s degree or higher, and post-injury employment type (management/professional, sales/office). Counselors can use the results to help understand the extent to which characteristics are associated with the probability of successfully participating in the labor force.
The national cost-efficiency of supported employees with intellectual disabilities: The worker’s perspective
Authors: Cimera Robert Evert
Published: December 2019

This study explored the outcomes achieved by 104,213 individuals with intellectual disabilities who were served by state vocational rehabilitation agencies and wished to be enrolled in supported employment. Result found that 62.08% of participants became employed within their community via supported employment and that these individuals, on average, received greater monetary benefits from working (i.e., wages earned) than monetary costs (i.e., taxes paid, forgone wages, reduction in governmental subsidies). Further, this result was found regardless of the number of disabling conditions present and the state in which they received services. However, employment outcomes (i.e., rates of employment, wages earned, hours worked, and cost efficiency) varied significantly between states.
A study of the impact of social support development on job acquisition and retention among people with psychiatric disabilities
Authors: Roberts Melissa M. , Murphy Ann , Dolce Joni , Spagnolo Amy , Gill Kenneth , Lu Weili , Librera LueAnn
Published: December 2019

The current study examined the relationship between specific techniques for developing social support (i.e., Person Centered Planning) and job related outcomes among 110 individuals with psychiatric disabilities receiving Supported Employment (SE) services in a northeastern state. Seven SE programs participated. All individuals receiving SE services from any of the seven SE programs were eligible to enroll in the study. Participant data were collected on demographics, psychiatric history, work history, and social support over a period of two years. Data on the use of Person Center Planning practices were collected from SE staff every three months for the first 12 months of the study. This information was recorded in the Quality Indicators Survey, an instrument developed for this study. A positive relationship was found between total days employed and the number of non-paid supporters an individual reported having; a negative relationship existed between total days employed and number of paid supporters; and there was a positive correlation between total days employed and Person Centered Planning techniques used at nine and 12 months.
Employers' perceptions of the benefits of workplace accommodations: Reasons to hire, retain and promote people with disabilities
Authors: Hartnett Helen P. , Stuart Heather , Thurman Hanna , Loy Beth , Batiste Linda Carter
Published: December 2019

Despite the legal mandates of the ADA, people with disabilities continue to be underrepresented in the workforce. While there does exist an established body of research devoted to the hiring of individuals with disabilities, information on retaining individuals with disabilities in the workplace has not been reflected as often in the critical discourse devoted to disability and employment practices. This article analyzes data from an ongoing study conducted by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of ODEP (Department of Labor 1004062R), showing that employers benefited from hiring, retaining, and accommodating individuals with disabilities. Benefits derived by employers include the ability to retain quality employees, increased company profitability, and an avoidance of costs associated with hiring and training a new employee. In addition to these benefits, providing accommodations in order to retain employees is shown to improve organizational culture and climate, as well as fostering a sense among all employees that employers recognize both the value of the individual worker as a human being, and the inherent social benefits of creating and sustaining an inclusive workplace.
The role of gender in the long-term employment outcomes of young adults with disabilities
Authors: Doren Bonnie , Gau Jeff M. , Lindstrom Lauren
Published: December 2019

The purpose of the current study was to examine wage differentials based on gender over a six year post-school period and potential moderators of differential outcomes based on gender. The study included data on 521 participants of a statewide school to work program who had wage data within the state employment database. Results based on mixed effects models indicated that males with disabilities achieved significantly higher starting wages than females and this wage gap remained consistent across the study period. Moderators by gender indicated that graduating high school with a diploma and successful closure from Vocational Rehabilitation were significantly related to higher initial wages for males with disabilities but not females. Results are discussed in the context of related findings suggesting that females do not obtain the same returns as males with disabilities from common benchmarks of success.
Measuring university faculty attitudes toward disability: Willingness to accommodate and adopt Universal Design principles
Authors: Lombardi Allison R. , Murray Christopher
Published: December 2019

Today, more students with disabilities attend four year institutions, but may struggle to succeed within these settings. University faculty attitudes and practices contribute to the success or failure of students in these postsecondary settings. In this study, we developed, administered, and evaluated a measure of faculty attitudes and perceptions toward students with disabilities. Results from 289 faculty members indicated that responses loaded on eight reliable factors pertaining to (a) Fairness in Providing Accommodations, (b) Knowledge of Disability Law, (c) Adjustment of Course Assignments and Requirements, (d) Minimizing Barriers, (e) Campus Resources, (f) Willingness to Invest Time, (g) Accessibility of Course Materials, and (h) Performance Expectations. Group comparisons by faculty gender, rank, college/school, and prior disability-focused training indicated more positive attitudes toward providing accommodations and adopting Universal Design principles among faculty who are female, nontenured, housed within the College of Education, or had prior disability-focused training experiences. These findings suggest that faculty attitudes and perceptions toward disability and their willingness to accommodate and adopt Universal Design principles can be reliably assessed. The potential usefulness of such assessments for practices within postsecondary environments are discussed.
The relationship between race and acceptance of disability when considering services through vocational rehabilitation
Authors: Groomes Darlene A.G. , Kampfe Charlene M. , Mapuranga Raymond
Published: December 2019

