Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired:
Bybee, J., Cavenaugh, B., Crudden, A., Giesen, J.M., LeJeune, B.J., McDonnall, M.C., O’Mally, J. & Uslan, M.
AER International Conference 2012
An Overview of Six Research Projects
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Overview National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research • 2010-2015 Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center (RRTC) Grant• Funds 6 research projects on improving employment outcomes for individuals who are blind or visually impaired
• Training & Technical Assistance
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Six Research Projects
1. A Customized Transportation Intervention
2. Employment Mentoring for College Students
3. VR Agency-Employer Interactions
4. Best Practices in the Randolph-Sheppard Program
5. Employment Outcomes of SSDI Beneficiaries
6. Accessibility in the Workplace
Goal of 6 Projects
Improve competitive employment outcomes and employment success for individuals who are blind or visually impaired by developing and evaluating new and existing employment interventions and practices.
A Customized Transportation Intervention
Presenter: Jamie O’MallyContributor: Adele Crudden
Project 1
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Overview
Address barriers to employment related to transportation
Conducted in conjunction with Alabama Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
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Transportation Goals
Identify transportation to work options Assist consumers in identifying and
accessing transportation options Evaluate success of service delivery
model Develop model for potential replication
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Customized Transportation
Based on concepts from:• Customized
employment• Problem solving
therapy• Case management
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Customized Approach
Provides individual assistance to locate transportation options for persons seeking or having employment
Provides information to consumers about how to locate and access transportation in their home community
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Procedure
VR counselor refers to MSU MSU conducts pretest/screening via
phone MSU assigns consumer to the
intervention group or the comparison group
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Group Assignment in Alabama
Intervention
Comparison
Split County
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Transportation Services
Comparison group receives• Gift card• Handbook in preferred
format Intervention group receives
• Individualized services
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Transportation Services
Transportation Coordinator meets consumer in home and together they develop transportation plan
Jointly explore options to find and secure most feasible options
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Transportation Project
Currently two coordinators for AL Targeted sample of 64 persons Data collection through December
2012. Referral base smaller than
anticipated
Employment Mentoring Intervention
for College Students
Project 2
Presenter: Jamie O’Mally
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Overview
Employment Climate Importance of Mentors Current Study
• Participants• Benefits• Procedure
• Mentoring Relationship• Required Discussions
Update Recruitment
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Employment Climate Degree = JOB… right??
• Employment at historic lows• Employment for Youth with B/VI
• Difficulty finding employment despite highest rate of postsecondary attendance among youth with disabilities.
• 72.6% without disabilities• 38.2% with VI (only ~1/3 full time)
Importance of Mentors
Mentors help develop skills, provide information, increase student motivation, and offer networking and job shadowing opportunities.
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Current Study
Does working closely with a mentor improve postgraduate employment outcomes for college students who are legally blind?
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Participants All participants must be legally blind, living in
the U.S. and able to access online materials. College or Grad Students
• Under age 35• Graduating Jan 2013-Dec 2014• Planning to seek employment after college
Professionals• Currently employed or recently retired
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Benefits
One-on-one interactions Incentives for students Access to career materials Assist with research that
seeks to benefit college grads who are blind
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Procedure
Random Assignment Mentor Matching Orientation Introductions Mentor Manual Measures & Reports
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Mentor Relationship
Participate for one year Matched by location and career 3 hours a month face-to-face Biweekly contact Online activity reports Discussions & activities Job shadowing
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Mentoring Manual Accommodation planning Blindness and low vision skills Disclosure Social skills Transportation Transfer of technology skills Career counseling Job shadowing Job seeking skills Job placement assistance
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Recruitment Sign up through DEC 2013 Students start based on grad date
between JAN 2013-DEC 2014 http://tiny.cc/mentoring-project Tell people!!
VR Agency-Employer Interactions
Project 3
Presenter: Michele McDonnall
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Overview Employer’s negative attitudes = major barrier to
employment Different approaches to interactions with employers Is the way the VR agency interacts with employers
associated with employer attitudes and employment outcomes for consumers?• Will identify employer interaction practices that
are most associated with employment outcomes • Will also collect information about employers’
knowledge about how people who are B/VI can perform specific job tasks, and their attitudes towards employing people who are B/VI
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VR Agency-Employer Interactions
This project consists of four major research activities, culminating in the development of evidence-based practice guidelines. It is broken into three sub-projects: • Project 1: VR Agency Surveys• Project 2: Evaluation of Existing Practices
• RSA-911 Analyses• Employer Surveys
• Project 3: Development of Guidelines
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VR Agency Surveys Purpose – to determine what practices agencies are
using to interact with employers and to measure the emphasis placed by agencies on these practices
Two surveys have been developed and conducted:• with administrators of all VR agencies that
serve consumers who are B/VI (separate and combined agencies)
• with employment specialist staff and/or rehabilitation counselors of these same agencies
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VR Agency Surveys Results from the surveys are being used for two
purposes, associated with the sub-project 2: • to combine with RSA-911 data to evaluate the
impact of the practices on employment outcomes for consumers
• selection of states for the employer surveys (based on their reported emphasis on and types of employer interactions)
Status: Surveys have been administered, data have been analyzed, and one descriptive article is in preparation. An additional article is planned.
