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Aizawa, Naoki, Soojin Kim & Serena Rhee (2025): Labor Market Screening and the Design of Social Insurance: An Equilibrium Analysis of the Labor Market for the Disabled. In: The Review of Economic Studies, Jg. 92, H. 1, S. 1-39. DOI:10.1093/restud/rdae015

Abstract

"This article studies how firms’ screening incentives in the labor market affect the optimal design of social insurance programs and quantitatively assesses the U.S. disability policies accounting for firms’ screening of the disabled. We develop an equilibrium search model where workers with different productivities have heterogeneous preferences over non-wage benefits and firms cannot offer an employment contract that explicitly depends on worker types. In this environment, firms may use contracts to screen out a certain type of workers, distorting employment rates and contracts in equilibrium. Therefore, the optimal structure of social insurance policies depends on firms’ screening incentives. We extend and structurally estimate this framework to quantitatively understand the inefficiencies arising from firms’ incentives to screen out disabled workers and examine the optimal joint design of disability insurance (DI) and various forms of firm subsidies. We find that hiring subsidies mitigate screening distortions; at the same time, they interact with DI by reducing the labor supply disincentives it generates. The optimal policy structure leads to a considerable welfare gain by simultaneously making firm subsidies and DI benefits more generous." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Brooke, Alissa Molinelli, Joshua P. Taylor, Katherine Inge, Travis Wright, Paul Wehman, Jennifer McDonough & Valerie Brooke (2025): Employer Perceptions of Hiring and Initial Support of Employees With Disabilities. In: Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Jg. 68, H. 4, S. 249-261. DOI:10.1177/00343552241265317

Abstract

"Much of the literature to date on disability employment has focused on preparing and supporting individuals with disabilities seeking and retaining jobs (i.e., supply side). A growing body of demand-side research has revealed the importance of employer’s experiences, attitudes, and perspectives in promoting successful employment outcomes. Much remains to be learned about employers’ decision-making process around the hiring and initial onboarding of employees with disabilities. The current study consisted of interviews with 35 supervisors from businesses who had recently hired and were currently employing a person with a disability in a range of industries. Key themes across the hiring and onboarding phases highlighted the importance of employment specialists and the value of relationships and rapport to impact decisions made during these phases. Our findings resulted in several recommendations for future research, policy, and practice, the implications of which are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Chan, Fong, Kanako Iwanaga, Timothy N. Tansey, Nicole Ditchman, Paul Wehman, Jia Rung Wu & Xiangli Chen (2025): Assessing Evidence-Based Disability Inclusion Policy and Practices to Promote Employment of People With Disabilities in the Workplace: Scale Development and Validation. In: Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Jg. 68, H. 4, S. 236-248. DOI:10.1177/00343552241268757

Abstract

"There is a strong commitment in the United States and the European Union to better support people with disabilities in the competitive labor market, where disability inclusion is widely viewed as a social imperative and underscored in policies, such as the European Union’s Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2020–2030, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. However, there is a lack of readily available strategies and tools for rehabilitation counselors to collaborate effectively with businesses and organizations in assessing their progress toward these inclusion goals. To address this need, the Disability Inclusion Profiler (DIP23) was developed to assess disability inclusion policies and practices. This study aimed to examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the DIP23 in a sample of 466 human resources managers. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor measurement structure: (1) Executive Level and (2) Middle Management and Staff Level Disability Inclusion Policies. Both factors demonstrated strong internal consistency and correlated with employment rates of people with disabilities. The DIP23 is a psychometrically sound measure for rehabilitation counselors to help organizations assess their disability-inclusive climate and identify areas of strengths and areas needing improvement to increase disability representation in the workplace." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Houston, Lawrence & Douglas Kruse (2025): Enabling Employment: How Do Employer Disability Practices Affect Disability Employment Outcomes? In: AEA papers and proceedings, Jg. 115, S. 536-542. DOI:10.1257/pandp.20251078

Abstract

"We use panel data from 235 firms from 2019-2023 to examine how disability-related practices affect disability employment outcomes, using a detailed annual survey of large US companies in the National Organization on Disability, which collectively employ 8.5 million workers. The practices include recruitment and inclusion strategies, disability promotion initiatives, accommodation and accessibility policies, support for disability groups and mentoring, and training for management and HR staff. We find that several practice categories favorably predict disability hiring, promotions, and exits, supporting the idea that employer policies and practices can make a substantial difference in employment opportunities for people with disabilities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Sharma, Ramona H., Renée Asselin, Timothy Stainton & Rachelle Hole (2025): Ableism and Employment: A Scoping Review of the Literature. In: Social Sciences, Jg. 14, H. 2. DOI:10.3390/socsci14020067

