Effectiveness of the State Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Program for Consumers with Hearing Impairments
Open Access
Author:
Boutin, Daniel
Graduate Program:
Counselor Education
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
June 12, 2006
Committee Members:
Keith B Wilson, Committee Chair/Co-Chair James Taylor Herbert, Committee Member Edgar Paul Yoder, Committee Member Donald E Heller, Ph D, Committee Member
Keywords:
deaf college vocational rehabilitation hard of hearing outcomes
Abstract:
The purpose of the state federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program is to assist consumers with disabilities to secure and maintain competitive employment. Consumers with hearing impairments have barriers to employment that are unique to the functional limitations imposed by disability and society. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of the VR program for people with hearing loss. Specifically, the study explored the effectiveness of the VR program on consumers who are deaf and hard of hearing with regard to amount of public assistance, VR service delivery, type of occupation, earnings, and the number of hours on the job. Also, characteristics of consumers, such as previous collegiate experience and secondary disabilities, were examined in relation to outcomes. Significant differences were found indicating relationships between (a) public assistance, degree of hearing loss, and the reception of college and university training, (b) VR services and competitive employment, (c) type of occupation and degree of hearing loss, (d) earnings, degree of hearing loss, and the reception of college and university training, (e) number of hours worked, degree of hearing loss, and the reception of college and university training, (f) previous collegiate experience and competitive employment, and (g) secondary disabilities and competitive employment. Implications for practitioners and rehabilitation counselor educators are included.