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RSA-911 Analyses
Will allow us to evaluate the impact VR agency-employer interaction practices have on the employment outcomes of their consumers
Two outcome variables: employment (or not) and earnings
Predictor variables will be taken from the VR survey; control variables from the 911 data and state economic indicators
Status: Data preparation is ongoing; analyses will be conducted later this year.
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Employer Surveys Telephone surveys of employers (businesses) in
selected states will be conducted to determine: • their knowledge about how persons with B/VI can
perform some specific job functions• their attitudes towards persons who are B/VI as
employees The knowledge survey will consist of questions about
how persons who are B/VI perform job tasks, such as accessing a computer or pre-printed material.
Status: The instrument to be used has been developed, pilot tested, and refined. States to conduct the surveys have been identified.
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Development of Guidelines
Results from the analyses conducted in sub-project 2 will provide the basis for evidence-based practice guidelines for VR agencies.
In addition to the statistical results, interviews will be conducted with VR agency personnel in states using effective interaction methods and with employers.
The guidelines will serve as a handbook that will guide VR agencies serving people who are B/VI on best practices for establishing effective relationships with employers.
Best Practices in the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program
Project 4
Presenter: Jacqui BybeeContributor: Brenda Cavenaugh
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Overview
Six objectives & nine outputs/products Identification of best practices and
development of training and marketing materials
Special emphasis on deaf-blind and transition-age individuals
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Project Objectives
1. Identification and evaluation of the knowledge and skills needed by state VR agency staff to improve/enhance services provided
2. Identification and evaluation of best practices in recruitment, initial training, and retention of individuals with dual sensory impairments
3. Identification and evaluation of best practices in recruitment of transition-age youth and young adults
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Project Objectives
4. Identification of knowledge and skills needed by R-S facility managers to effectively operate facilities
5. Identification of minimum and preferred competencies needed by VR consumers for entry into the R-S program
6. Identification of preferred performance standards (e.g., gross, net profit) for R-S facility types (e.g., vending route, convenience store, snack bar, cafeteria)
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General Data Sources• Data from state directors• Data from other SLA staff and selected vendors• Terry Smith, Expert Consultant• Collected materials, interviews, and information from
state agencies• NRTC-produced materials• Peer-reviewed publications and other related literature• Focus groups • Site visits• R-S related and branded franchise websites• Dan Frye, R-S Program Specialist, RSA• Beth Jordan, HKNC Regional Representative
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Informational Brochure Product 1
• Information about R-S Program for legislatures, state agencies, and the general public
• Will be available for download from our website, August 2012: http://www.blind.msstate.edu
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Deaf-Blind Component
Products 2 & 3• Identification of Best Practices
• Interviews will be conducted with state directors, business counselors, and training staff who work with deaf-blind vendors
• Deaf-blind vendors will also be interviewed
• Video Vignettes of Deaf-Blind Vendors
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Online Training Curriculum Product 4
• 8 to 10 modules• Basic Orientation to Blindness• The R-S Act• VR Process• Active Participation• Marketing the Program• Supervising Facilities• Implementing Business Practices
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Standards for Vendors Product 5
• Competencies for entry into the program
• Performance standards once licensed
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Transition-Aged Component Products 6 & 7
• “How-to” guide and marketing glossy for recruiting transition-age youth and young adults (18-35) into R-S program• Emphasis on enhancing the image
and appeal of the program• Video vignettes of transition-aged
individuals
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Publications and Presentations Products 8 & 9
• Peer-reviewed and consumer publications• Results of survey data from BEP state
directors• Expected completion: Fall 2012
• Peer-reviewed and invited presentations• Annual BEP-MS meeting – September 2012,
Jackson, MS• BLAST – May 2013, Indianapolis, IN
Employment Outcomes of
SSDI Beneficiaries
Project 5
Presenter: Michele McDonnallContributor: J.M. Giesen
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Background
Why SSDI Beneficiaries?• $100 billion annual federal cost for
Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits to SSI and SSDI beneficiaries
• >$2.6 billion spent for state-federal VR employment services
• >25% are SSA beneficiaries
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Background
Why SSDI Beneficiaries?• ~ 1/3 of VR consumers who are
legally blind are SSDI recipients (2008 data)
• Population is at greater risk for poor employment outcomes
Both VR and SSA want to improve employment outcomes for this population!
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Objectives
What factors are associated with employment outcomes for SSDI beneficiaries?
Using RSA-911 national data Identify
• Facilitators • e.g., better for younger consumers ?
• Risk factors• Female? Race/ethnicity?
