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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Use Of Online Career Development Tools By Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute
Use Of Online Career Development Tools By Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute
Employment
Online career development refers to using online resources such as social media and job boards for finding employment and advancing careers. Social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter allow users to connect with potential employers and advertise their strengths to a diverse audience. Online job boards connect employers and job seekers based on specific interests, skills and locations. Unfortunately, the same online tools that can help people find employment and advance their careers can also limit opportunities if the job seeker’s online presence is unprofessional or absent (Brown & Vaughn, 2011).
Exploring Exit From The Vocational Rehabilitation System, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Exploring Exit From The Vocational Rehabilitation System, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
In the U.S. labor force, the unemployment rate is more than twice as high for people with disabilities (17.9%) than it is for people without disabilities (7.7%; U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). In actuality, this disparity is much higher because many people with disabilities have stopped actively seeking employment. Although unemployment rates are influenced by many intersecting factors, premature exit from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services likely contributes to the stubbornly high unemployment rates for people with disabilities.
Rapid Literature Review Of Self-Employment Research, Nancy Arnold, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Rapid Literature Review Of Self-Employment Research, Nancy Arnold, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Business ownership is an important employment option for people with disabilities, particularly for those who live in rural areas of the U.S. with fewer employment opportunities (Arnold, Ravesloot, & Seekins, 1995; Arnold & Seekins, 1994). Researchers at RTC:Rural began conducting research on the use of self-employment by VR agencies in 1990. Since then RTC:Rural researchers developed model self-employment policies and procedures for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, which several state agencies have adopted in whole or in part (Arnold & Ipsen, 2005); developed self-employment training for VR counselors (Arnold, Seekins, et. al., 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004) in both in-person and web-based …
A Rapid Review Of Self-Employment Literature: Implications For The Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Nancy Arnold, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
A Rapid Review Of Self-Employment Literature: Implications For The Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Nancy Arnold, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Business ownership is an important employment option for people with disabilities, particularly those living in rural areas with few employment opportunities (Arnold, Ravesloot, & Seekins, 1995; Arnold & Seekins, 1994). Researchers at RTC:Rural began conducting research on the use of self-employment by VR agencies in 1990. Since then RTC:Rural researchers have: developed model self-employment policies and procedures for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies (Arnold & Ipsen, 2005); developed self-employment training for VR counselors in both in-person and web-based formats (Arnold, Seekins, et. al., 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004); and explored cross-agency collaborations to support self-employment ventures (Ipsen, Arnold & Colling, 2003, 2005). …
Rural And Urban Differences In Vr Caseloads And Delivery Practices, Catherine Ipsen, Grant Swicegood, Kyle Colling, Bethany Rigles, Charles Asp, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Rural And Urban Differences In Vr Caseloads And Delivery Practices, Catherine Ipsen, Grant Swicegood, Kyle Colling, Bethany Rigles, Charles Asp, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Each year, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide case level data to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). This compiled data, named RSA 911, includes consumer characteristics, services provided, and employment outcomes of all case closures in the past year. Researchers and program evaluators use the RSA 911 data system to examine productivity across agencies, demographic and disability groups, and other service factors. The RSA 911 does not include information about where the consumer was served, such as county or zip code. This limits outcome evaluation for various geographies. For instance, while VR programs can be evaluated or compared across states, more …
Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services In Rural Areas, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services In Rural Areas, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
The receipt of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services as students transition out of high school may be an important predictor of post-graduation success (Harvey, 2002; National Council on Disability, 2008). In rural, limited job opportunities and limited access to counselors intersect to create a challenging VR service environment for transition youth. While 2008 and 2009 case services data indicate that a greater proportion of clients are transition aged in rural versus urban counties (RSA 911, 2009), rural transition students fall behind their urban counterparts in rates of employment and enrollment in postsecondary education following graduation (Harvey, 2002). This fact sheet reports …
