Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project on VR: Transition Services that Lead to Competitive Employment Outcomes for Transition-Age Individuals with Blindness or Other Visual Impairments
In 2007, the NRTC received funding from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (#H133A070001) to establish a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) to conduct research on transition-age individuals with blindness or low vision. Project activities were completed December 2011. An abstract and list of publications and other products are provided.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project on VR Project Abstract
Project 1 involved conducting a systematic literature review of interventions and practices leading to successful employment outcomes of youth who are blind or visually impaired.
Cavenaugh, B., & Giesen, J.M. (2012). A systematic review of transition interventions affecting the employability of youths with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 106(7), 400-413.
Cavenaugh, B., & Morse, M. (2011). Interventions affecting successful secondary transition of adolescents with visual impairments. Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. Mississippi State University. Available here.
Cavenaugh, B., Wolf, H., & Belant, M.K. (2011). References: Non-Intervention Research Studies, Factors affecting successful secondary transition of youth with visual impairments. Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. Mississippi State University. Available here.
Project 2 included analysis of national cross-sectional and longitudinal data sources to explore relationships between potential causes or influencing factors and positive transition outcomes of youth who are blind or visually impaired. Data sources included the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program, National Longitudinal Transition Study-2, and the Rehabilitation Services Administration RSA-911.
McDonnall, M. C., & Crudden, A. (2009). Factors affecting the successful employment of transition-age youth with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103(6), 329-341.
McDonnall, M. C. (2010). Factors predicting post-high school employment for young adults with visual impairments. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 54(1), 36-45.
McDonnall, M. C. (2010). The employment and postsecondary educational status of transition-age youths with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 104(5), 298-303.
McDonnall, M. C. (2011). Predictors of employment for youth with visual impairments: Findings from the second National Longitudinal Transition Study. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 105(8), 453-466.
McDonnall, M. C., & O'Mally, J. (2012). Characteristics of early work experiences and their association with future employment. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 106(3), 133-144.
Giesen, J.M., & Cavenaugh, B.S. (2012). Transition-age youth who are blind in vocational rehabilitation: A new look at competitive outcomes and services. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 106(8), 475-487.
Other Products
From School to College: A Transition Activity Calendar for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired includes a checklist of monthly activities beginning middle school through high school. The Calendar also includes links to vital resources and can be accessed at:
On-Line Transition Activity Calendar
Downloadable Copy of the Transition Activity Calendar
Career Advantage for V.I.P.s (Visually Impaired Persons) is an online employment preparation program for adults of all ages that includes 8 self-paced modules of instructional materials and activities to guide job seekers, taking them step-by-step from exploration of interests and abilities, through the application and interview processes, to the optimal goal of employment. Career Advantage can be accessed at: http://www.blind.msstate.edu/our-products/online-employment-preparation/
Project Staff
Principal Investigator: Brenda Cavenaugh, Ph.D., bcavenaugh@colled.msstate.edu
Research Staff: Michele McDonnall, Ph.D.; J. Martin Giesen, Ph.D.; Adele Crudden, Ph.D; and B.J. LeJeune, M.Ed.