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Articles 31 - 54 of 54
Full-Text Articles in Labor Economics
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 …
Connecting Youth And Communities: Customized Career Planning For Youth With Psychiatric Disabilities, Kim Brown, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Connecting Youth And Communities: Customized Career Planning For Youth With Psychiatric Disabilities, Kim Brown, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Young people with psychiatric disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, tend to be employed sporadically if at all, and frequently have negative connections within and to their communities. Recent research conducted in Montana with youth who have developmental and/or physical disabilities demonstrates the effectiveness of using a customized career planning model to increase linkages to resources and access to community- based employment. Side benefits include improved self-esteem and positive community connections. The customization model holds promise as a way to reduce the risk factors young people with psychiatric disabilitiesf ace and increase the resiliency factors that can …
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 …
Linking Health, Secondary Conditions And Employment Outcomes, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Linking Health, Secondary Conditions And Employment Outcomes, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Health is important to securing and maintaining employment, but for many low-income or unemployed people access to health promotion programs is limited. This is a problem for many people with disabilities who do not work and who rely on Medicare or Medicaid to cover their healthcare costs. Without access to programs that promote health and reduce secondary conditions, people with disabilities may find it difficult to get a job or stay employed. This may be a factor in this group’s persistently high unemployment rates. Participation in worksite health promotion programs has been shown to (1) increase employee productivity through reduced …
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rural Economic Development: Worker Cooperatives And Employment Of People With Disabilities Part One, 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 One, Charles Sperry, Joyce Brusin, Tom Seekins Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Across America, rural communities are looking for vibrant and stable local economies that will allow them to preserve the best qualities of their rural life in the face of rapid and relentless global economic change. The impacts of economic decline in rural America over the last two decades have been worsened by multiplier effects. Lost income has led to lost purchasing power, which has led to business closures; population loss has followed, resulting in downsizing of schools and hospitals and ultimately, in disintegration of communities themselves (Magdoff 1993; The Futurist, 1989).
Self-Employment: Improving Policy & Practice, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Self-Employment: Improving Policy & Practice, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
Contrary to popular belief, small businesses have a good success rate. Researchers who had originally analyzed the data and found high rates of business failures re-analyzed the same data and found that 80% of small businesses are still operating after eight years. Researchers discovered that the original research counted businesses that were sold, incorporated, or where the owner had retired as failures.
Self-Employment In Vocational Rehabilitation Building On Lessons From Rural America, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Self-Employment In Vocational Rehabilitation Building On Lessons From Rural America, Nancy Arnold Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute
Employment
With this document, the Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services prompts us to think anew about the possibilities of self-employment. Self-employment is a part of the American dream. People are drawn to the notion of working for themselves in a way they are not attracted to working for someone else. Americans think of self-employment as a way to control their own futures and to make work more fulfilling. Self-employment is individualistic, but also has a strong connection to the cultural make-up of the country. It stresses independence and self-sufficiency, but is also believed to promote economic vitality for …