A Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Service Program. Third Interim Report: Characteristics and Outcomes of Former VR Consumers with an Employment Outcome

This report contains selected preliminary findings from the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Service Program. The study, initiated in fall 1992, will produce a series of interim reports that address key policy questions. This third interim report presents data collected from VR consumers and their VR case files in 37 local VR offices in 30 different states. Findings indicate that in comparison with former consumers who obtained a noncompetitive employment outcome, persons whose outcome was a competitive job more often had disability classified as nonsevere. They were comparatively more often orthopedically or hearing impaired and less often had a vision impairment or mental retardation. Persons who achieved competitive employment were more often male, younger, and had substantially higher reading and mathematics achievement levels. In terms of services, persons who achieved a competitive outcome received slightly more services during VR and more often received educational training and guidance, counseling, and placement services. Persons who obtained a competitive job through VR services worked an average of 35 hours per week and earned $7.35 per hour. One year after completing VR services, a high proportion of consumers who had achieved a competitive job through VR were still working. (CR)