The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy

Young adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have lower employment rates compared to young adults in general, as they may be confronted with physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments, coupled with personal and societal barriers as they mature. These challenges are clear, but the solutions are less so. U...

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Main Authors: Eduardo del Rosario, Jennifer Emilie Mannino, Patricia A. Eckardt, Dawn DiStefano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Health Care Transitions
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949923224000436
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author Eduardo del Rosario
Jennifer Emilie Mannino
Patricia A. Eckardt
Dawn DiStefano
author_facet Eduardo del Rosario
Jennifer Emilie Mannino
Patricia A. Eckardt
Dawn DiStefano
author_sort Eduardo del Rosario
collection DOAJ
description Young adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have lower employment rates compared to young adults in general, as they may be confronted with physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments, coupled with personal and societal barriers as they mature. These challenges are clear, but the solutions are less so. Understanding the factors that impact employment is vital. This study aimed to identify and examine variables related to employment for this population through the lens of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model. The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) federal dataset was used to examine the relationship between functioning and disability within the context of personal and environmental factors as predictors of employment among young adults with CP. Following a descriptive cross-sectional design using a secondary analysis of this national dataset, binomial logistic regression was used to predict employment outcomes. Data representing those with CP who participated in vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and were between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of exit were extracted from the 2019 RSA-911 dataset (n = 2465). Just under one-third (30.4 %, n = 750) emerged as employed, while 69.6 % (n = 1715) were unemployed at exit from their VR programs in 2019. Significant predictors for employment were participation in career and other support services, having basic skills and literacy, and being of non-Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. These findings concur with the persistent low employment rates for adults with CP and reinforce the need to understand the factors that increase employability. Healthcare professionals are urged to incorporate participation in self-management activities for all transition-aged youth that will not only improve health outcomes but promote future independence and increase awareness of vocational services for this population.
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spelling doaj-art-b15df57678ff48cc9a669ae0cf1d7d3b2025-08-20T02:07:35ZengElsevierHealth Care Transitions2949-92322024-01-01210008310.1016/j.hctj.2024.100083The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsyEduardo del Rosario0Jennifer Emilie Mannino1Patricia A. Eckardt2Dawn DiStefano3Family Nurse Practitioner, Lifespan Care of Cerebral Palsy - Pediatrics and Adults, Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 3959 Broadway #803, New York, NY 10032, United States; Corresponding author.Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570, United StatesMolloy University Institutional Review Board, 1000 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570, United StatesSchool of Business, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570, United StatesYoung adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have lower employment rates compared to young adults in general, as they may be confronted with physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments, coupled with personal and societal barriers as they mature. These challenges are clear, but the solutions are less so. Understanding the factors that impact employment is vital. This study aimed to identify and examine variables related to employment for this population through the lens of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model. The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) federal dataset was used to examine the relationship between functioning and disability within the context of personal and environmental factors as predictors of employment among young adults with CP. Following a descriptive cross-sectional design using a secondary analysis of this national dataset, binomial logistic regression was used to predict employment outcomes. Data representing those with CP who participated in vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and were between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of exit were extracted from the 2019 RSA-911 dataset (n = 2465). Just under one-third (30.4 %, n = 750) emerged as employed, while 69.6 % (n = 1715) were unemployed at exit from their VR programs in 2019. Significant predictors for employment were participation in career and other support services, having basic skills and literacy, and being of non-Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. These findings concur with the persistent low employment rates for adults with CP and reinforce the need to understand the factors that increase employability. Healthcare professionals are urged to incorporate participation in self-management activities for all transition-aged youth that will not only improve health outcomes but promote future independence and increase awareness of vocational services for this population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949923224000436Cerebral palsyEmploymentPredictors of employmentSecondary data analysisTransitionYoung adults
spellingShingle Eduardo del Rosario
Jennifer Emilie Mannino
Patricia A. Eckardt
Dawn DiStefano
The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy
Health Care Transitions
Cerebral palsy
Employment
Predictors of employment
Secondary data analysis
Transition
Young adults
title The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy
title_full The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy
title_fullStr The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy
title_full_unstemmed The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy
title_short The state of employment in the United States among young adults with cerebral palsy
title_sort state of employment in the united states among young adults with cerebral palsy
topic Cerebral palsy
Employment
Predictors of employment
Secondary data analysis
Transition
Young adults
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949923224000436
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