• Research Study One

    A Systematic Review of the Literature/ Case Study of Practices Related to Transition of Youth with Disabilities into the Workplace

    The goals of this study are to identify the barriers to and facilitators of outcomes for transition-age youth with disabilities, and identify existing practices, programs, or policies that are associated with employment outcomes.

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  • Research Study Two

    Effects of Knowledge Translation Methods on Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Providing Pre-ETS to Youth with Significant Disabilities 14-16 years of age

    This study will be a pilot Intervention Development Randomized Control Trial to use knowledge translation (KT) methods to develop and deliver a toolkit to assist vocational rehabilitation counselors providing pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to students 14 to 16 years of age with significant disabilities.

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  • Research Study Three

    Effects of Paid Internships on Competitive Integrated Employment or Postsecondary Education Outcomes for At-Risk Youth with Disabilities Earning a Regular Diploma

    This study focuses on an internship program called Start on Success (SOS) that incorporates a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course followed by paid work experiences for high school at-risk youth with disabilities.

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  • Research Study Four

    Cognitive Support Technology for Postsecondary Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Randomized Clinical Trial at the Intervention Efficacy Stage of Research

    This Randomized Control Trial initiative (Intervention Efficacy) is designed to improve the academic and employment outcomes of students with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in post-secondary education.

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  • Research Study Five

    Effects of Paid Work in High School on the Employment Outcomes of Youth with Severe Disabilities: A Randomized Control Trial (RCT) Intervention Development

    The goal of this study is to generate empirical support for the impact of early work experiences, practical guidance and resources for schools committed to connecting their students to community jobs, and richer insights into the pathways leading from school to the world of work.

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  • Research Study Six

    Effects of Trained Personnel Providing Employment Supports in Higher Education on the Employment Experiences of College Students with Intellectual and / or Developmental Disability (I/DD): A Quasi-Experimental Study

    This study examines the effects of an online course, coupled with technical assistance for trained personnel providing employment supports to students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (I/DD) in higher education.

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Research

Studies, Updates and Research Activities

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Resources

Articles, Briefs, Guides, and Fact Sheets

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Training

Webcasts, Toolkit, and Face-to-Face Meetings

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Spotlight: Research Brief
Check out our resources on the Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities. Be sure to read the research brief on Stakeholder Perspectives on Paid Work Experiences of Youth with Disabilities.
Latest news

Self-Employment Webcast

Success Stories from Wyoming VR: Presented by: Inge Huband. This webcast will feature success stories from Wyoming. Inge Huband has been a business specialist for over 15 years. Hear how Inge has forged community relationships, and taken creative approaches around funding and resources to support Wyoming VR customers to pursue self-employment and unleash their full potential.

Getting and Keeping a Job if You Have an Intellectual and Developmental Disability

Carol Schall, Ph.D.

What help is available for a person with a disability who has had trouble getting a job or keeping a job? Most states have 3 different agencies or organizations that people with disabilities can go to to find help. The first is the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Different states have different names for Vocational Rehabilitation. It might be the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services or the Department of Aging and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

JVR Editorial by Paul Wehman, Ph.D

Supported employment and customized employment: How effective are these interventions and what has been their impact on the field? In the last 20 years, Customized Employment (CE) has joined Supported Employment (SE) which has its roots traced back to approximately 1980, as a popular employment intervention. SE became codified originally in the Rehabilitation Act of 1986 through Title 6 C, dedicated exclusively to funding SE, along with the primary source of all rehabilitation funding, Title 110, for basic employment services. CE began to receive much more attention when the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014) was passed by Congress and CE was codified along with SE and numerous other priorities.

Supported & Customized Employment: Side by Side Referral Decision Guide

Supported & Customized Employment: Side by Side Referral Decision Guide

For vocational rehabilitation agencies offering both supported and customized employment approaches to pursuing employment for people with disabilities, there may be questions about which approach is best based on an individual’s circumstances. This new Supported and Customized Employment Side-by-Side Referral Decision Guide can help determine how to choose between these two approaches.