Facilitating self-employment as a competitive integrated employment outcome: Results of a focus group study with vocational rehabilitation professionals

BACKGROUND: Self-employment is defined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 as a competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcome. However, an analysis of the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) reveals that a limited number of people with disabilities receiving vocational rehabilitation services exit the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies with a self-employment outcome. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) professionals report as facilitators of self-employment outcomes for people with disabilities. METHOD: A national sample of VR professionals was recruited to participate in a series of focus groups. Using Zoom Meeting, participants discussed their experiences with self-employment when providing services to people with disabilities. The research team used NVivo12 software to conduct primary data analysis of the transcribed focus group sessions with the consent of the participants. RESULTS: Four major themes emerged from the analysis to include 1) resources, 2) practices, 3) experiences, and 4) attitudes. Each of these major themes contained subthemes related to facilitators of self-employment for people with disabilities. CONCLUSION: A key finding was the need for more comprehensive and individualized training and support for VR counselors. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.