Outcomes of home-based employment service programs for people with disabilities and their related factors – a preliminary study in Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this exploratory study is to gain an understanding of the outcomes of home-based employment service programs for people with disabilities and their related factors in Taiwan. Method: This study used survey method to collect 132 questionnaires. Descriptive and two-variable statistics including chi-square (χ²), independent sample t-test and analysis of variance were employed. Results: The results found that 36.5% of the subjects improved their employment status and 75.8% of them improved in employability. Educational level and and vocational categories including “web page production”, “e-commerce”, “internet marketing”, “on-line store” and “website set-up and management” were significantly “positively” associated with either of the two outcome indicators – change of employment status and employability. Conclusions: This study is the first evidence-based study about the outcomes of home-based employment service programs and their related factors for people with disabilities in Taiwan. The outcomes of the home-based employment service programs for people with disabilities were presented.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Home-based rehabilitation for people with disabilities can be effective. A programme of this kind supports participants in improving or gaining employment status as well as developing employability skills.

• Further consideration should be given to developing cost-effective home-based programmes and evaluating their effectiveness.

• Home-based employment
• Taiwan
• vocational rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the agency directors and job coaches, who helped send out and collect the data/questionnaires, and the International Conference on Chinese Social Welfare Policy for providing the opportunity to present a draft of this paper at Chinese University, Hong Kong on 4–5 September 2012. In addition, the authors extend gratitude to their English language editor, Orrin Hoopman of Hualien, Taiwan.