Changes in Vocational Rehabilitation Service Users, Service Receipt, and Outcomes Following Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Background: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 mandated significant changes to U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services, including allocating 15% of state VR funds for pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) for youth with disabilities. Objective: This study examine...

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Publicado en:Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation Vol. 65; no. 2; pp. 175 - 187
Autores principales: Roux, Anne M, Rast, Jessica, Whittenburg, Holly N, Taylor, Joshua P
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. Sep2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep2026
      vid: 65
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      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
      place: Thousand Oaks, California
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        atl: Changes in Vocational Rehabilitation Service Users, Service Receipt, and Outcomes Following Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
      aug:
        au:
          Roux, Anne M
          Rast, Jessica
          Whittenburg, Holly N
          Taylor, Joshua P
        affil: Policy and Analytics Center, Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Rehabilitation, Vocational
          Workforce Legislation and Jurisprudence
          Employment of Persons with Disabilities Legislation and Jurisprudence
          Human
          United States
          Child, Preschool
          Child
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Multiple Logistic Regression
          Multivariate Statistics
          Funding Source
          Child, Preschool: 2-5 years
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
      ab: Background: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 mandated significant changes to U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services, including allocating 15% of state VR funds for pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) for youth with disabilities. Objective: This study examined changes in VR service users, service delivery, and employment outcomes pre- (2014–2016) and post-WIOA (2017–2019) using RSA-911 administrative data. Method: We analyzed demographic and disability characteristics, service types, and employment outcomes for over 1 million VR service recipients ages 14–64 across all U.S. states. Multivariable logistic regression assessed predictors of employment at VR exit. Post-WIOA, VR service users were younger and more likely to have a "most significant disability." Results: Receipt of nearly all service types declined, particularly postsecondary education and job-related services, despite stable spending per person. Employment outcomes decreased across all age groups, most notably among youth ages 14–18. Receipt of job-related services was strongly associated with higher odds of employment, while longer service duration predicted lower odds. Conclusion: Findings suggest that WIOA's funding shifts may have unintentionally reduced service access and employment outcomes, especially for adults. As VR systems recalibrate, further research is needed to assess cost-benefit tradeoffs and ensure equitable service delivery across age and disability groups.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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