Premature Exit From The Vocational Rehabilitation System, Catherine Ipsen, Rebecca Goe, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Premature Exit From The Vocational Rehabilitation System, Catherine Ipsen, Rebecca Goe, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Data from the 2009 Rebahilitation Services Administration Case Services Report (RSA 911) indicate that approximately 50% of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) consumers leave the system prematurely. Premature exits include case closures related to lost contact with the consumer due to inaccurate address, disconnected phone or consumer relocation (17.4% of cases); consumer refusal to continue services (17.2% of cases); or consumer failure to cooperate (15% of cases). Both the consumer and the VR system as a whole lose out when a consumer enrolls in services but drops out early. For the consumer, premature exit from VR services is correlated with worse economic …
Social Media Use Within State Vocational Rehabilitation Programs, Catherine Ipsen, Rebecca Goe, Kathy West-Evans, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Social Media Use Within State Vocational Rehabilitation Programs, Catherine Ipsen, Rebecca Goe, Kathy West-Evans, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Increasingly, employers use company websites, job boards, and social networking sites to recruit and evaluate potential employees. In 1997, newspaper ads and employee referrals accounted for almost half of new business hires. Yet by 2009, online career sites replaced newspaper ads as a major source for new recruits (CareerXroads, 2010). Likewise, 75% of U.S. recruiters reported that their companies required online research of candidates, and 70% reported they had rejected candidates based on information found online (Bontke & Lawler, 2012).
Vocational Rehabilitation (Vr) Approaches To Job Development, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Vocational Rehabilitation (Vr) Approaches To Job Development, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide a range of services to help people with disabilities become employed. How services are delivered, however, depends on several factors including client interests and abilities as well as economic opportunities within the local community. For better or worse, rural and urban clients face vastly different employment landscapes. For instance, USDA Economic Resource Service data indicate that rural people earn lower wages and experience lower employment rates (ERS, 2012). Rural counties also have fewer full-time jobs per capita, particularly in skilled labor sectors (ERS, 2012; Parker, 2003). Urban areas have higher employment rates in professional and …
Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery Using Telecommunication, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery Using Telecommunication, Rebecca Goe, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Telecommunication offers a low cost solution to increasing client and counselor contact during the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process, particularly for clients at a distance from the VR office. Despite the advantage telecommunication provides, however, counselors report using email with fewer rural as compared to urban clients (Ipsen, Rigles, Arnold, & Seekins, 2012). In part, this may relate to counselor perceptions that rural clients have less Internet access than their urban counterparts (Ipsen et al., 2012). This disparity may be diminishing, however. Government incentives and public access in libraries and community centers are improving telecommunication infrastructure across the country, especially in …
Vocational Rehabilitation (Vr) Outreach To Rural Businesses, Rebecca Goe, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Vocational Rehabilitation (Vr) Outreach To Rural Businesses, Rebecca Goe, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
In the 1990s, new regulations within the Americans with Disabilitites Act (ADA) and concern over the changing labor market led rehabilitation experts to advocate for greater attention to employer needs within the job development process. (Gillbride & Stensrud, 1992). The resulting model is often called the dual customer approach becuase it positions both employers and people with disabilities as vocational rehabilitation (VR) customers. The goals of the dual customer approach were discribed in the 32nd Institute of Rehabilitation Issues (IRI) outlining the steps for developing a national VR business network (Anderson et al., 2006). These steps included delivering expertise and …
Contracted Job Development In Rural Communities: Vr Agency Perspectives, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Contracted Job Development In Rural Communities: Vr Agency Perspectives, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Legislation guiding VR service delivery provides flexibility regarding how services are organized and implemented. As a result, state VR agencies provide services in the context on their own resource parameters (e.g. budget and agency size) and geography. This natural variation allows for a variety of service delivery models to emerge, each with associated benefits and drawback. To date, however, there is little comparative evidence for evaluating rural service delivery practices. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted 82 qualitative interviews with VR informants from 48 state VR agencies including 17 general agencies, 12 blind/low vision agencies, and 19 combined agencies. …
Transportation: A Barrier To Successful Employment Outcomes Among Rural Vr Clients, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Transportation: A Barrier To Successful Employment Outcomes Among Rural Vr Clients, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
In testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Billy Altom, Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) stated, "the lack of available, affordable, and accessible transportation is one of the most significant and persistent problems faced by people with disabilities...This is especially true in rural America." Lack of transportation translates into barriers in employment, health care access, and community participation among rural people with disabilities (Iezzoni, Killeen, & O'Day, 2006; Crudden, Sansing, & Butler, 2005). Recently, this was confirmed by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency research participants, representing 48 VR agencies in 37 …
