ICI -

Publications related to Employment data

Examining Collaboration between State Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies and State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

Data Note 30

Since Fiscal Year 1988, the Institute for Community Inclusion has administered the National Survey of State Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies' Day and Employment Services. The FY 2009 survey included a module to assess the ways in which state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) agencies collaborate with their state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to support integrated employment outcomes for adults with IDD. A total of 40 agencies responded to the module. Their responses provide a broader understanding of the relationship between the two types of state agencies, and the ways in which they work together to provide integrated employment services.

Work Incentives and SSI Recipients with Intellectual Disabilities

Data Note No. 23, 2009

Congress has enacted a number of work incentive programs for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients with disabilities after concluding additional incentives were necessary to help individuals become self-supporting.

Persons Served in Community Mental Health Programs and Employment

Data Note 17, 2008

Data set: FY2006 Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform

Timeframe from Application to Closure in Integrated Employment for Vocational Rehabilitation Customers with Developmental Disabilities

Data Note 14, 2008

This data note describes the integrated employment timeframe from application to closure for people with developmental disabilities (i.e., mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism) whose cases were closed by VR in 2006 (N = 27,579). VR typically closes cases when applicants have been in employment for at least 90 days.

Disability and Occupation

Data Note 13, 2007

It is well-documented that people with disabilities have a significantly lower rate of employment than people without disabilities (36% versus 74% according to the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS). Less is known about the types of work they do. Using the occupational classification system within the ACS, researchers explored the prevalence of people with disabilities within occupational groupings and discuss its relationship to occupational growth1. Future analysis will address variation across disability groups.

National Day and Employment Service Trends in MR/DD Agencies

Data Note 11b, 2007

The data represented here describe the core elements of ICI's National Survey of Day and Employment Services. Integrated employment includes both individual employment and group supported employment and facility-based settings include both facility-based work services and facility-based non-work services. Reported participation in community-based non-work services, defined as non job-related supports focusing on community involvement and typically identified as community integration or community participation services, has steadily increased since this service was added to the survey in 1996, growing from 14.5% in 1999 to 21% in 2004.

Relationship Between Integrated Employment and State Unemployment Rates for MR/DD Consumers

Data Note 8, 2006

Researchers explored state unemployment rates to determine whether a state's MR/DD agency employment outcomes were related to the state's economy. Data set: MR/DD.

The National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers, FY2004-2005 Report 1: Employment Outcomes of People with Developmental Disabilities in Integrated Employment

Research to Practice 44

Where do people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities work? What are their hours, wages, and benefits? This brief covers partial results from a survey that gives a snapshot of the outcomes for recently employed people with developmental disabilities.

Community-Based Non-Work Services: Findings from the National Survey of Day and Employment Programs for People with Developmental Disabilities

Research to Practice 42

As community-based services for adults with developmental disabilities develop, one category remains underexplored: community-based non-work (CBNW). Findings from an ICI survey show that while CBNW is a growing part of the service mix, its definitions and requirements remain fuzzy.

Pushing the Integrated Employment Agenda: Case Study Research in New Hampshire

Case Studies 14

Employment for people with severe disabilities was legitimized in P.L. 99457. However, some states have made more progress than others in helping individuals with disabilities achieve successful employment outcomes. New Hampshire was identified as a "high-performing" state based on criteria aimed at assessing overall commitment to community inclusion. This case study examines the reasons behind the state's success.

The National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers, FY2002-2003, Report 1: Overview of Services and Provider Characteristics

Research to Practice 35

Two briefs examine the services people with developmental disabilities receive from community rehabilitation providers (CRPs). Despite recent emphasis on work in the disability field, people with DD were predominantly in sheltered employment or non-work services. Of people with DD in integrated employment, the majority had individual competitive jobs. However, three group employment models had above-average percentages of individuals with DD.

Patterns of State, County, and Local ID/DD Funding Allocation

Data Note No. 24, 2009

State, County, and Local ID/DD dollars are one of the largest sources of funds for day and employment services; additionally as a funding source that is directly controlled within each state it is one of the most flexible sources of dollars for day and employment services. As Figure 1 shows, the allocation of these funds varied based upon year and service category: integrated employment, community based non-work, facility based work, and facility based non-work.

Tracking Employment and Day Support Participation and Outcomes in State Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disability Agencies

Data Note 20, 2008

Data set: The 2007 National Survey of Day and Employment Programs Institute for Community Inclusion, State Data Project

WIA Employment Outcomes and Trends

Data Note No. 19, 2008

WIA Employment Outcomes and Trends

SSI recipients with disabilities who work and participation in 1619b

Data Note #12

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federally funded program that provides cash assistance for basic needs. Individuals with a low-income who are over the age of 65, blind, or have a disability are eligible for assistance. SSI beneficiaries typically also receive health insurance coverage through Medicaid. Losing Medicaid benefits can be of concern for SSI recipients with disabilities who desire to work, or are currently working. Section 1619b of the Social Security Act allows individuals to work and continue to receive Medicaid assistance when their earnings are too high to qualify for SSI cash payments as long as they meet other eligibility requirements for the SSI program and continue to need Medicaid in order to work.

