Vocational Rehabilitation

This study examined the vocational outcomes achieved by 9,432 transition-age (17-26 years old) supported employees with intellectual disability served by state-federal vocational rehabilitation programs throughout the United States in 2015.

This report examines issues regarding needed alignment of services and collaboration among agencies and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to achieve the goal of supporting youth with intellectual disability (ID) to obtain increased academic learning, independent living, and competitive integrated employment through participation in postsecondary education.

This Fast Fact #18 describes the employment outcomes, including rehabilitation rate and wages, of youth with intellectual disability served by VR who participated in postsecondary education as part of their Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), compared to youth with intellectual disability who did not participate in postsecondary education.

Together with the RRTC on Transitioning Youth and Vocational Rehabilitation, Think College presents this collaborative webinar on vocational rehabilitation. It takes many pieces connected meaningfully in order for a puzzle to be seen for the vision it provides. This webinar is intended to explore examples of partnerships that meaningfully connect various pieces of community resource, resulting in a common vision that assists individuals with Intellectual Disability in achieving independence, careers and community engagement.

The National Coordinating Center (NCC) provides support, coordination, training, and evaluation for Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) model demonstration project grantees. These TPSID grantees were tasked with creating, expanding, or enhancing high-quality, inclusive postsecondary education programs to support positive outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities (e.g., educational attainment, employment, and community inclusion).

In response to student need and the HEOA, California developed a unique partnership between Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and selected Community Colleges to create College to Career (C2C) Programs. This practice brief describes PSE programs for students with ID in general and development of the C2C programs. It also shares student outcome data and implications from the C2C programs which may be applicable to other colleges and universities as they strive to meet the PSE needs of students with ID on their campuses.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 is transforming how federally funded job training programs help prepare workers for the labor force. The law is aimed at increasing opportunities, through innovation and support, particularly for those facing barriers in the labor force. One implication of the law is a renewed emphasis on the role that state vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs) play in preparing transition-age youth for employment. This brief provides an overview of current programs that SVRAs offer to transition-age youth.

This presentation was delivered at the 2016 CEC Division of Career Development & Transition conference, by Meg Grigal, Debra Hart, and Frank Smith of Think College. Data and trends about the involvement of vocational rehabilitation in inclusive higher education was presented. Challenges and recommendations were made to improve the effectiveness of VR service provision and involvment in inclusive higher education to improve outcomes for students with ID.