First National Study Of People With Disabilities Who Are Self-Employed, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
First National Study Of People With Disabilities Who Are Self-Employed, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
In the last twelve years, interest has steadily grown in self-employment for people with disabilities. In part, this is due to research showing that people with disabilities report self-employment at a higher rate than the general population, and that 20-25 percent of participants in special “Choices” demonstration projects funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration were interested in starting businesses. In light of persistently high unemployment rates among people with disabilities, it appears that many have chosen to pursue self-employment. RTC: Rural researchers exploring self-employment as a rural employment option frequently field questions about business owners with disabilities: How many people …
Client Perspectives On The Use Of Telecommunications To Deliver Vr Services, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Client Perspectives On The Use Of Telecommunications To Deliver Vr Services, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Evidence shows that rural clients receive fewer Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services than their urban counterparts (Ipsen, Rigles, Arnold, & Seekins, 2010; Johnstone, Price, Bounds, Schopp, Schootman, & Schumate, 2003). One explanation for this discrepancy is that travel to provide services to rural clients is costly and difficult to deliver on an as-needed basis. In fact, the costs associated with rural service delivery among 1,187 counselors amounted to $1.2 million in gas costs and represented 51,000 hours of staff time (Ipsen, et al., 2010). Increased use of telecommunications is one strategy to boost client and counselor contact during the VR process, …
A National Report On The Use Of Telecommunications To Deliver Vr Services, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
A National Report On The Use Of Telecommunications To Deliver Vr Services, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
It can be difficult for VR counselors to provide face-to-face services to rural clients. Large caseloads reduce counselors’ available travel time to travel to outlying rural communities, and rising fuel costs make such trips expensive (Metzel & Giordano, 2007; Riemer-Reiss, 2000). Telecommunications can increase counselor-client accessibility and provide flexibility to supplement face-to-face services. Telecommunications refers to a variety of information technology (IT) that allows people in different locations to engage with one another, while reducing boundaries of time, distance, and location. Access to telecommunication services, however, may be limited. For instance, people living in rural areas may lack access to …
Findings From A Study Of The Working Well With A Disability Program, Catherine Ipsen, Charles Asp, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Findings From A Study Of The Working Well With A Disability Program, Catherine Ipsen, Charles Asp, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
People with disabilities are employed at a rate of 36.9%, compared to 79.7% for people without disabilities (Erickson & Lee, 2008). Lack of accessible transportation, social insurance disincentives, and negative attitudes by employers are cited reasons for this disparity. People with disabilities also describe secondary health conditions as a barrier to employment (Ipsen, Seekins, & Arnold, in press; Kaye, 2009). Secondary conditions are health issues that are intensified by primary disability, including conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue, pressure sores, weight problems, and depression. Because access to health promotion programs typically occurs at the worksite, it’s troublesome that secondary conditions …
Why Some Vocational Rehabilitation Clients Leave The System Early, Bethany Rigles, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Why Some Vocational Rehabilitation Clients Leave The System Early, Bethany Rigles, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Almost half of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) clients leave the system before completing services. This situation, called “premature exit,” includes cases when clients refuse to continue services or fail to cooperate, as well as when VR loses touch with clients because of inaccurate contact information. Premature exits are a problem for both clients and agencies. Clients who prematurely exit the system experience worse economic outcomes than clients who stay and become employed (Hayward & Schmidt-Davis, 2003). For agencies, premature exits translate into significant costs without positive employment outcomes. In 2006 alone, VR spent more than $207.5 million on cases closed as …
Working Well With A Disability, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Working Well With A Disability, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Secondary conditions are health problems that exacerbate or intensify limitation caused by a primary impairment. They affect an individual’s physical, medical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Untreated secondary conditions may cause acute medical episodes or severe health conditions that limit normal activities of daily living (DeVivo, 1998; Ipsen, 2006). Several research studies report that the probability of employment is lower for people who experience secondary conditions such as depression, pain, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, and feelings of isolation (Crisp, 2005; Ipsen & Seekins, 2008). Fortunately, many secondary conditions are manageable through health promotion behavioral interventions that improve healthy lifestyle behaviors. Although …
