Employment outcomes and support needs of Michigan Project SEARCH graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A mixed-method study

Connie Sung; Marisa H. Fisher; Christiana Okyere; Jiyoon Park; Heerak Choi

doi:10.3233/JVR-230042

Back

Employment outcomes and support needs of Michigan Project SEARCH graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A mixed-method study

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Employment outcomes and support needs of Michigan Project SEARCH graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A mixed-method study

Connie Sung, Marisa H. Fisher, Christiana Okyere, Jiyoon Park and Heerak Choi

Journal of vocational rehabilitation, Vol.59(3), pp.233-249

11/14/2023

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-230042

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230042View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Project SEARCH is a one-year school-to-work transition program that prepares students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for competitive employment. OBJECTIVE: The current study used a mixed-method explanatory design to examine Project SEARCH graduates' overall experience of transitioning from Project SEARCH to employment, their long-term employment outcomes, and their support needs during and after the program. METHOD: Parents of 31 Project SEARCH graduates completed an online survey regarding the graduates' outcomes and 9 parents agreed to participate in a follow-up interview. RESULTS: Respondents reported positive employment outcomes for 24 of the Project SEARCH graduates (77.4% employed after Project SEARCH), primarily in the customer service industry. CONCLUSION: The graduates were satisfied with their employment but also experienced difficulties and a need for additional employment preparation and support after Project SEARCH.

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Rehabilitation

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Employment outcomes and support needs of Michigan Project SEARCH graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A mixed-method study
Creators: Connie Sung - Michigan State University
Marisa H. Fisher - Michigan State University
Christiana Okyere - Michigan State University
Jiyoon Park - Changwon National University
Heerak Choi - Michigan State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of vocational rehabilitation, Vol.59(3), pp.233-249
DOI: 10.3233/JVR-230042
ISSN: 1052-2263
eISSN: 1878-6316
Publisher: Sage
Number of pages: 17
Grant note: Office of the Provost and Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Michigan State University; Michigan State University
Language: English
Date published: 11/14/2023
Academic Unit: Counselor Education and Supervision
Record Identifier: 9985219304202771

Metrics

1 Record Views

1 Times Cited - Web of Science