Abstract

"Background: Ableism obstructs employment equity for disabled individuals. However, research lacks a comprehensive understanding of how ableism multidimensionally manifests across job types, disability types, stages of employment, and intersecting identities. Objectives: This scoping review examines how ableism affects disabled workers and jobseekers, as well as its impacts on employment outcomes, variations across disabilities and identities, and the best practices for addressing these. Eligibility Criteria: The included articles were 109 peer-reviewed empirical studies conducted in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Finland between 2018 and 2023. Sources of Evidence: Using terms related to disability, ableism, and employment, the databases searched included Sociology Collection, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Education Source, Academic Search Complete, and ERIC. Charting Methods: Data were extracted in tabular form and analyzed through thematic narrative synthesis to identify study characteristics, ableist barriers within employment, intersectional factors, and best practices. Results: Ableism negatively impacts employment outcomes through barriers within the work environment, challenges in disclosing disabilities, insufficient accommodations, and workplace discrimination. Intersectional factors intensify inequities, particularly for BIPOC, women, and those with invisible disabilities. Conclusions: Systemic, intersectional strategies are needed to address ableism, improve policies, and foster inclusive workplace practices." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Alam, Mohammad Shahin, Kelly Williams-Whitt, DuckJung Shin & Mahfooz Ansari (2024): Motivating supervisors during disability accommodation: a comprehensive examination on job demand and resources theories. In: International Journal of Manpower, Jg. 45, H. 7, S. 1385-1408. DOI:10.1108/IJM-10-2023-0620

Abstract

"Purpose: This study develops and tests a comprehensive model that examines whether dimensions of supervisors’ job demands and resources influence their work motivation through their job strain levels while managing disability accommodation (DA). Design/methodology/approach The proposed model leverages the assumptions of established job demand and resources theories, including demand-ability fit, job demand-control, job demand-control-support, and effort-reward balance models. Then, we tested with the quantitative data from 335 British, Canadian, American, Australian, Dutch, and German supervisors with recent DA experience. Findings This study found support for the proposed model. Job control and social support directly affected work motivation, while job strain did not mediate the relationship between job control and social support and work motivation. The results suggest that employers looking to improve the likelihood of DA success should focus on providing adequate job control, social support, and rewards to supervisors responsible for accommodating employees with disabilities. Practical implications This research enhances our understanding of how additional DA responsibilities impact supervisors and aids in the development of effective DA management policies and interventions, providing robust support for practitioners. Originality/value This study contributes to extending the DA literature by testing the applicability of different theoretical models to explain the effect of the additional DA responsibility on supervisors’ job demand, strain, and motivation levels and identify the resources to mitigate them." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))

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Lee, Siha (2024): Spousal labor supply, caregiving, and the value of disability insurance. In: International Economic Review, Jg. 65, H. 4, S. 1681-1716. DOI:10.1111/iere.12712

Abstract

"This article evaluates the insurance value of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program among married households when wives face a trade-off between market hours and spousal care following their husbands' disability. Event study analyses show that wives' labor supply responses to their husbands' disability are small, and instead, a considerable amount of time is spent in spousal care. Using a dynamic structural model, I find that incorporating time loss due to spousal care increases the insurance value of SSDI relative to its costs. Finally, budget-neutral policy reforms that subsidize the cost of care can improve social welfare." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Ruppel, Emily H. (2024): How Work Becomes Invisible: The Erosion of the Wage Floor for Workers with Disabilities. In: American sociological review, Jg. 89, H. 5, S. 907-936. DOI:10.1177/00031224241268201

