The reported study examined whether African Americans, European Americans, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, and Asians/Pacific Islanders with disabilities would differ in their rates of vocational rehabilitation (VR) acceptance in the United Sates. The test statistic revealed that a significant difference existed regarding ethnicity and VR acceptance. Moreover, a small but significant association emerged between ethnicity and VR acceptance (Cramer's V = .023). The results revealed that in the United States, European Americans are more likely to be accepted for VR services than are African Americans. The author discusses possible barriers to VR acceptance for underserved and underrepresented groups in the United States.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allen, T.B., Parnell, L., Crawford, R., & Beardall, R.L. (2000). Equitable treatment in the rehabilitation process: Implication for future investigations related to ethnicity. Journal of Rehabilitation, 66(2), 14-18.
2.
Atkins, B.J., & Wright, G.N. (1980). Three views: Vocational rehabilitation of Blacks: The statement. Journal of Rehabilitation, 46(2), 40, 42-46.
3.
Ary, D., Jacobs, L.C., & Razavieh, A. (1990). Introduction to research in education. New York: Holt, Reinhart & Winston .
4.
Banks, J. (1991). Teaching strategies for ethnic studies. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon .
5.
Banks, J. (1997). Teaching strategies for ethnic studies (Rev. ed.) . Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
6.
Bolton, B., & Cooper, P.G. (1980). Three views: Vocational rehabilitation of Blacks: The comment. Journal of Rehabilitation, 46(2), 41-49.
7.
Boski, P. (1988). Cross-cultural studies of person-perception. Effects of ingroup/outgroup membership and ethnic schemata. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 19, 287-328.
8.
Bowe, F. (1984). U.S. census and disabled adults. Hot Springs: University of Arkansas, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.
9.
Brown, J.G. (1993). Substance abuse. In T Wright & P. Leung (Eds.), Meeting the unique needs of minorities with disabilities: Proceedings from the National Council on Disability (p. 41). Washington, DC: National Council on Disability.
10.
Chideya, F. (1995). Don't believe the hype: Fighting cultural misinformation about African Americans. New York: Penguin Group.
11.
Devine, P.G., & Elliot, A., J. (1995). Are racial stereotypes really fading? The Princeton trilogy revisited. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 1139-1150.
12.
Dziekan, K.I., & Okocha, A.G. (1993). Accessibility of rehabilitation services: Comparison by racial-ethnic status. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin , 36, 183-189.
13.
Feist-Price, S. (1995). African Americans with disabilities and equity in vocational rehabilitation services: One state's review. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 39, 119-129.
14.
Feist-Price, S., & Ford-Harris, D. (1994). Rehabilitation counseling: Issues specific to providing services to African American clients. TheJournal of Rehabilitation, 60(4), 13-19.
15.
Ficke, R.C. (1992). Digest of data on persons with disability. Washington, DC: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
16.
Fraenkel, J.R., & Wallen. N. E. (1993). How to design and evaluate research in education . New York: McGraw-Hill.
17.
Hayes-Bautista, D.E. (1992). Latino health indicators and the under-class model: From paradox to new policy models. In A. Furino (Ed.), Heatch policy and the Hispanic (pp. 32-47). Boulder, CO: Westview.
18.
Herbert, J.T., & Martinez, M.Y. (1992). Client ethnicity and vocational rehabilitation case service outcome. Journal of Job Placement , 8(1), 10-16.
19.
Leong, F. T. L. (1991). Guest editor's introduction: Career development of racial and ethnic minorities [Special issue]. Career Development Quarterly, 39, 196-198.
20.
Locke, D.C., & Parker, L.D. (1994). Improving the multicultural competence of educators . In P. B. Pedersen & J. C. Curly (Eds.), Multicultural counseling in schools: A practical handbook (pp. 39-59). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
21.
Mahalik, J., Worthington, R., & Crump. S. (1999). Influence of racial/ ethnic membership and "therapist culture" on therapists' worldview. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 27, 2-17.
22.
Marshall, M. (1987, October). Fighting for their rights. Ebony, 62(5), 68-70.
23.
Middleton, R.A., Rollins, C.W., Sanderson, P.L., Leung, P., Harley, D.A., Ebener, D., & Leal-Idrogo, A. (2000). Endorsement of multicultural rehabilitation competencies and standards: A call to action. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 43, 219-240.
24.
Patterson, J.B., Allen, T.B., Pamell, E.L., & Beardall, R.L. (2000). Equitable treatment in the rehabilitation process: Implication for future investigations related to ethnicity. Journal of Rehabilitation, 66(2), 14-18.
25.
Peterson, G.E. (1996). An analysis of participation, progress, and outcome of individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in the public vocational rehabilitation program in Nevada. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley .
