Background: Autism typically begins in childhood and affects over five million adults across the United States. Although most adults with autism would like to work, only about one-fourth are employed, and only 1% of working-age adults with autism receive employment services paid for by Vocational Rehabilitation or Medicaid. Individual Placement…

The purpose of this study was about how nonprofit organizations can provide effective career development programs for the vulnerable and underserved people, resulting in employment and assisting them with being self-sufficient in Houston, Texas, as well as the surrounding geographical region. The study was based on qualitative research data…

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the current literature regarding the vocational rehabilitation services found effective in promoting employment among transition-age youth with disabilities as well as identifying factors affecting the effectiveness of those services. Methods: This study utilized the Preferred…

Recent national and state-level policy changes have created an imperative for service providers to transform from sheltered work to competitive integrated employment. The current study sought to understand the impact of participation in a 1-year, comprehensive technical assistance pilot designed to support service providers to transform away from…

This brief highlights key findings from the implementation of the TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI) programs and offers considerations for practitioners. The programs provided training for high-tech jobs as well as support services to people with barriers to training and employment. Presented especially for a…

This study investigated students' perceptions of an adapted work placement (WP) delivery method due to COVID-19, their intention of finding paid jobs or becoming self-employed and how the intention influenced their job preparatory behaviours (JPB). Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was utilised as a theoretical framework to model the…

Universities can prepare students for work, and universities can educate increasingly diverse student cohorts, but can they do both concurrently? This question of whether universities can offer equitable and inclusive careers education is increasingly under scrutiny. In this study, we address the largely under-theorised area of work-based…

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) experience high risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but there is variability in the timing of transition from a cognitively stable state to prodromal AD and dementia. The present study examined the association between a modifiable lifestyle factor, employment complexity, and cognitive decline across two time points in…

Using data from the 2014 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), we examined traditional and nontraditional students' perceived preparation for job skills in terms of the "three ways of knowing" from a career capital perspective. Results showed that traditional and nontraditional students shared commonalities as well as…

Globalisation, technological changes and the industry-to-service economy transition has produced dramatic changes in the labour market, thus affecting higher education. It is no longer sufficient to provide students with disciplinary knowledge. Graduates are also expected to be adaptive, innovative and flexible. As these competencies are better…

Work placement is an important aspect of higher education studies and career preparation. Effective preparation is crucial for students to succeed in placements, yet little is known about international students' placement preparation, particularly regarding their sensemaking. This qualitative study, guided by an integrative theoretical framework,…

This ex-post facto study, "Differential Effects of Workplace Readiness Training and Job Placement Services Provided by Vocational Rehabilitation vs. School Transition Programs: A Retrospective Study of Young Hispanic Adults" investigates differential effects of workplace readiness training and job placement services provided by…

Public data and accountability are key to an inclusive economic recovery. We need data on how different workers and businesses are faring in the recovery, so we can hold policymakers accountable to equitable outcomes for those most impacted. Disparities and inequities in skills training programs can only be eliminated if there is high-quality…

The Reconnecting Youth project aims to systematically understand what programs and practices are available in the United States to support young people who experience disconnection from school and work during the transition period to adulthood (typically defined as ages 16 to 24). It focuses specifically on services to help them reconnect to…

Small businesses have been sparking much of the recent job growth in New York City. However, there is a major disconnect in the city's workforce development system when it comes to working with small businesses. This report outlines a number of steps that policymakers, business leaders, and workforce providers could take to make workforce programs…