Predicting Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

 Employment is an avenue to full community participation and can include benefits of economic independence, social inclusion, improved life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose.  The benefits of employment are not fully accessible to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Individuals ASD experience unique and complex challenges when pursing employment.

Despite long term federal and state investment in the employment of individuals with disabilities, employment still remains out of reach for many. State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs serve as a critical conduit for some individuals with ASD to access employment services and supports.  VR is one of the largest federal employment programs and is designed to support individuals with disabilities, finding, accessing, and succeeding in employment.

Using extant data from VR’s Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) 911 data set predictors of vocational outcomes explored for individuals with ASD.  This study attempted to descriptively explain how VR was providing services to individuals with ASD and predict successful employment outcomes related to case closures in integrated employment, earnings, and hours worked based.

Methods

This study utilized descriptive and inferential statistical analysis by employing a non-experimental design to describe how VR services are provided to individuals with ASD across the United States. This study utilized logistic and linear regression to examine the relationships between VR recipients with ASD and employment outcomes.

Data for this study were drawn from the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) Case Service report (CSR) (RSA-911) for fiscal year 2013 (FY 2013). A case sample of individuals with ASD was extracted from RSA-911 for FY 2013. Cases in this study only include individuals who were served by VR and had their cases closed in FY 2013.  Cases extracted include individuals with a primary or secondary disability with the source impairment as Autism (code 08). 

This study sought to explain the relationship between VR services and employment outcomes for individuals with ASD.  The variables selected for analysis will attempt to answer the primary research question for this study: Do job-related VR services lead to improved employment outcomes for individuals with ASD? The definitions for some variables are defined using parameters presented in the RSA-911 codebook. Additional variables were created to address specific research questions. 

Results

Findings indicate that there are differences in employment outcomes (case closure, earnings, and hours worked) between administrative VR services and job related VR services.  Additionally, state VR system variation accounts for significant differences in outcomes in this population. This study assists in further explaining which types of VR services lead to more successful employment outcomes for individuals with ASD. 

Conclusions

Vocational Rehabilitation programs are an essential mechanism to connect individuals with disabilities to employment. This study focused on potential promising services within the VR system that lead to improved case closures in integrated employment, increased earnings, and increased hours worked.  Improved accountability in VR can be a reality when there better understanding of which services lead to the outcomes individuals with disabilities and society expect.