VR Rehabilitation Rates of People with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) in 2005

DataNote 11, 2007

Of the over 48,000 persons nationwide with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities (MR/DD) who closed out of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system after receiving employment services in FY2005, more than half were successful closures, yielding a rehabilitation rate of 56.9%. The rehabilitation rate is calculated by dividing the number of successful closures, which is employment in any setting with the exception of sheltered workshops, by the total number of closures who received employment services.

Employment Rates for People With and Without Disabilities

Data Note 10, 2007

Data show that people with disabilities are consistently less likely to be working than their non-disabled counterparts. In this data note, we compare the employment rate for working-age people with and without disabilities.

The Relationship Between Supported Employment Status and Minimum Wage for Vocational Rehabilitation Integrated Employment Closures in 2004

Data Note 9, 2006

This Data Note examines how wages for VR customers in supported employment compare to those earned by other customers.

Relationship Between MR/DD Consumers in Integrated Employment and Working SSI Recipients

Data Note 7, 2006

Analysis shows that employment outcomes for MR/DD consumers in integrated employment and working SSI recipients may be related within states. Data set: SSA.

Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Research to Practice 45

An overview of research on postsecondary education and options, with a bibliography and recommendations for improving access to college.

WIA Employment Outcomes

Data Note 6, 2006

The U.S. Department of Labor tracks several performance measures for people served in the One-Stop system. This Data Note focuses on people with disabilities in two funding categories. Data set: WIA.

Relationship Between SSI Recipients Who Work and State Unemployment Rate

Data Note 5, 2006

Many people who receive SSI benefits are unemployed. However, in 2004 the percentage of SSI recipients who were working varied considerably by state. To understand this variation, researchers correlated the percentage of employed SSI recipients with 2004 state unemployment rates. Data set: SSA.

Trends and Emerging Issues Regarding SSA/VR Reimbursements for SSI/SSDI Recipients

Research to Practice 43

This brief discusses the declining amount of reimbursement paid to public VR agencies from federal fiscal year (FFY) 2002 to FFY 2005 by considering the impact that fewer claims submitted and a rising SGA level may have on the amount of reimbursement paid.

Massachusetts Employment and Disability Snapshot Report, 2000-2004 (Report 1)

Research Report

This is the first in an annual series of snapshot reports on the employment of people with disabilities in Massachusetts. It offers an overview of trends in employment of people with disabilities for people with disabilities, advocates, policymakers, researchers, and other interested parties.

VR Outcomes for People with Spinal Cord Injury

Data Note 4, 2006

An estimated 250,000 people live with a spinal cord injury (SCI). In 2004, 2382 individuals with SCI achieved successful rehabilitation with the support of state vocational rehabilitation agencies. This Data Note examines their outcomes. Data set: RSA (VR).

Employment Services and Outcomes of People Receiving Welfare Benefits and Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Research to Practice 40

Poverty programs have undergone substantial reform in the past decade, and there has been a heightened interest in exploring the experiences of people with disabilities who receive welfare benefits. This report profiles people with disabilities who had TANF, GA, or both at application to VR services and completed these services in the year 2003.

Innovations in Employment Supports: Colorado's State Division of Developmental Services

Research to Practice 39

Between the years of 1985 and 1996 Colorado experienced significant growth in integrated employment for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Several factors were consistently highlighted as contributing to Colorado's employment outcomes during this period.

Diabetes and Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Services and Outcomes

Research to Practice 38

Approximately 18 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. This brief uses Rehabilitation Services Administration data to provide a picture of people with diabetes using the Vocational Rehabilitation system.

Employment Outcomes for People with Diabetes in the Vocational Rehabilitation System

Data Note 2, 2005

Approximately 18 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. This Data Note examines the employment hours and earning outcomes for people with diabetes who received VR services in 2003.

SSA Work Incentives Enrollment, 1990-2004

Data Note 3, 2005

To encourage employment for individuals with disabilities, the Social Security Administration offers provisions that limit the impact of work on benefits. The September, 2005 Data Note displays the number of people enrolled in these work incentive programs.

What Do Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Cost?

Data Note 1, 2005

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system can purchase a wide array of services to support employment. The February, 2005 Data Note summarizes the cost per VR case in fiscal year 2003. Costs varied widely according to disability type.

The National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers, FY2002-2003, Report 2: Non-Work Services

Research to Practice 36

The second in a series exploring the services people with developmental disabilities receive from community rehabilitation providers (CRPs). Despite recent ideological emphasis on work, the majority of CRPs continued to offer non-work programs and a substantial proportion of the people they served were involved in those programs. Overall, the findings raise questions about CRP commitment to community integration.

