Acceptance rates in state–federal vocational rehabilitation of clients with brain injury: Is racial disparity an issue?

Abstract

Primary objective: To utilize Aday and Andersen's Framework for the Study of Access to examine racial disparity within the State-Federal vocational rehabilitation system, among clients with brain injury. Research questions included: Do pre-disposing characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, gender, marital status and education influence vocational rehabilitation acceptance rates in the US? Do enabling characteristics such as referral source, insurance coverage and primary source of support at application influence vocational rehabilitation acceptance rates in the US? Is there a difference, based on race, in the reason for case closure for vocational rehabilitation services?

Methods and procedures: Exhaustive CHAID analysis was conducted with acceptance for rehabilitation as the criterion variable and pre-disposing characteristics as predictor variables. Chi-square analysis was calculated with regard to reason for closure.

Main outcomes and results: Descriptive findings are presented. Of the pre-disposing factors, the most significant predictor of acceptance rate was education level. Pearson Chi-square analyses revealed significant differences between White and non-White clients with brain injury with regard to reason for closure.

Conclusions: The data indicate that racial differences were only a small part of the overall equation and again that distinct disparity by race is not evidenced in the RSA-911 data for persons with a primary or secondary diagnosis of brain injury.

• Brain injury
• racial disparity
• vocational rehabilitation
• RSA 911 database
• exhaustive CHAID