Summary/Abstract: Previous research has identified a number of barriers to, and facilitators of, employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired (B/VI). However, these findings have generally not been applied to the employment-related interventions and practices used to serve individuals who are B/VI.  Further, although a variety of practices are currently used with the intent to improve employment outcomes, these practices have generally not been empirically evaluated. The overall purpose of this project is to improve competitive employment outcomes for persons who are B/VI. Our Center proposes to do this by both developing and testing new interventions and evaluating existing practices designed to facilitate employment outcomes for individuals who are B/VI. We will include a number of groups at greater risk for poor employment outcomes in this research: individuals from minority backgrounds, individuals who are deaf-blind, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries, and individuals living in rural areas. Based on the findings from this research, we will develop and disseminate intervention manuals, evidence-based practice guidelines, and training materials that will be available for professionals who serve this population.

Activities. Six major research projects and a variety of training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities are proposed. Project 1 involves developing, implementing, and evaluating a Customized Transportation Intervention through a state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency. This project will utilize a quasi-experimental design. Project 2 involves modifying an existing Business Mentoring Program for college seniors with disabilities specifically for youth who are B/VI. This project will utilize a randomized controlled trial to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Project 3 will evaluate existing practices used by VR agencies to interact with employers, with a focus on their use of the model of business development. Methodology used for this project includes a survey of VR agencies to identify current practices, analyses of RSA-911 data to determine the effect of agency practices on employment outcomes, and a survey of employers to determine the effect of agency practices on knowledge of and attitudes towards persons who are B/VI. Project 4 involves an evaluation of the Randolph-Sheppard Program that will include evaluating managerial skills, training needs, and recruitment strategies. Recruitment strategies for transition-age youth and recruitment strategies and training needs of program participants who are Deaf-Blind will be evaluated. Project 5 will evaluate the current VR service delivery process and outcomes for consumers who are SSDI beneficiaries. RSA-911 data, in combination with agency and state-level data, will be analyzed using multilevel modeling. Project 6 involves evaluating the accessibility and usability of two important devices that are increasingly used in the workplace but that have known accessibility issues for persons who are B/VI: multifunctional document centers and business internet telephone systems. Training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities will all flow from the results of the six research projects, and will include a State of the Science conference held in year 4 of the grant.

Outputs and outcomes. A large number of outputs and outcomes will emanate from this project; each research project and the training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities will involve measurable outputs. An example of outputs are a minimum of 13 peer-reviewed publications, 18 conference presentations, two intervention manuals, two evidence-based practice guidelines, and seven training webinars. Important overall project outcomes will result from these outputs, including increased knowledge about the effectiveness of existing practices and new interventions (short-term), utilization of research findings in the development of rehabilitation practices and policies (intermediate), and improved employment outcomes for persons who are B/VI (long-term). 

Funding Sponsor: United States Department of Education (US DOEd)

Funding Level: $874,947.00

Project Start Date: September 2015

Project End Date: September 2016