ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: College graduates without visual impairments earn more than college graduates with visual impairments. Differences in degree majors obtained or differences in earnings associated with degree majors for the two groups might explain this discrepancy in earnings. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine (a) differences in degree major categories and (b) relationships between degree majors and earnings for college graduates with and without visual impairments. METHOD: We obtained data for college-educated, working-age adults from the American Community Survey. We utilized descriptive statistics to compare degree major categories by visual impairment and multiple regression to evaluate predictors of annual earnings for college graduates who worked full-time/full-year. RESULTS: Small differences in degree majors obtained were found between college graduates with and without visual impairments. Significant predictors of earnings included 23 out of 25 degree majors and several other demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Effects of three majors and several other variables differed for people with visual impairments. CONCLUSION: People with visual impairments were slightly more likely to hold degrees with lower-paying majors and less likely to hold degrees with two higher-paying majors. Regardless of degree major, college graduates with visual impairments had substantially lower average earnings than the general population.
ABSTRACT
Persons with visual impairments (VI) have a high nonparticipation rate in the labor force. Information about factors influencing their labor force participation could provide insight into how to increase employment rates. We selected persons with VI from the Survey of Income and Program Participation to investigate factors that differentiate persons out of the labor force (OLF) for chronic health or disability reasons from those employed and those OLF due to other reasons. Persons with VI and OLF for chronic health or disability reasons were more likely to have additional disabilities; have physical, mental, or other health limitations to work; and receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance. Compared with those employed, people with VI and OLF for chronic health or disability reasons appear to have multiple characteristics indicating poorer health, lower education attainment, and greater financial insecurity. Compared with those OLF due to other reasons, people with VI and OLF for chronic health or disability reasons were less likely to be female but more likely to receive food assistance and to indicate disadvantaged health status. These results suggest that skills to accommodate vision disability or health conditions are essential to employment or further education, and additional education may expand vocational options. Benefits counseling, encouragement, and careful career planning may assist persons with VI in moving toward financial independence.