Abstract

"How does work come to be constructed as a service to the worker? In the United States, the payment of subminimum wages to disabled workers has been legal since 1938 and was entrenched by 1986 legislation eliminating the previously mandated floor of 50 percent of the minimum wage. This article draws on primary historical materials to explain the passage of these amendments, which I analyze as a case of delaborization, a process through which work is mystified as such and reclassified as something else (e.g., service). I find that the managers of segregated workshops for disabled manual laborers rose to control disability employment policy in the aftermath of deinstitutionalization. Professionals mobilized disability stigma to frame the subminimum wage as a social welfare issue subject to their expertise and to lobby successfully for its entrenchment. Weaknesses in the disability–labor coalition enabled this seizure of jurisdiction. This research illuminates professional expertise, the withdrawal of labor unions, and identity-based stigma as major mechanisms driving delaborization, an important contemporary influence on the organization of work. The case of the subminimum wage thus develops sociological literatures on labor, disability, and politics." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Inge, Katherine J., Adam P. Sima, Tim Riesen, Paul Wehman & Nancy Brooks-Lane (2023): The Essential Elements of Customized Employment: Results From a National Survey of Employment Providers. In: Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Jg. 66, H. 3, S. 170-185. DOI:10.1177/00343552221088256

Abstract

"Customized employment (CE) is designed to meet the specific needs and interests of individuals with disabilities as well as the needs of the employer by using flexible strategies at every stage of employment. The objective of this study was to ask U.S. rehabilitation providers who implement these services to describe the current status of CE service delivery. An online survey was administered to employment professionals from agencies within the United States. Participants responded to questions on the unique characteristics of Discovery and job development, current use of CE services, and information on their personal and agency demographics. Results indicate that there is agreement among CE providers on critical Discovery and job development activities, which suggests that providers are regularly accessing information to inform their practice. There appears to be a gap between what respondents identify as critical activities and how well they are being implemented. Recommendations for providing CE training for providers and provisions for individuals with disabilities are explored." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Sanchez, Jennifer, Michael P. Frain, Ghari Shirley, Devin Rohack & Deyu Pan (2023): Persons With Disabilities in Self-Employment Served by the Federal/State Vocational Rehabilitation System: Differences Between 2011–2013 and 2017–2019. In: Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Jg. 66, H. 3, S. 203-214. DOI:10.1177/00343552221102396

Abstract

"Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are disproportionately unemployed, underpaid, and underemployed despite their desire and capacity to work. The U.S. federal/state vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), is charged with providing services to assist eligible PWDs (VR consumers) in achieving employment. Despite research showing that VR consumers closed to self-employment (vs. non-self-employment closures) have better outcomes, self-employment is often considered as a last resort. Moreover, some evidence suggests self-employment (like non-self-employment) outcomes are associated with VR consumers’ gender and racial/ethnic identity. The objective of this study was to determine trends of case closures in self-employment among PWDs within the VR program from 2011–2013 to 2017–2019 and to examine the effects of gender and race/ethnicity on self-employment outcomes. Variables of interest were obtained from RSA’s Case Service Report (RSA-911) data set for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Data were recoded and analyzed. The number of closures in self-employment declined significantly. Weekly earnings in self-employment increased. Time from application to closure in self-employment decreased. Differences in VR self-employment outcomes by race/ethnicity and gender were noted. Efforts should be made to increase competency in self-employment of VR counselors and promote self-employment within the VR program." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hallock, Kevin F., Xin Jin & Michael Waldman (2022): The total compensation gap, wage gap and benefit gap between workers with and without a disability. In: BJIR, Jg. 60, H. 1, S. 3-31. DOI:10.1111/bjir.12607

Abstract

"The wage gap between workers with and without a disability has been widely documented. However, wages and salaries account for less than 70% of the total hourly cost of compensation for an average U.S. worker. In this study, we construct a measure of total compensation by linking the American Community Survey to a restricted‐access version of the Employer Cost for Employee Compensation database, which contains detailed benefit measures for the years 2008–2014. After controlling for selection into full‐time employment and other observed characteristics, we find that the percentage total compensation gap between full‐time male workers with and without a disability is substantially larger than the percentage wage and salary gap. The opposite pattern is observed for full‐time female workers. Our results suggest that considering only wage and salary may mask the true gaps in total compensation from employment. We also document a persistent benefits gap between workers with and without a disability. We discuss possible explanatory factors for the observed patterns in total compensation and benefit gaps." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Meltzer, Ariella (2022): The operation of the social support sector serving siblings of people with disabilities: A cross-country analysis. In: Social Policy and Administration, Jg. 56, H. 3, S. 423-437. DOI:10.1111/spol.12775

