The impact of customized employment on the competitive integrated employment outcomes of transition age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A randomized controlled trial study.

BACKGROUND: Customized employment (CE) is recognized in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014) as a strategy for promoting competitive integrated employment. However, the existing body of evidence supporting CE is mainly descriptive rather than experimental research. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the impact of CE on the employment outcomes, hours worked per week, and wages of transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. METHOD: The outcomes of transition-age youth participating in a CE intervention were compared to those receiving treatment-as-usual using a randomized controlled trial design. RESULTS: Participants receiving CE were significantly more likely to secure competitive integrated employment than controls who received treatment-as-usual. Participants in the intervention and control conditions earned similar wages. Participants in the control condition worked more hours per week than those in CE. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of CE to assist transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in obtaining competitive integrated employment, but future research is needed to examine factors impacting weekly hours and wages of participants in CE.

Effects of Customized Employment on the Independence of Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Participation in work during school is a known predictor of postsecondary employment for transition-age youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Recent research has demonstrated the benefits of work on skill development in major life domains. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of customized employment on the support needs of youth with IDD with a significant disability compared to those receiving treatment as usual. Findings indicated significant increases in independence in three specific domains for the treatment group versus control on the Supports Intensity Scale-Adult Version, including Home Living, Employment, and Protection and Advocacy. Findings suggest a therapeutic effect of work activities on growth and development in important life domains. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans with amputation: An exploration of resilience, employment and individual characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Since 2002 approximately 1,700 US military service members have experienced trauma related amputations from injuries incurred in Afhanistan and Iraq (Fisher, 2015). OBJECTIVE: This study explores the variables of resilience, individual characteristics, and employment status of a sample of these Veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and sustained an amputation. METHODS: Veterans identified through the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (N = 165) completed a survey on their experiences following amputation. RESULTS: Results indicate that several variables were significantly related to resilience, to include employment status, pain status, and prosthetic use. CONCLUSION: Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.

Evaluating the effectiveness of Facebook to impact the knowledge of evidence-based employment practices by individuals with traumatic brain injury: A knowledge translation random control study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience difficulty with obtaining and maintaining employment post-injury. Although vocational rehabilitation (VR) can be one option to provide individuals with TBI support and services to lead to successful employment outcomes, information about these services can be difficult and confusing to navigate. Providing information on evidence-based employment practices to individuals with TBI through social media could be an effective approach. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the effect of a knowledge translation (KT) strategy and the use of a secret Facebook group, on the knowledge of evidence-based employment research by individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: The study used a randomized pretest-posttest control group design. Sixty individuals with TBI were recruited through clubhouse programs in the state where the authors resided as well as through support groups nationally for individuals with TBI, and were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups received information on evidence-based employment practices for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) over a three month period. One group received the information via participation in a secret Facebook group while the comparison group received information as an "e-news" email blast. Participants were assessed pre- and post-intervention with a Likert-scale instrument designed to measure knowledge of evidenced-based employment information for TBI. RESULTS: Both groups gained a significant amount of knowledge between baseline and post-intervention. However, there were no significant differences between groups in knowledge gained at post-intervention. CONCLUSION: While the study did not identify the most effective means of delivering information to individuals with TBI, it does provide some guidance for future KT research.

Vocational outcomes for persons with severe physical disabilities: Design and implementation of workplace supports.

Clearly, the need for a skilled labor pool is great in today's economy. Yet, many people with significant disabilities are struggling to find jobs with the majority of them unemployed or underemployed [6]. There is a need to develop strategies that can effectively empower these individuals to become part of the nation's labor force. This article describes one model project that used person-centered career plans, supported employment, and on-the-job assistive technology assessment and training to assist 21 individuals to become competitively employed. Customers worked an average of 15.66 months earning an average of $7,271 in total wages. They were hired by both small and large businesses to do a variety of tasks to include data entry, customer service, clerical assistance, as well as food prep. While the findings are preliminary, the results indicate that individuals with severe physical disabilities can maintain employment by combining supported employment and assistive technology within the workplace.