The Rehabilitation Research
and
Training Center
on Blindness and Low Vision

Worksight, 2006

The annual newsletter of the RRTC on Blindness and Low Vision
Kelly Schaefer, Editor

Vision Specialist Program Refunded

The RRTC on Blindness and Low Vision received funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration for the Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation graduate certificate program.

The $100,000 award will provide funding for the program for the next 5 years. The 2006 class is scheduled for March 20-May 26.

The purpose of the program is to provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors and graduate students in VR programs with the expertise to address issues specific to vision impairments. Students receive a stipend which includes tuition and fees, per diem for university housing and meals, and a travel allowance.

The program consists of four courses for 12 graduate-level credit hours: (1) Rehabilitation for Persons who are Visually Impaired, (2) Resources for Persons who are Visually Impaired, (3) Computer Access Technology for Persons who are Visually Impaired, and (4) Special Project in Rehabilitation of Persons who are Visually Impaired. For more information, visit our Web site: http://www.blind.msstate.edu/Vspecialist1.html

Research Brief

Contextual Effects of Race/Ethnicity on VR Acceptance for Legally Blind Consumers

Note: The following describes research conducted at the RRTC. For further information, contact Dr. Brenda Cavenaugh or Dr. Marty Giesen.

Problem

The equitable participation of racial/ethnic individuals in the state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) system has been of interest to researchers and policymakers for more than two decades. Race/ethnicity status may influence participation in VR at various stages: access, acceptance, service delivery, and outcome. Recently, Giesen and colleagues (Giesen, Cavenaugh, & Sansing, 2004) provided an assessment of the impact of ethnicity on access to VR. Sequentially, this study focuses on the next stage of the VR process-eligibility or acceptance-and examines the role of race/ethnicity on a national scale for persons who are blind or visually impaired. Based in part on the landmark study of Atkins and Wright (1980), racial/ethnic minorities, in comparison to Whites, were reported in Section 21 of the 1992 Rehabilitation Act Amendments to experience higher rates of growth in the general population, higher rates of disability, and were less likely to be accepted for VR, receive training, and be rehabilitated.

Although no previous studies investigated VR acceptance of blind or visually impaired VR consumers, recent research with general disability samples has suggested that racial/ethnic groups-particularly African Americans-are accepted for services at rates slightly lower than that for White clients (e.g., Capella, 2002; Wilson, 2002). Notably, findings of Wilson showed effect sizes of 0.1% accountable variance, and Hayward and Schmidt-Davis (2002) reported a similar but nonsignificant trend. Previous research has been inconsistent with respect to data source and has not been disability-specific. Consequently, questions still remain regarding the consistency of the relationship between race/ethnicity and acceptance, particularly for specific disability groups. Thus, using recent national VR population data for legally blind VR clients, this research investigated (a) race/ethnicity differences in acceptance rates and (b) these same differences when controlling for socioeconomic and disability severity factors.

Method

Data were from the population of case records for 19,057 consumers with a major disabling condition of legal blindness (RSA codes 100-119) from the annual Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Case Service Report (RSA-911) for FY 2001. Five mutually exclusive race/ethnicity categories were created. These were White, African American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander (all non-Hispanic), and Hispanic of any race. Acceptance was defined based on RSA VR case closure status criteria (26, 28, 30). Control variables were presence of a secondary disability, gender, age at application, education, and presence of a severe disability (as defined by RSA). Logistic regression was used for analysis procedures.

Results

Race/ethnicity, when considered alone and with control variables, was found to be a significant but weak predictor of acceptance. Compared to White clients, African Americans and Native Americans were less likely to be accepted, Asian/Pacific Islanders more likely, and Hispanics equally likely to be accepted. Severity of disability was, by far, the most powerful predictor of acceptance. In addition, more education, having a secondary disability, and greater age at application were associated with greater rate of acceptance.

Implications

The strong impact of having a severe disability on acceptance is consistent with legislatively mandated order of selection guidelines in VR. Effects for race/ethnicity were small and their statistical significance may be due to statistical hypersensitivity associated with the very large sample size. However, ethnicity effects were found when socioeconomic and disability factors were controlled. Results indicate that there are noteworthy differences in acceptance depending on the specific racial/ethnic group and influences of control variables suggesting differences in culture-specific reaction styles to the VR system. These styles may be further discussed in terms of ethnic acculturation and reactions to majority-culture institutions like VR. Future research should be disability-specific and examine the role of control variables separately for each racial/ethnic group.

The conference is the second in our series of state-of-the-art assistive technology training for vision rehabilitation service delivery personnel. The goal of the conference is to increase rehabilitation teachers' understanding and application of assistive technology used by people with severe visual impairments. Hands-on training will be provided by national experts in assistive technology.

References

Atkins, B. J., & Wright, G. N. (1980). Three views: Vocational rehabilitation of Blacks: The statement. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 46(2),40,42-46.