• What works• Best combination of services
• Recommendations for practice and policy
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Multi-level Approach Utilizing a multi-level research approach to
individual-level employment outcomes• Individual-level factors studied before• State/agency factors studied before for
agency outcomes Multi-level approach lets state/agency and
individual-level factors be assessed together • How they both affect individual
consumer employment outcomes
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Multi-level Influences
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State/Agency
Consumer
CompetitiveEmployment
Age, gender,Education,Work history,Disability,Services
Unemployment rate,State economics,Agency structure
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Multi-level Influences
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State/Agency
Consumer
CompetitiveEmployment
Age, Gender,Education,Work history,Disability,Services
Unemployment rate,State economics,Agency structure
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Multi-level Influences
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State/Agency
Consumer
CompetitiveEmployment
Age, gender,Education,Work history,Disability,Services
Unemployment rate,State economics,Agency structure
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Multi-level Influences
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State/Agency
Consumer
CompetitiveEmployment
Age, gender,Education,Work history,Disability,Services
Unemployment rate,State economics,Agency structure
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Project Status Acquiring and processing state/agency
and individual data State/agency level
• state unemployment and poverty rates, state population, VR agency structure (Blind vs. General or Combined)
Individual level• demographic, socioeconomic, and
disability factors
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Preliminary Results Outcome = competitive employment Preliminary findings…
• somewhat reduced overall by state unemployment rate
• enhanced by • more education • having personal earnings at application • amount of SSDI at application
• reduced for older applicants & Asian consumers (which is mitigated by agency structure)
• but not African American or other race/ethnicity
Accessibility in the Modern Workplace
Project 6
Presenter: Mark UslanAmerican Foundation for the Blind
Overview
Five year project to evaluate the accessibility of office equipment through• Surveying Users• Heuristic Analyses• Usability Studies
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Importance of the Problem
Over 78% of adults with vision loss are not employed*
A great deal of office equipment is inaccessible• Multifunctional
Document Centers (MDCs)
• Voice over IP (VoIP) Systems
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Survey of MDC Users
26 blind and 34 low vision responses Key Findings
• The key barriers to accessibility were: Low Display Contrast, Small Fonts, and a lack of Speech Output
• None of the users were aware of currently existing accessibility solutions
Results of the survey are published in the July issue of AccessWorld
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Analysis of MDCs
Canon, Xerox, Lexmark, and Ricoh all offer Accessibility Solutions
The accessibility of each solution will be evaluated through:• Ease of Use• Functionality• Display Quality
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Floor Models Canon – Image runner Advance C5030 Lexmark – XS658DE Xerox – Workcentre 7525 Ricoh – Aficio MP 4001
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Desk Top Lexmark – X548
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User Study
Ten blind and low vision users
Results will determine the usability of the Accessibility Solutions
Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed Journal
Presenter: B.J. LeJeune
Training and Technical Assistance
NIDRR Research Projects
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Training: Knowledge Translation Activities
Research 1: Transportation:• Customized Transportation Model
Curriculum• Customized Transportation Webinar
Research 2: Mentoring• Employment Mentoring Webinar
Research 3: Employer • VR-Employer Interaction Webinar
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Project Based Training Research 5: SSDI Recipients
• Webinar Based on Research Outcomes Research 6: Accessible Office Machinery
• Accessibility of Multi-Functional Document Centers – Webinar• Accessibility and use of VoIP Systems -
Webinar
Randolph-Sheppard Project Training Opportunities
Managing the Randolph-Sheppard Project: An Introduction to Business Management • updates to an existing on-line course• Integration of new information
Successfully Integrating Emerging Trends in in Food Service, Healthy Vending and Franchising
Effectively Integrating Individuals with Hearing and Vision Loss into the
Business Enterprise Program
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State of the Science 2014 Opportunity to share results of NRTC
research and showcase other related research.
Conference to be held in Fall of 2014 likely in the DC area. Watch for information!
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State In-Service Training Two per year with shared costs First 2 Years
• Massachusetts (2)• Kentucky• Mississippi (2)• New Jersey
Anne Sullivan Macy Fellow Li Zhou, Ed.D. Post-Doctoral Fellowship Originally from Beijing,
China Ed.D. in Special Education
(VI) at Texas Tech University
His current research is focused on developing a math tool for general education teachers to communicate more effectively with their braille students.
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TACE Collaborations Southeast Region IV Northwest Region X
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National Technical Assistance Center (N-TAC – B/VI)
Special Areas for • Employers• Consumers• Service Providers
Updated Information and Resource Referral Links
Transition Resources
Opportunities for on-line training• Medical Aspects• How to read an Eye
Report• Placement of Older
Adults who are B/VI • TBI• Adjustment
Counseling Strategies• And Others
Coming this Fall!
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Interested in Participating?
Participant Registry for Blindness & Low Vision Research
Benefits:• Find out about projects that apply to YOU• Participate in research that seeks to benefit
consumers• Minimal contact• Takes less than 10 minutes• Option to receive NRTC newsletter• No obligation
Sign up! http://tiny.cc/participant-registry
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For More Information
NRTC website: http://blind.msstate.edu Email: [email protected] Call: 662-325-2001 or 800-675-7782
www.facebook.com/msu.rrtc