Employment Outcomes among African American and White Women with Disabilities: Examining the Inequalities

Abstract

Compared to individuals without disabilities, those with disabilities experience inequalities in finding and sustaining employment that are more profound among women and minorities. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in employment outcomes for African American and white women with disabilities who received vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The VR data that this study used included 18,602 women, 18-65 years old at entry into the VR system in a Midwestern state. Using logistic regression analyses, we found that, compared to white women, African American women had lower odds of employment. Middleaged women were more likely to find jobs than were younger women, and women of both racial groups who received SSI/SSDI were less likely to be employed. Finally, VR services were significantly associated with employment for both races. We discuss the need to examine VR policies and practices to improve employment outcomes of African American women with disabilities.

Barriers to and facilitators of vocational development for Black young adults with serious mental illnesses.

“…For example, although Black people generally have less access to updated technology for job applications and college courses, this issue is not consistently taken into account when job counselors are preparing vocational plans (Vryhof & Balcazar, 2020). In addition, many Black people with SMI don't know about the availability of and eligibility standards for formal vocational supports such as Vocational Rehabilitation, One-Stop Career Centers, and Independent Living Centers (Oberoi et al, 2015). Since they are less likely to seek mental health services than White people, they are more likely to miss out on vocational services embedded within such programs (Anderson, 2018).…”

Disparities in Vocational Supports for Black Young Adults with Mental Health Conditions

“…1,5 Black people with disabilities are less likely to be accepted for government funded vocational rehabilitation (VR) services than White peers. 6 If accepted into VR, minorities are less likely to receive training or have their cases closed successfully when compared to people who are White with disabilities. 6 A study using VR data found that the VR cases of Black clients with mental health conditions, if screened in, were more likely to be closed as non-rehabilitated when compared to White clients with mental health conditions.…”

On Becoming Scholars and Activists for Disability Rights

“…Individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds often experience challenges when applying for social services like vocational rehabilitation (which provides supports for pursuing employment and educational opportunities), including difficulties in obtaining all required documents, difficulties meeting eligibility criteria, and receiving fewer services than some white consumers (Oberoi, Balcazar, Suarez‐Balcazar, Langi, & Lukyanova, ; Taylor‐Ritzler, Balcazar, Suarez‐Balcazar, & Garcia‐Iriarte, ). Moreover, these individuals are also underserved by health services and, as a result, they are likely to have limited access to preventive treatments and experience secondary conditions (Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler et al., ).…”