Capella, M. E., (2002). Inequities in the VR system: Do they still exist? Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 45(3), 143-153.

Giesen, J. M., Cavenaugh, B. S., & Sansing, W. K. (2004). Access to vocational rehabilitation: The impact of race and ethnicity. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 98(7), 410-419.

Hayward, B. & Schmidt-Davis, H. (2002). Longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation services program. Report 1: How consumer characteristics affect access to, receipt of, and outcomes of VR services. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute.

Wilson, K. B. (2002). Exploration of VR acceptance and ethnicity: A national investigation. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 45(3),168-176.

Two Rehab Professionals Receive Research and Training Utilization Awards

Ms. Melissa Freeman and Ms. Tyra Rice Hawkins are the 2005 recipients of the RRTC's William H. Graves Research and Training Utilization Awards. Ms. Freeman is a Rehabilitation Technologist with the Georgia Department of Labor/Vocational Rehabilitation and Ms. Hawkins is a Rehabilitation Teacher and Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist employed by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services.

The awards recognize individuals who have used our research or training materials to improve the lives of people who are blind or severely visually impaired. Recipients receive $250.

As a result of attending our national training conference, Technology Training for Technology Trainers, Ms. Freeman was able to assist a self-employed graphic designer who is visually impaired.

When asked how our training conference benefited her clients, Ms. Freeman stated that, "I have one client who owns her own graphic design business. I received the referral shortly after [I attended] the training [conference]. She had all of the equipment and expertise for her business, but did not have any technology to accommodate her disability. Her husband works a full-time job and was assisting her until 2:00 a.m. most days. They also have two children. The business was consuming so much of their time that they were at the point they may have to close their business. She is now using JAWS, Magic, TGD tactile graphics program, text cloner scan to read software, a Braille embosser, a PacMate note taker with Braille display, a color detector, a note teller money identifier, and a cellular phone with voice synthesizer adaptation. She has received training on all of the technology and is managing her business independently. At this time, she is receiving training on Quickbooks software to assist her with managing her accounts more efficiently. After completing this last phase of training, her case will be closed successfully. She states that she has a sense of confidence and independence that she never felt possible."

Ms. Rice Hawkins is currently Chair of a project in Alabama to increase the number of African Americans who are blind or visually impaired who apply and are provided services through the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Rehabilitation Teaching Program/Project OASIS.

She incorporated several RRTC research publications to achieve this goal: Roles and Functions of Rehabilitation Teachers, Roles and Functions of Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Participation Levels of African Americans in the Profession of Blindness Services, and Providing Services to African Americans who are Blind: Views of Experienced White and African American Counselors.

As a result of her increased knowledge, Ms. Rice Hawkins stated that, "Providing rehabilitation teaching and orientation and mobility services to the consumers that I serve in their homes allows them to remain independent and improves the quality of their lives. The following are specific examples of services that were provided several consumers age 55 and older: homemaking, activities of daily living, management of secondary disabilities (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), low vision training, adaptive aids and appliances, technology for the blind, Braille, script writing, orientation and mobility, communications, peer support training, and counseling and guidance."

Selection criteria are based on applications or practices that have the most impact on the lives of people who are blind or severely visually impaired.

For more information about the William H. Graves Research and Training Utilization Awards or to download an application, please visit our Web site: www.blind.msstate.edu/graves.html

Applications should be submitted to the RRTC by March 1st of each year.

North Carolina VR Taps RRTC for Needs Assessment Project

The RRTC is conducting a comprehensive statewide assessment of the needs of blind and visually impaired citizens in North Carolina for the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Services for the Blind (DSB). The purpose of the assessment is to ascertain what Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services stakeholders believe are necessary and how such services should be provided to enhance program outcomes. The needs assessment is a 6-month, $25,000 contract and will conclude in early 2006.

A combination of demographic analyses, survey research, in-depth interviews, and focus group techniques will be used to meet the objectives of the assessment. The project consists of four components: 1) in-depth interviews and focus groups with key administrative staff from DSB, leaders from blindness consumer groups (e.g., American Council of the Blind, National Federation of the Blind), and representatives from DSB direct service delivery staff; 2) mail surveys to consumers and DSB personnel, and in-depth phone interviews with consumers served by the Rehabilitation Center; 3) detailed analysis of all survey data, 911 data, and Census data; and 4) dissemination of the results to the DSB.

For more information about this project, contact William Sansing (662) 325-8694, E-mail: wsansing@colled.msstate.edu

$50,000 Gift Provides Lab Upgrades

A $50,000 gift from the George B. Storer Foundation will be used to upgrade the RRTC's computer access technology training lab.

Named for the late George B. Storer, the founder of Storer Communications, the Storer Foundation provides support for higher education and social services, especially for persons who are blind, youth organizations, conservation, hospitals, and cultural programs.

Worksight is funded in part by a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of NIDRR and no endorsement by NIDRR should be inferred.

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