Current trends in vocational rehabilitation value demand-side “dual customer” approaches that serve both businesses and job seekers with disabilities, as well as approaches that use rapid engagement in work-based experiences.
OBJECTIVE:
This conceptual paper describes the evolution of Progressive Employment (PE) in Vermont and aims to define the key features and critical components of PE as a distinct model of dual customer service delivery.
CONCLUSION:
The PE approach has promise as an effective dual customer model with high potential for replicability in employment systems, especially for job seekers with little or no successful work experience. Salient elements of the model and replication considerations are discussed.
Bjelland, M. J., Bruyère, S. M., von Schrader, S., Houtenville, A. J., Ruiz-Quintanilla, A., Webber, D. A. (2010) Age and disability employment discrimination: Occupational rehabilitation implications. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20(4), 456–471.
Bruyère, S. M., Erickson, W. A., VanLooy, S. A. (2006) The impact of business size on employer ADA response. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 49(4), 194–206.
4.
Burke, J., Bezyak, J., Fraser, R. T., Pete, J., Ditchman, N., Chan, F. (2013) Employers’ attitudes towards hiring and retaining people with disabilities: A review of the literature. The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, 19(1), 21–38.
5.
Chan, F., Strauser, D., Gervey, R., Lee, E. -J. (2010) Introduction to demand-side factors related to employment of people with disabilities. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20(4), 407–411.
6.
Chan, F., Strauser, D., Maher, P., Lee, E. -J., Jones, R., Johnson, E. T. (2010) Demand-side factors related to employment of people with disabilities: A survey of employers in the Midwest region of the United States. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20(4), 412–419.
7.
Copeland, J., Chan, F., Bezyak, J., Fraser, R. T. (2010) Assessing cognitive and affective reactions of employers toward people with disabilities in the workplace. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20(4), 427–434.
Drake, R. E. (1998) A brief history of the Individual Placement and Support model. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 22(1), 3.
10.
Drake, R. E., Bond, G. (2014) Introduction to the special issue on individual placement and support. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 37(2), 76–68.
11.
Fraser, R. T., Ajzen, I., Johnson, K., Herbert, J., Chan, F. (2011) Understanding employers’ hiring intention in relation to qualified workers with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 35(1), 1–11.
12.
Fry, R. R. eds. (1997) Developing effective partnerships with employers as a service delivery mechanism. 23rd Institute on Rehabilitation Issues. NIDRR, Washington, DC. Wisconsin University – Stout
13.
Haines, K., Soldner, J., Zhang, L., St. Laurent, M. L., Knabe, B., West-Evans, K., Mock, L., Foley, S. (2016) Vocational Rehabilitation and Business Relations: Preliminary Indicators of State VR Agency Capacity, Manuscript submitted for publication.
14.
Honeycutt, T., Stapleton, D. (2013) Striking while the iron is hot: The effect of vocational rehabilitation services wait times on employment outcomes for applicants receiving Social Security disability benefits. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39, 137–152. doi:10.3233/JVR-130645.
15.
Ipsen, C., Goe, R. (2016) Factors associated with job seeker engagement and satisfaction with the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 44(1), 85–96.
16.
Ju, S., Zhang, D., Pacha, J. (2012) Employability skills valued by employers as important for entry-level employees with and without disabilities. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 35(1), 29–38.
17.
Kehn, M., Babalola, L., Honeycutt, T., Livermore, G., Doubleday, A., Stapleton, D., Sevak, P. (2016) Minnesota’s SGA Project Demonstration: An Interim Evaluation Report. Mathematica Policy Research: Washington D.C.
18.
Luecking, R. G. (2008) Emerging employer views of people with disabilities and the future of job development. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 29(1), 3–13.
19.
Martin, F., Morris, E., Honeycutt, T., Livermore, G., Doubleday, A., Sevak, P., Stapleton, D. (2017) Kentucky’s SGA Model Demonstration: Interim Evaluation Report. Mathematica Policy Research: Washington, D.C.
20.
McDonnell, M., Zhou, L., Crudden, A. (2013) Employer attitudes towards persons who are blind or visually impaired: Perspectives and recommendations from vocational rehabilitation personnel. Journal of Rehabilitation, 79(3), 17–24.
21.
Porter, A. (2016) Progressive employment statistics from inception 5/2009 to 6/30/2016. Unpublished excel spreadsheet. Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Waterbury, VT.
22.
Porter, E., Kwan, N., Marrone, J., Foley, S. (2012) Demand side strategies: Prevalence of business employment representatives in vocational rehabilitation agencies. Review VR Series, No.1. Boston, MA: University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion.
23.
Robertson, B., Madden, P. (2010) Research report; Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation alternative placements program survey. Portland, ME: Market Decisions. Unpublished report.
Solovieva, T. I., Dowler, D. L., Walls, R. T. (2011) Employer benefits from making workplace accommodations. Disability and Health Journal, 4(1), 39–45.
26.
Stensrud, R. (2007) Developing relationships with employers means considering the competitive business environment and the risks it produces. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 50(4), 226–237.
27.
Swanson, S. J., Becker, D. R., Bond, G. R. (2013) Job development guidelines in supported employment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 36(2), 122–123.
28.
Unger, D. (2007) Addressing employer personnel needs and improving employment training, job placement and retention for individuals with disabilities through public-private partnerships. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 26(1), 39–48.
29.
Wagner, C. C., Armstrong, A. J., Fraser, R. T., Vandergoot, D., Thomas, D. F. (2006) Evidence-based employment practices in vocational rehabilitation. In HagglundK. & HeinemannA. eds, Handbook of Applied Disability and Rehabilitation Research. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, Inc., pp. 179–210.
