Translating Research for Practical Transition Policy and Practice Richard Luecking, Ed.D. TransCen, Inc.

The Center on Transition to Employment  Jointly operated by TransCen, Inc, and Virginia Commonwealth University, funded by NIDRR  Focused on three groups of youth who tend to have the lowest employment outcomes: – youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities, – youth with emotional or mental health disabilities, and – minority youth with disabilities.  Six studies, plus sub-studies, underway

WORK IS GOOD!

Overarching Research Questions  What factors predict post-school employment outcomes for students with disabilities?  Who is at risk for poor outcomes and what at are mitigating or moderating factors?  What are the effects of individual student and school factors on the likelihood of youth getting a job?

Overarching Research Questions (continued)  What are the characteristics of high performing employment specialists?  How does the perceived strength of collaboration in transition teams contribute to successful outcomes?  What are the critical components and key performance indicators of school-based supported employment programs?

Key findings to date  Employment is impacted by level of household education, family expectations, employment in high school, and arrest record  Modifiable factors are related to positive employment outcomes for youth considered to be “at risk”  Universally high job placement rates in national employment program for all disability groups, and regardless of school factors and economy

Key findings to date (continued)  Highly effective employment specialists have high expectations and business savvy  Employers value program competence and responsiveness - disability lesser factor in hiring decisions  Collaboration between schools, VR and other partners is effective only to the extent it is outcome driven

Some key implications for transition practice  Reinforcing other research, employment prior to school exit predict adult employment. Employment BEFORE school exit is a universally important transition strategy.  We can identify and mitigate at risk factors to improve employment outcomes  Early, continuous, and focused school/VR collaboration = successful rehabilitation closures

Some key implications for transition practice (continued)  Selection and training of transition professionals can be guided by traits known to influence effectiveness and that are appreciated by employers  Mounting evidence that presumed employability is a realistic policy and practice construct. That is, disability labels, school factors, socio-economic factors, “at risk” factors, and the economy need not influence employment outcomes

Work is Good!  It is both: – An important transition intervention – A realistic and desired outcome of transition to adulthood

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