Article Details

Article Details

Citation:  McDonnall, M.C.; Cmar, J.L.; & McKnight, Z.S. (2020). Service factors and personal characteristics associated with employment and job quality for vocational rehabilitation consumers with combined traumatic brain injury and visual impairment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 52 (3), 223-238.
Title:  Service factors and personal characteristics associated with employment and job quality for vocational rehabilitation consumers with combined traumatic brain injury and visual impairment
Authors:  McDonnall, M.C.; Cmar, J.L.; & McKnight, Z.S.
Year:  2020
Journal/Publication:  Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:  IOS Press
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-201073
Full text:  https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil...    |   PDF   
Peer-reviewed?  Yes
NIDILRR-funded?  Yes

Structured abstract:

Background:  Visual impairment following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common, but little research has been conducted regarding employment outcomes for individuals with combined TBI and visual impairment.
Purpose:  The purpose of this study was to determine whether service-related factors, including vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency service strategies, and consumer personal characteristics are associated with competitive employment and job quality for this population.
Data collection and analysis:  Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report data from fiscal years 2013–2015 was combined with VR agency interview data about strategies utilized for providing services to these consumers. Multilevel modeling was used to determine the predictive ability of nine state/agency-level and 27 individual-level variables.
Findings:  Two service strategies were significantly associated with competitive employment: “staff with dual expertise” and “staff training on TBI.” Service strategies were not associated with job quality. Ten individual-level factors were significantly associated with competitive employment and eight were significantly associated with job quality.
Conclusions:  Having staff with dual expertise in TBI and visual impairment was a strong predictor of competitive employment; educating staff about TBI was also important. VR agencies are encouraged to educate their staff who work with consumers with visual impairment about TBI, including developing expertise in one or more staff members.

Disabilities served:  Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Visual impairment
Interventions:  Vocational rehabilitation
Outcomes:  Employment acquisition
Full-time employment
Part-time employment
Employer-sponsored benefits