Building The Case: Health Promotion For Vocational Rehabilitation Consumers, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Building The Case: Health Promotion For Vocational Rehabilitation Consumers, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
A new line of research for the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC: Rural) focuses on the role of secondary conditions and health promoting lifestyle behaviors in obtaining and maintaining employment for adults with physical disabilities. This line of research started with Ipsen (2006) conducting an analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. She found that individuals who reported lower rates of secondary conditions and/or who practiced better lifestyle behaviors had a higher probability of being employed after controlling for demographic characteristics including age, gender, race, education, and disability severity. Past research has shown that …
Action Summit For The Advancement Of Capital Access To Entrepreneurs With Disabilities, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., Patti Lind, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Action Summit For The Advancement Of Capital Access To Entrepreneurs With Disabilities, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., Patti Lind, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Self-employment has several advantages for an individual with a disability, such as the flexibility to accommodate the person's disability, social and economic empowerment, and a non-discriminatory employment environment. However, without access to capital, these strengths cannot be realized. The Action Summer for the Advancement of Capital Access to Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (Capital Access Summit) facilitated the development of strategies and collaborations to promote access to capital for business owners with disabilities. The Capital Access Summit gathered 50 representatives from across the country to identify cross-cutting issues and make recommendations for promoting continued progress in self-employment of people with disability. Participants …
Rural Community Economic Development Project Update, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Rural Community Economic Development Project Update, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors who serve rural areas report that limited employment opportunities for people with disabilities are a significant challenge. Many rural communities have marginal or fragile economies, but lack the resources to conduct economic development projects that could lead to business and employment growth. In Progress Report #13, we described an innovative program that helps VR agencies and people with disabilities take a leadership role in small-town economic development efforts. To date, RTC: Rural’s Community Economic Development Project has been implemented in two rural locations. The Project builds on the capacities of state/federal Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and people …
State Self-Employment Policies: A Decade Of Change Final Report, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
State Self-Employment Policies: A Decade Of Change Final Report, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
In 1991-92, the Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation (RTC: Rural) evaluated 45 state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies’ policies and procedures regarding self-employment for people with disabilities. Based on this analysis, researchers developed and broadly disseminated a model VR self-employment policy (Arnold & Seekins, 1994) and were successful in their efforts to have self-employment included as an employment outcome in the 1998 Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act. In 2002, RTC: Rural investigated state policies again to see how they had changed and what trends had developed over the intervening decade. Researchers requested a copy of state self-employment policies and …
Vocational Rehabilitation And Small Business Development Center Linkages, Nancy Arnold, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Vocational Rehabilitation And Small Business Development Center Linkages, Nancy Arnold, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Self-employment provides a variety of advantages including flexible hours, ability to work from home, an outlet for creativity, and a job that capitalizes on one’s interests and talents (Clark & Kays, 1999). According to the 1990 United States Census, people with disabilities choose self-employment at a higher rate than people without disabilities (12.2% vs. 7.8%). The 1998 Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act contains language that strengthens self-employment as a viable and expected Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) outcome. Likewise, Small Business Administration (SBA) initiatives which impact Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) contain similar goals of enhancing self-employment service delivery for people with …
Developing Collaborative Relationships To Enhance Self-Employment Services For People With Disabilities, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., Catherine Ipsen M.A., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Developing Collaborative Relationships To Enhance Self-Employment Services For People With Disabilities, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., Catherine Ipsen M.A., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
RTC: Rural researchers surveyed 571 U.S. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to learn about linkages between Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and SBDCs that could enhance self-employment outcomes for people with disabilities. 346 of 527 deliverable surveys were returned for a 64% response rate. The resulting data show a positive relationship between the presence of informal and/or formal agreements and SBDCs’ experience providing self-employment services for people with disabilities. VR-SBDC coordination could expand the outcomes of both agencies, reduce fragmentation between agencies, and capitalize on the strengths of each program.
