Successful vocational rehabilitation for persons with significant mental disabilities: A logistic regression analysis.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Individuals with significant mental disabilities (SMD) frequently have scattered work histories (Anthony & Buell, 1974; Finch, 1997; Jacobs, 1988; Tan, 1996). Often, the SMD consumer is unable to find competitive employment. If a job is secured, termination quickly follows because of impaired interpersonal and social skills, poor work attendance, and poor hygiene (Corrigan, Reedy, Thadani & Ganet, 1995). In Columbus, Ohio, the Center of Vocational Alternatives, a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation agency, began providing state supported vocational rehabilitation services to SMD consumers in 1993. The services were designed to address a cadre of support services that would foster job retention and increase the number of successful employment.
This cross-sectional exploratory study sampled 211 SMD consumers who received vocational rehabilitation support services through the Center of Vocational Alternatives during federal Fiscal Year 1997–98 and experienced successful or unsuccessful employment. Successful employment was determined by the consumers' ability to obtain and retain competitive employment for 90-days while completing the services provided under their Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan. Several independent variables were examined, including gender, marital status, presence of secondary disability, educational level, regional areas of Columbus, age, race, referral source, work adjustment, job development, transportation, income maintenance, total spending, and participation in the Center of Vocational Alternatives Rehabilitation Readiness Training.
Correlation and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze successful employment and the type of program status. The findings from the logistic regression analysis indicated that job development, the Center of Vocational Alternatives Rehabilitation Readiness Training program, and race, in order, were significant predictors of job success. Participants who had job development services, who had the Center of Vocational Alternatives Rehabilitation Readiness Training program, and white consumers were more likely to have successful employment. These findings suggest social workers should focus on job development strategies and readiness training. In addition, strategies need to be developed to assist African American consumers because they are less likely to be effective in achieving employment success.