Vocational Rehabilitation for Hispanics with Disabilities in the Historic South: Trends in Services and Outcomes 1997-2010

Hispanics experience disabilities at higher rates than non-Hispanic whites (Leydorf, 2007) and are more likely to work in industries with higher rates of injury, disability and illness, particularly in new immigrant destinations like the U.S. South. Hispanics with disabilities living in el Nuevo South could benefit from employment programs like the state-federal vocational rehabilitation system. To date there have not been any studies to examine the trends in application, eligibility and employment outcomes for Hispanics living in the South. Previous research suggests that Hispanics are less likely to apply for VR services and to have their cases closed with an employment outcome ( Wilson, et. al, 2001; Wilson & Senices, 2005) but these studies have been conducted as nation-wide data or state specific data and did not look at changes over time.  In addition, there have not been any studies examining VR trends for Hispanics in el Nuevo South that explore social and human capital building services. Human capital services include education and job training services. Social capital services can include job search and job placement assistance. This study explored the trends in application, eligibility, and employment outcomes from 1997-2010 for Hispanics in the state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) system in 11 states in the southern U.S. using a national archived administrative database of vocational rehabilitation services (RSA-911). Trends in social and human capital building services from 1997-2010 were examined as well.

A regression analysis indicated that from 1997-2010 there was a negative trend in the number of Hispanics applying for vocational rehabilitation services over the time period (B=-.692, r²= .479, p=.006), but a positive trend in the number of Hispanics declared eligible for services (B=.759, r²= .479, p=.002). Human capital building services like education and restoration services both had positive trends over the time period (B=.803, r²=.645, p=.001; B=.813, r²=.661, p<.001). Job placement, a social capital building service provided by vocational rehabilitation agencies, had a positive trend as well (B=.657, r²=.432, p=.011). There was not a significant difference in the trend of employment outcomes for Hispanics in the South. (B= .525, r²=.275, p=.054).

The results suggest that from 1997-2010 Hispanics with disabilities applied for vocational rehabilitation services in decreasing numbers in the South, but were determined eligible for services at an increasing rate. Certain social and human capital building skills increased significantly over the time period as well. The upward trend of eligibility determination and provision of services suggests that VR agencies increased capacity to serve Hispanics in these new receiving communities where agencies had limited or no experience in providing VR services to Hispanics. Further research could help identify key service patterns and outcomes to help guide policy making and program planning for states with growing immigrant populations where none had previously existed. Also, future research could examine similar trends of this study between states with a historic Hispanic presence and new destinations like the South.