26.
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992, Pub. L No. 102-569, 106 Stat. 4344-4488 (1992).
27.
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, Pub. L 105-220, 112 Stat. 1092-1247 (1998).
28.
Rehabilitation Services Administration. (1995 ). Reporting manual for the case service report (RSA-911) (RSA-PD-95-04) . Washington, DC: Author.
29.
Rosenthal, D.A., & Berven, N.L. (1999). Effects of client race on clinical judgment. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 42, 243-264.
30.
Rosenthal, D.A., & Kosciulek, J.F. (1996). Clinical judgment and bias due to client race or ethnicity: An overview with implications for rehabilitation counselors. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 27, 30-36.
31.
Smith, T.W. (2000). Taking America's pulse: II. A survey of intergroup relations. Chicago: University of Chicago, The National Conference for Community and Justice, National Opinion Research Center.
32.
Spss. (1997). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences base 7.5 applications guide [Computer software]. Chicago: Author.
33.
Sue, D.W. (1994). The challenge of cultural diversity: Overcoming barriers. In P. Leung & R. A. Middleton (Eds.), A merging of practitioners, consumers, and educators for the development of multicultural implemetation strategies: Proceedings from the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (pp. 20-27). N.L.: National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns.
34.
Sue, D.W., Arredondo, P., & McDavis, R.J. (1992). Multicultural counseling competencies and standards: A call to the profession. Journal of Counseling & Development , 70, 477-486.
35.
Thomas, A., & Sillen, S. (1972). Racism and psychiatry. New York: Carol Publishing Group.
36.
U.S. Census Bureau. (1996, February). Population projections of the United States by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin: 1995 to 2050 (P25-1130, pp. 8-17). Retrieved April 7, 1998, from the World Wide Web: http://www.census.gov/prod/1/popp25-1130/p251130b.pdf
37.
U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. (1992). Disability statistics abstract number 4. Washington, DC: Author.
38.
U.S. Department of Labor. (1987). Projections 2000. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 31(4), 11-12.
39.
Walker, S. (1988). Toward economic opportunity and independence: A goal for minority persons with disabilities. In S. Walker, F. W Belgrave, R. W. Nicholls, & K. A. Tumer (Eds.), Building bridges to independence: Proceedings of national conference on employment successes, problems and needs of Black Americans with disabilities. Washington, DC: President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and The Center for the Study of Handicapped Children and Youth. Howard University .
40.
Walker, S., Adbury, C., Maholmes, V., & Rackley, C. (1992). Prevalence, distribution and impact of disability among ethnic minorties. In S. Walker, F. Z. Belgrave.R. W. Nicholls , & K. A. Turner (Eds.). Future frontiers in the employment of minority persons with disabilities (pp. 10-24). Washington, DC: Howard University, Research and Training Center.
41.
Wheaton, J.E. (1995). Vocational rehabilitation acceptance rates for European Americans and African Americans: Another look. Rehabilitation, CounselingBulletin. 38, 224-231.
42.
Whitney-Thomas. J., Timmons, J.C., Gilmore, D.S., & Thomas, D.M. (1999). Expending access: Changes in vocational rehabilitation practice since the 1992 Rebabilitation Act Amendments. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 43, 30-40.
43.
Wilson, K.B. (1999). Vocational rehabilitation acceptance: A tale of two races in a large midwestern state. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 30(4), 25-31.
44.
Wilson, K.B. (2000). Predicting vocational rehabilitation eligibility based on race, education, work status, and source of support at application . Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 43, 97-105.
45.
Wilson, K.B., Harley, D.A., & Alston, R. (in press). Race as a correlate of vocational rehabilitation acceptance: Revisited. The Journal of Rehabilitation.
46.
Wilson, K.B., Harley, D.A., McCormick, K., Jolivette, K., & Jackson, R. (2001). A literature review of vocational rehabilitation acceptance and explaining bias in the rehabilitation process. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 32(1), 24-35.
47.
Wilson, K.B., Jackson, R., & Doughty, J. (1999). What a difference a race makes: Reasons for unsuccessful closures within the vocational rehabilitation system. American Rehabilitation, 25(2), 16-24.
48.
Wise, S.A. (1968). Service equity and program effectiveness in the rehabilitation process. Journal of Rehabilitation, 54(4), 68-72.
49.
Wong-Hernadez, L. (1993). A consumer's perspective on cultural diversity in relationship to diversity and rehabilitation. In T Wright & P. Leung (Eds.), Meeting the unique needs of minorities with disabilities: Proceedings from the National Council on Disability (pp. 28-32). Washington. DC : National Council on Dissability.