Over the past ten years, much attention has been given to data that show racial minority groups are not served or underserved by state rehabilitation agencies despite increasing vocational rehabilitation acceptance rates. As larger numbers of individuals from current racial minority groups seek rehabilitation services, it becomes important to conceptualize how an individual's internal resources may respond to services that, as research supports, greatly affect one's quality of life. This study examines the relationship between race and acceptance of disability using Wright's theoretical conceptualization of acceptance of loss. One hundred thirty-two persons with disabilities were surveyed regarding their levels of acceptance of disability using Linkowski's [24] Acceptance of Disability Scale. Our findings indicate that there were no differences between European Americans and African Americans on acceptance of disability in terms of their overall (based on total scale scores) and composite (based on subscale scores) endorsement of the scale; however, there were a few differences based on the individual item scores. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Working Well – The Texas Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment: 18-month outcomes
Authors: Bohman Thomas M. , Wallisch Lynn , Christensen Kristin , Stoner Dena , Pittman Allen , Reed Brian , Ostermeyer Britta
Published: December 2019

Uninsured working adults with chronic mental, behavioral and physical health conditions may have greater difficulty in accessing needed health care due to health care costs and crowded public health systems. Untreated medical conditions can lead to poorer health, which is linked to loss of employment and eventual applications for and receipt of federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI). The Working Well study was designed to determine whether a coordinated set of health benefits and employment supports could help low-income, working adults maintain their employment and remain independent of publicly funded disability assistance. Patients from the Harris County Hospital District, a large public health system providing indigent care in the Houston metroplex, were recruited and randomized to the intervention (N = 904) and control (N = 712) groups. The Working Well case management intervention included health navigation, employment/vocational supports, expedited appointments, free medications, and no co-pays for medical visits. Participant outcomes were measured through surveys, health claims data, and state agency employment data. Intervention group participants reported greater access to care, greater likelihood of outpatient medical visits and less likelihood of receiving SSI/SSDI benefits. These findings suggest that public health care systems can provide disability prevention programs, improve access to care and reduce reliance on publicly funded disability assistance.
Identifying challenges, goals and strategies for success for people with diabetes through life coaching
Authors: Schneider Jean Isip , Hashizume Junko , Heak Sreang , Maetani Lisa , Ozaki Rebecca Rude , Watanabe Denise Leong
Published: December 2019

Many working adults with diabetes face barriers to effective disease self-management and consequently are at risk for deteriorating health, job loss, and dependence on public assistance. The Hawaii Live Healthy Work Well project examined how individuals with diabetes (a potentially disabling condition) perceived life coaching and person-centered planning as an intervention to maintain employment and manage chronic health issues. For one year, 108 participants received life coaching, using goal setting as a central activity. Based on administrative and survey data, participants' perceived usefulness and value of life coaching in relation to their diabetes, health status, and employment was coded and analyzed. Participant and coach perceptions of the challenges people with diabetes face in managing their health and work are discussed. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention and demonstrated high goal attainment. Although more research is needed, life coaching may be a viable tool to assist people with diabetes to maintain their employment and health. Employers and other providers may want to explore life coaching as an early intervention for employees with diabetes and other chronic conditions such as obesity.
Do adults with autism benefit monetarily from working in their communities?
Authors: Cimera Robert Evert , Burgess Sloane
Published: December 2019

This study explored the employment outcomes and cost-efficiency of 19,436 adults with autism spectrum disorder who had their cases closed by government-operated vocational rehabilitation agencies throughout the United States from 2002 to 2007. Analyses presented here indicated that individuals working in the community generated more monetary benefits than monetary costs (i.e. average benefit-cost ratio of 5.28 and monthly net benefit of $643.20). Further, this result was found regardless of the state in which services were provided or whether the individual had multiple conditions. However, rates of employment (M = 40. 6%), hours worked per week (M = 23.7), and wages earned per month (M = $793.34) were low throughout the United States.
Self-management research and treatment generality
Authors: Rusch Frank R.
Published: December 2019

This paper addresses the external validity criteria recommended by Horner and colleagues [11] for meeting treatment generality associated with identifying “evidence-based practices”. Additionally, the paper reports on the results of applying the emergent criteria for assessing the methodological features associated with conducting single-participant research to 10 studies from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA). Selected articles focused upon self-management strategies utilized by employees with intellectual disabilities. Based upon a review of studies published in JABA, self-management strategies did not meet minimal treatment generality criteria. Results suggest that the absence of efforts to collect procedural fidelity limits treatment generality. Therefore, additional research is warranted before these self-management-related strategies can be considered as being supported by evidence.
Supported versus sheltered employment: Cumulative costs, hours worked, and wages earned
Authors: Cimera Robert Evert
Published: December 2019

This paper examined the costs of services received and outcomes obtained by 112 supported and sheltered employees. Overall, sheltered employees received services for longer periods (M = 72.92 months v. 44.91 months) as well as worked more hours per month (M = 65.68 v. 58.95) than supported employees. However, supported employees on average generated fewer cumulative costs (M = $22.406 v. $45.840) and earned more wages per month (M = $390.96 v. $164.79). Supported employees also had lower cost per hour worked (M = $11.15 v. $15.04) and cost per dollar earned (M = $2.01 v. $11.38) ratios.