Innovations in Employment Supports: Washington State's Division of Developmental Disabilities

Research to Practice 33a

As evidence of the positive outcomes associated with integrated employment develops it is important to identify policy and practices at the state level that expand access to employment opportunity. This brief presents findings from Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) case study research focused on state agencies that support individuals with developmental disabilities.

Medicaid Involvement in Employment-Related Programs- Findings from the National Survey of State Systems and Employment for People with Disabilities

Research to Practice 33

This brief analyzes data from ICI's National Survey of State Systems and Employment for People with Disabilities regarding the priority Medicaid agencies place on employment and their involvement in recent policy initiatives.

High-Performing States in Integrated Employment

Research to Practice 32

Despite recent improvements, community employment outcomes vary widely across states. This report highlights successful practices of states that were identified as "high performers" in integrated employment for people served by state MR/DD agencies.

Postsecondary Education as a Critical Step Toward Meaningful Employment: Vocational Rehabilitation's Role

Research to Practice 29

Research shows that access to postsecondary education makes an enormous difference in the employability of people with disabilities. This brief focuses on the rehabilitation outcomes of people who received education supports from Vocational Rehabilitation agencies.

National Day and Employment Service Trends in MR/DD Agencies

Research to Practice 28

To what extent have changes in philosophy translated into changes for state agencies and the people they serve? This brief analyzes MR/DD agencies' day and employment service trends from 1988 to 1999 and discusses relevant trends in policy and legislation.

Work Status Trends for People with Mental Retardation, FY 1985 to FY 1998

Research to Practice 25

National trends regarding extended employment (sheltered workshops) and competitive employment outcomes from state Vocational Rehabilitation systems between 1985 and 1998.

State Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Agencies Expenditures for Integrated Employment Services

Data Note 16, 2008

Data set: The National Survey of Day and Employment Programs

Recruitment and Retention of Older Workers: Considerations for Employers

The National Center on Workforce Development/Adult (NCWD/A), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), undertook a one-year project that examined practices and strategies implemented by U.S. companies seeking to recruit and retain older workers. This brief presents themes that emerged from phone conversations with employees at 18 companies in 13 states. Five of those companies subsequently participated in more in-depth, in-person visits. NCWD/A staff held phone conversations with human resource or diversity program representatives; during in-person visits, researchers had discussions with a wide range of informants, from company leadership to frontline supervisors/managers and older workers themselves. This brief presents the motivational factors that drove companies to focus on older workers, the cultural contexts of businesses that have undertaken these practices, and the range of recruitment and retention practices and initiatives they used. Researchers offer suggestions to employers on the relevance of the findings to their own workplace practices, initiatives, and cultures.

Recruitment and Retention of Older Workers: Application to People with Disabilities

The National Center on Workforce Development/Adult (NCWD/A), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), undertook a one-year project that examined practices and strategies implemented by U.S. companies seeking to recruit and retain older workers. This brief presents themes that emerged from phone conversations with employees at 18 companies in 13 states. Five of those companies subsequently participated in more in-depth, in-person visits. NCWD/A staff held phone conversations with human resource or diversity program representatives; during in-person visits, researchers had discussions with a wide range of informants, from company leadership to frontline supervisors/managers and older workers themselves. This brief identifies strategies that can benefit both older workers and workers with disabilities. It describes each strategy that companies discussed in relation to older workers and makes a case for its effectiveness in employing workers with disabilities, offering action steps employers can take. The brief ends with recommendations for the disability community to better support businesses to employ people with disabilities. Including these practices in business operations will position employers to become more reflective of their diverse communities and the customers they strive to serve.

Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes for People with Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, and Epilepsy: An Analysis of Trends from 1985-1998

Monograph 29

This monograph examines trends in competitive labor market and sheltered workshops from state VR agencies between 1985 and 1998. Findings include increased competitive labor market closures and supported employment services, with a decrease in sheltered workshop closures.

The New England Council News, Special Edition: Tapping the Underutilized Workforce

Developed with The New England Council, this newsletter focuses on an issue for the future that businesses need to start thinking about today: tapping the underutilized workforce. Demographic trends mean that companies will soon be looking for qualified workers in the future. Even now, sectors such as health care are experiencing shortages. People with disabilities can be a significant source of qualified workers. The newsletter includes success stories from companies and their employees with disabilities.

Employing People with Disabilities: Small Business Concerns and Recommendations

Research to Practice 18

Survey results from Massachusetts small businesses regarding hiring and employing people with disabilities.

National Study of Day and Vocational Services for Adults with Disabilities in State Mental Health Agencies: Report of Data from FY 1993

Monograph

Fifty state mental health agencies and DC reported on their day and vocational service systems, including people served, data collection, referrals and discharge placements, and commitment to expansion of integrated employment. Results revealed a limited focus on vocational outcomes.