Abstract

"Sibling support is a form of support often offered to the brother or sister of a person with disability. While practiced around the world and the subject of much research interest, most research about sibling support has been outcomes evaluation of individual sibling support programs, rather than about the operational/structural circumstances of the organizations providing sibling support or of the sibling support sector at large. Within this context, this paper offers the first research of its kind: an exploratory study of the business operation of sibling support in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, USA and Canada. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 13 leaders of sibling support provider organizations in these countries, the paper focuses on sibling support providers' business models, funding, staffing, leadership and governance. The findings highlight that across countries, sibling support is a sub-section of the not-for-profit/charity sector that mostly operates with minimal funding and staffing, and which is largely driven by the passion and personal experience of those who run sibling support organizations. The paper discusses the implications of the findings, with the conceptual lens of seeking to formalize recognition and legitimacy for sibling support as a distinct social service type within the disability/health/social care and not-for-profit/charity spaces. Further, by aggregating the experiences of sibling support providers across countries, the paper is able to show that—while a distinct service type and sector—the successes and challenges of the sibling support sector nevertheless also very much reflect the broader struggles of many other small not-for-profits/charities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Schloemer-Jarvis, Aileen, Benjamin Bader & Stephan A. Boehm (2022): The role of human resource practices for including persons with disabilities in the workforce: a systematic literature review. In: The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 33, H. 1, S. 45-98. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2021.1996433

Abstract

"Organizations are increasingly aware that a better vocational inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) is in their self-interest for reasons such as a shortage of skilled labor, an increasing prevalence of disability in their aging workforces, and changed societal attitudes and laws regarding the promotion of diversity and equity in the workplace. Human resource (HR) practices have been identified as a primary enabler of inclusion, yet research on disability-related HR Management is scattered across disciplines. To provide an evidence-based analysis and integration, this article systematically reviews the literature on HR management in the context of employing persons with disabilities, using the high-performance work practices ‘selection and staffing’, ‘training and development’, ‘(performance) appraisal, promotion, and career management’ and ‘compensation and benefits’ as an organizing framework. We systematically reviewed and summarized the key findings of 74 empirical studies conducted from 1990 through 2020. Most studies focused on selection and staffing practices, providing strong evidence that standardization and structure reduce bias in the appraisal of PWD and related employment decisions. Research regarding appropriate HR practices that allow to utilize, develop and reward PWDs’ potential, in contrast, is still in its infancy." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Wagner, Kathryn, Summer Melody Pennell, Meike Eilert & Stacey R. Lim (2022): Academic mothers with disabilities: Navigating academia and parenthood during COVID-19. In: Gender, work & organization, Jg. 29, H. 1, S. 342-352. DOI:10.1111/gwao.12751

Abstract

"Academic mothers (including nonbinary, trans, and genderqueer parents) have always faced challenges in their profession due to systemic barriers and a “motherhood tax”; however, COVID-19 has exacerbated already existing inequalities (Oleschuk, 2020). This study examines how the pandemic has affected academic mothers with mental health and physical disabilities, as these voices often remain hidden and unheard in academia despite increased awareness of their presence (Brown & Leigh, 2018; Kelly & Senior, 2020). Here, we share the voices of 23 participants using a qualitative methodology drawing from social justice and feminist theories to highlight the lived experience of academic mothers with mental and/or physical disabilities and their experiences as a scholar and parent during COVID-19. Understanding the lived experience of this intersectional population can provide invaluable insights into ableist privilege within higher education, especially in the context of COVID-19 which has substantially disrupted work and homelife routines." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Bengali, Leila, Mary C. Daly, Olivia Lofton & Robert G. Valletta (2021): The Economic Status of People with Disabilities and Their Families since the Great Recession. (IZA discussion paper 14165), Bonn, 29 S.

