Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Ticket to Work Program: Perspectives of Latinos with Disabilities

• DOI: 10.1891/0047-2220.37.3.13
• Publication Date: 2019-06-13T18:38:26Z
• Authors: Brigida Hernandez; Mary Joyce Cometa; Jay Rosen; Jessica Velcoff; Daniel Schober; Rene David Luna
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 4. Education; 8. Economic growth; 0305 other medical science; 16. Peace & justice; 10. No inequality

This qualitative study explored the employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and Ticket to Work (TTW) experiences of Latinos with disabilities. Seven focus groups were conducted with 45 working-age Latinos with disabilities, who were either employed or seeking employment. Top barriers to employment included lack of adequate transportation, difficulties with speaking the English language, inadequate levels of formal education, and negative employet attitudes toward workers with disabilities. In addition, participants expressed concerns with the VR system and VR counselors' lack of responsiveness and collaboration. To a lesser degree, participants reported prejudiced attitudes on the basis of ethnic minority status among employers and VR counselors. Although over one-third of the sample reported general awareness of the TTW program, accurate knowledge was sorely limited. Further, two participants attempted to use the Ticket, with no success. Implications of this study include emphasis on addressing the employment needs of Latinos with disabilities in comprehensive and culturally-competent ways.