Research

Research

The purpose of the RRTC on Employment Among Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities is to generate evidence-based interventions to assist youth to enter competitive integrated employment. To accomplish this, we have engaged a consortium of researchers who have the knowledge and expertise to offer a series of studies. The leadership team of the consortium includes:

  • Dr. Paul Wehman and Dr. Jaclyn Camden at Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dr. Connie Sung at University of Michigan
  • Dr. David Strauser at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Our studies address a critical need for increased evidence-based research for youth with disabilities, family members, school personnel, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other stakeholders to receive information on interventions and practices that can impact the employment outcomes of transition-age youth.

Studies

Research Study #1 (Led by Virginia Commonwealth University): The Effect of Paid Employment During High School on the Acquisition of Competitive Integrated Employment and Community Engagement in Adulthood: A Scale-Up Evaluation Study for Youth with Autism and Related Conditions

Research Study #2 (Led by Virginia Commonwealth University): Toward Higher Education for all Youth with Disabilities: An Efficacy Study

Research Study #3 (Led by Virginia Commonwealth University): Toward Responsive Support and Integrated Services: Steps to an Intervention Model for Youth

Research Study #4 (Led by University of Michigan): Project EMP2: An Intervention Development Study for Youth with Disabilities At-risk for Justice Involvement

Research Study #5 (Led by Virginia Commonwealth University): Mentoring for the Future: An Intervention Development Study Promoting Career Development and Customized Employment for Blind, DeafBlind, and Low Vision Youth

Research Study #6 (Led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Development of a Model Guiding Research for Promoting Work and Well-Being for Transitioning Foster Care Youth with Disabilities: An Exploration and Discovery Study