This paper reports on the application of a benefit-cost accounting framework to evaluate the economic outcomes of supported employment in Minnesota. Data were collected on the costs and economic outcomes of 1,892 individuals being served in 11 supported-employment agencies offering programs in habilitation training, on-site employment, and community-based group and individual supported employment. From these data net benefits and benefit-cost ratios were estimated to explain possible efficiency effects resulting from the programs. The results reported in this study generally support the policy assertion that supported-employment programs yield financial benefits for society and taxpayers, as well as individuals with disabilities.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Berkowitz, E.D. (1980). Rehabilitation: The federal government's response to disability, 1935-1954. New York: Arno Press.
2.
Bruininks, R.H., Hill, B., Weatherman, R., & Woodcock, R. (1986). Inventory for client and agency planning, technical manual. Allen, TX: DLM Teaching Resources.
3.
Cho, D.W., & Schuermann, A.C. (1980). Economic costs and benefits of private gainful employment of the severely handicapped. Journal of Rehabilitation, 46(3), 28-32.
4.
Conley, R.W., & Noble, J.H. (1990). Benefit-cost analysis of supported employment . In F. Rusch (Ed.), Supported employment: Models, methods and issues (pp. 271-287). Sycamore, IL: Sycamore Publishing Company.
5.
Conley, R.W., Rusch, F.R., McCaughrin, W.B., & Tines, J. (1989). Benefits and costs of supported employment: An analysis of the Illinois Supported Employment Project. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 22(4), 441-447.
6.
Hill, M., & Wehman, P. (1983). Cost-benefit analysis of placing moderately and severely handicapped individuals into competitive employment. Journal of the Association for the Severely Handicapped, 8, 30-39.
7.
Hill, M., Wehman, P., Kregel, J., Banks, P.D., & Metzler, H. (1987). Employment outcomes for people with moderate and severe disabilities : An eight-year longitudinal analysis of supported competitive employment. Journal of the Association for the Severely Handicapped , 12, 182-189.
8.
Johnson, M.V. (1987). Cost-benefit methodologies in rehabilitation. In M. Fuhrer (Ed.), Rehabilitation outcomes: Analysis and measurement (pp. 99-113). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.
9.
Kerachsky, S., & Thornton, C. ( 1987). Findings from the STETS transitional employment demonstration. Exceptional Children, 53(6), 515-521.
10.
Kerachsky, S., Thornton, C., Bloomenthal, A., Maynard, R., & Stephens, S. (1985). Impacts of transitional employment on mentally retarded young adults: Results of the STETS demonstration. Princeton: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
11.
Kregal, J., Shafer, M.S., Wehman, P., & West, M. (1989). Policy development and public expenditures in supported employment: Current strategies to promote statewide systems change . Journal of the Association for Persons With Severe Handicaps , 14(4), 283-292.
12.
Lam, C.S. (1986). Comparison of sheltered and supported work programs: A pilot study. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 30(2), 66-82.
13.
Lewis, D., Bruininks, R., & Thurlow, M. ( 1989). Cost analysis for district level special education planning, budgeting and administrating. Journal of Education Finance, 14(4), 466-483.
14.
Lewis, D., Bruininks, R., Thurlow, M., & McGrew, K. (1988). Using benefit-cost analysis in special education. Exceptional Children, 55, 203-214.
15.
Lewis, D., Johnson, D., Bruininks, R., Kallsen, L., & Guillery, R. ( 1991 ). Costs and benefits of supported employment in Minnesota. Minneapolis: Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.
16.
Long, D., Mallar, C., & Thornton, C. ( 1981). Evaluating the benefits and costs of job corps . Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 1 ( 1), 55-76.
17.
Naeve, L., Allen, W., Harding, F., & Shea, J. ( 1990). Costs and outcomes study of individual supported employment placements by selected California Department of Rehabilitation funded employment service providers. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Rehabilitation, 1990 .
18.
Noble, J.H. (1977). The limits of cost-benefit analysis as a guide to priority-setting in rehabilitation. Evaluation Quarterly , 1(3), 347-380.
19.
Noble, J.H., & Conley, R.W. (1987). Accumulating evidence on the benefits and costs of supported and transitional employment for persons with severe disabilities . Journal of the Association for Persons With Severe Handicaps , 12, 163-174.
20.
Noble, J.H., Conley, R.W., Banerjee, S., & Goodman, S. (1991). Supported employment in New York State: A comparison of benefits and costs. Journal of Disability Policy Studies , 2(1), 39-73.
21.
Pechman, J.A. (1985). Who paid the taxes: 1966-1985. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
22.
Rhodes, L., Ramsing, K., & Hill, M. (1987). Economic evaluation of employment services: A review of applications. Journal of the Association for Persons With Severe Handicaps, 12, 175-181.
23.
Schneider, K., Martin, J., & Rusch, F. ( 1981 ). Cost versus benefits between sheltered and nonsheltered vocational training programs: Are we sacrificing quality?Counterpoint (November), 1-28.
24.
Schneider, K., Rusch, F.R., Henderson, R.A., & Geske, T.G. (1982). Competitive employment for mentally retarded persons: Costs and benefits. In R. B. Cobb & D. Larkin (Eds.), Funding and cost analysis. (63-82). Urbana-Champaign, IL: University of Illinois, Office of Career Development for Special Populations .
25.
Shafer, M.S., Wehman, P., Kregel, J., & West, M. (1990). National supported employment initiative: A preliminary analysis. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 95(3), 316-327.
26.
Thornton, C., Dunstan, S.M., & Schore, J. (1990). The transitional employment training demonstration: Analysis of program operations and in-program impacts. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research.
27.
Thornton, C., & Maynard, R. ( 1989). The economics of transitional employment and supported employment. In M. Berkowitz and M. A. Hill (Eds.), Disability and the labor- market. New York: ILR Press.