Abstract

"People with disabilities face substantial barriers to sustained employment and stable, adequate income. We assess how they and their families fared during the long economic expansion that followed the Great Recession of 2007-09, using data from the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) and the March CPS annual income supplement. We find that the expansion bolstered the well-being of people with disabilities and in particular their relative labor market engagement. We also find that applications and awards for federal disability benefits fell during the expansion. On balance, our results suggest that sustained economic growth can bolster the labor market engagement of people with disabilities and potentially reduce their reliance on disability benefits." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Cmar, Jennifer & Michele C. McDonnall (2021): Short-Term Effectiveness of Job Search Skills Training: Comparisons by Summer Work Experience Participation. In: Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Jg. 64, H. 2, S. 86-96. DOI:10.1177/0034355220910225

Abstract

"We utilized a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design to assess the effects of job search skills training on job search knowledge, job search behavior, job search behavior self-efficacy, and job search outcomes self-efficacy. We also examined differences in outcomes based on participation in a vocational rehabilitation agency-sponsored summer work experience (SWE) program. Participants were 92 youth with visual impairments, ages 15 to 22 years, from three U.S. states. The intervention was an intensive job search skills training program involving 35 to 40 hr of content; 42 youth also participated in an SWE program for approximately 6 weeks. Intervention group participants significantly improved in job search knowledge, job search behavior, and job search behavior self-efficacy in contrast to comparison group participants, but results for job search outcomes self-efficacy did not differentiate the two groups. SWE participation by itself was related to increases in both self-efficacy measures, and participation in the intervention plus the SWE was related to larger increases in job search behavior self-efficacy. Results indicate that job search skills training and SWE programs may have differential effects on short-term outcomes. Rather than finding jobs for youth, practitioners could foster youths’ competence, confidence, and preparation for the future by teaching job search skills and encouraging independent job-seeking." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Shifrer, Dara & Daniel Mackin Freeman (2021): Problematizing Perceptions of STEM Potential: Differences by Cognitive Disability Status in High School and Postsecondary Educational Outcomes. In: Socius, Jg. 7, S. 1-13. DOI:10.1177/2378023121998116

Abstract

"The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) potential of youth with cognitive disabilities is often dismissed through problematic perceptions of STEM ability as natural and of youth with cognitive disabilities as unable. National data on more than 15,000 adolescents from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 first suggest that, among youth with disabilities, youth with medicated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have the highest levels of STEM achievement, and youth with learning or intellectual disabilities typically have the lowest. Undergraduates with medicated ADHD or autism appear to be more likely to major in STEM than youth without cognitive disabilities, and youth with autism have the most positive STEM attitudes. Finally, results suggest that high school STEM achievement is more salient for college enrollment than STEM-positive attitudes across youth with most disability types, whereas attitudes are more salient than achievement for choosing a STEM major." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gouskova, Elena (2020): Why self-employment rates are higher among people with work limitations. In: Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Jg. 31, H. 1, S. 15-25. DOI:10.1177/1044207319851244

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Enayati, Hassan & Arun Karpur (2019): Impact of participation in school-to-work programs on postsecondary outcomes for youth with disabilities from low-income families. In: Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Jg. 29, H. 4, S. 235-244. DOI:10.1177/1044207318789419

Abstract

"Individuals with disabilities who also live in poverty face a double jeopardy. Disability and poverty are each separately associated with poorer education and employment outcomes. One approach to ameliorate these poorer outcomes is to improve the transition from high school to adulthood. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this article examines the role of school-to-work training programs on adult outcomes for individuals with disabilities who live in welfare receiving households. A linear probability model identifies the differences in outcomes for youth by disability and welfare status. Participation in school-to-work programs for youth with disabilities from welfare receiving homes was found to predict higher rates of employment, lower rates of conviction, and lower wages. Implications of these results and recommendations for future research design are included." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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McDonnall, Michele C. & Jennifer Cmar (2019): Employment outcomes and job quality of vocational rehabilitation consumers with deaf-blindness. In: Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Jg. 63, H. 1, S. 13-24. DOI:10.1177/0034355218769461

Abstract

"The purpose of this study was to investigate employment outcomes for vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumers with deaf-blindness, a population that has received no attention in the literature. The sample was obtained from Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) data and included 1,382 consumers with deaf-blindness identified as their primary or secondary disability whose cases were closed during fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015. Independent variables consisted of consumer personal characteristics and VR service-related variables. Two measures of employment outcomes were used: obtainment of competitive employment and a composite measure of job quality. Overall, the results indicate that several VR service-related factors are associated with whether deaf-blind consumers obtain competitive employment, but consumers' personal characteristics are much more important in determining job quality. Implications for improving employment outcomes for consumers who are deaf-blind include providing job-related services, supporting educational advancement, and providing counseling and guidance. Results also support the importance of accounting for employment status at application in RSA-911 analyses and the efficacy of service provision by separate agencies for the blind." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))