Franchises: An Option For Business Owners With Disabilities, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Franchises: An Option For Business Owners With Disabilities, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Franchises are quite popular and may be an option for business owners with disabilities. Mike Powers, author of How to Open a Franchise Business, says that about one-third of today’s franchises are owned or co-owned by women and about one-tenth are minority owned. Franchising offers a good opportunity for potential business owners with disabilities--especially with careful planning, investigation, and an adequate financial base.
The Business Plan: A Road Map To Success, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
The Business Plan: A Road Map To Success, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
The business plan is like a road map. The process of writing a business plan helps the business owner make good decisions and reach his or her goal or destination. The number one reason businesses fail is lack of planning! Instead of making mistakes on paper, business owners too often make them with real money and real customers. That is why many, but not all, business funding institutions and agencies require business plans and may be reluctant to fund business start-ups that cannot provide a well-developed plan.
Rural Community Economic Leadership By People With Disabilities, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Rural Community Economic Leadership By People With Disabilities, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
The lack of employment opportunities for people with disabilities is a major problem according to vocational rehabilitation (VR) service providers, American Indian Section 121 employment programs, and people with disabilities (Arnold, Seekins, & Nelson, 1997). This is particularly true in rural areas where local businesses struggle to create enough quality jobs for community members, including people with disabilities. In the face of this challenge, rural residents with and without disabilities frequently opt to pursue self-employment. Yet, VR and Section 121 programs are often confused about existing business opportunities and their potential for success. There are established procedures to analyze markets …
Rural Economic Development: Worker Cooperatives And Employment Of People With Disabilities Part Three, Charles Sperry, Joyce Brusin, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Rural Economic Development: Worker Cooperatives And Employment Of People With Disabilities Part Three, Charles Sperry, Joyce Brusin, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
The opportunities for self-empowerment and economic justice found in the worker cooperative structure may be especially relevant for people with disabilities, who as a population tend to experience extraordinarily high rates of unemployment. People with disabilities already successfully engage in a wide range of employment and self-employment situations (Seekins & Arnold, 1996; Shelley, 1999). Employment within a worker cooperative structure carries many benefits for people with disabilities and requires only a few carefully structured adaptations. Benefits include fair wages and an equitable share of profits; authority to manage the business in the best interest of the worker-members; a community-friendly business …
Rural Economic Development: A Stewardship Model For Organizing Worker Cooperatives Part Two, Charles Sperry, Joyce Brusin, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Rural Economic Development: A Stewardship Model For Organizing Worker Cooperatives Part Two, Charles Sperry, Joyce Brusin, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Worker cooperative corporations are a particular way of organizing business and employment opportunities. They usually involve a for-profit business that is owned by the worker-members who are employed there. A worker cooperative must perform the same major functions as any other organized business. It must obtain sufficient financing, manage its personnel, and produce and market its product or service. Its staff engage in the same management activities as any other business: planning, staffing, controlling, organizing, and leading.