Purpose
This project is an exploratory study that will utilize two large secondary databases to increase knowledge about subpopulations (youth and adults with deaf-blindness [DB] and persons with combined traumatic brain injury [TBI] and blindness and visual impairments [B/VI]) and the impacts on employment outcomes of changes associated with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation.
Research Questions
- What are the characteristics, academic experiences and achievements, and employment experiences of youth with DB?
- What are the correlates and predictors of post-school employment for youth with DB?
- What factors predict employment outcomes for individuals with DB served by vocational rehabilitation (VR)?
- Is the model used to provide services to individuals with DB associated with employment outcomes?
- What are the characteristics (including veteran status), services received, and employment outcomes of individuals with combined TBI and B/VI served by VR?
- What factors predict employment outcomes for individuals with combined TBI and B/VI served by VR?
- Is the model used to provide services to individuals with combined TBI and B/VI associated with employment outcomes?
- What is the impact of the WIOA legislation on services received and employment outcomes for youth who are B/VI?
- What is the impact of the WIOA legislation on services received and employment outcomes for adults who are B/VI?
- Do the impacts on employment outcomes of the WIOA legislation differ by type of VR agency (blind vs. combined)?
Study Summary
Employment-related research regarding youth and adults with DB and persons with combined TBI and B/VI is virtually nonexistent. These are very small subpopulations of an already-small population, and limited research attention has been focused on these groups. As an initial step to understanding employment issues for these groups, we will utilize secondary data sources to investigate correlates and predictors of employment for (a) youth who are DB, (b) adults who are DB, and (c) persons with combined TBI and B/VI. We will also utilize secondary data to evaluate the impact of the legislative changes associated with the 2014 WIOA legislation, in particular the requirement to spend 15% of VR funds on pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) for students with disabilities.
We will utilize two data sources for this study: the National Longitudinal Transition Survey 2 (NLTS2) and multiple years of the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) data. Additional data will be collected directly from VR agency administrators in a survey. Questions regarding how services are provided to individuals with DB and combined TBI and B/VI and how the agency is handling the Pre-ETS requirements will be included in the survey. This data will be combined with outcome data from RSA-911. If these analyses are able to identify agency practices or strategies that appear to be particularly effective for either of these subpopulations, follow-up interviews with the VR agency will be conducted and a policy brief describing the results will be developed.
Expected Outcomes and Benefits
This project will use data analysis to shed much-needed light on the factors associated with positive employment outcomes for individuals with DB and individuals with combined TBI and B/VI. Promising practices and policies will be shared with VR agencies to potentially improve employment outcomes for these populations.
Project Outputs
McDonnall, M. C., & McKnight, Z. S. (2021). The association between presenting visual impairment, health, and employment status. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115(3), 204–214.
McDonnall, M. C., & Tatch, A. (2021). Educational attainment and employment for individuals with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115(2), 152–159.
McDonnall, M. C., Cmar, J. L., & McKnight, Z. S. (2020) The effect of visual impairment on return to work for vocational rehabilitation consumers with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitation, 86(2), 47-55.
Online course: Neuropsychological Evaluation of Individuals with Visual Impairment or Blindness
Online course: Vocational Rehabilitation Service Models for Consumers who are Deaf-Blind
Online course: Introduction to Working with Individuals Who are Deaf-Blind
Policy Brief: National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. (2019). Recommendations Regarding Services for Individuals with Combined Traumatic Brain Injury and Visual Impairment. [Policy Brief].
Fact Sheet: National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. (2019). Combined Traumatic Brain Injury and Visual Impairment: Recommendations for Service Provision. [Fact Sheet].
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.
Lund, E. M., & Cmar, J. L. (2020). A systematic review of factors related to employment in transition-age youth with visual impairments. Rehabilitation Psychology, 65(2), 122–136.
McDonnall, M. C., Cmar, J. L., & Lund, E. M. (2020). Comorbid traumatic brain injury and visual impairment: Vocational rehabilitation service provision and agency-level outcomes.. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 114(1), 6–17.
Lund, E. M., & Cmar, J. L. (2019). Factors related to employment outcomes for vocational rehabilitation consumers with visual impairments: A systematic review. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 113(6), 518-537.
Farrow, K., & Parkin-Bashizi, N. (2019). Job-readiness programs are foundational to successful employment outcomes. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 113(6), 551-556.
Lund, E. M., & Cmar, J. L. (2019). A systematic review of factors related to employment outcomes for adults with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 113(6), 493-517.
McDonnall, M. C., & Sui, C. (2019). Employment and unemployment rates of people who are blind or visually impaired: Estimates from multiple sources. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 113(6), 481–492.
Cmar, J. L., & McDonnall, M. C. (2019). Characteristics, services, and outcomes of vocational rehabilitation consumers who are deaf-blind. Journal of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association, 52(2), 12-24.
McDonnall, M.C., & Cmar, J.L. (2019). Services for consumers who are deaf-blind: Vocational rehabilitation agency service models utilized and their effectiveness. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 113(1), 19-31.
McDonnall, M. C., & Cmar, J. (2019). Employment outcomes and job quality of vocational rehabilitation consumers with deaf-blindness. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 63(1), 13-24.
McDonnall, M. C., Crudden, A., & Steverson, A. (2018). Impact of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Changes on agencies serving consumers with blindness and low vision. Journal of Rehabilitation, 84(3), 39-45.
Cmar, J.L., McDonnall, M.C., & Markoski, K.M. (2018). In-school predictors of post-school employment for youth who are deaf-blind. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 41(4), 223-233.
McDonnall, M. C., & Cmar, J. (2018). Experiences of young adults with deaf-blindness after high school. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 112(4), 403-410.
McDonnall, M. C., & Cmar, J. L. (2017). Characteristics and experiences of youth who are deaf-blind. Mississippi State, MS: National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.
Principal Researcher
Michele McDonnall
Project Updates
This research project is sponsored by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant #90RT5040). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this webpage do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.