The Relationship of Degree of Vision Loss, Primary Source of Support, and Previous Work Experience to Employment Outcomes among People with Visual Impairments

The Relationship of Degree of Vision Loss, Primary Source of Support, and Previous Work Experience to Employment Outcomes among People with Visual Impairments

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of degree of functional vision, primary source of support, and previous work experience to employment outcomes among former Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) customers who are visually impaired or blind.One-hundred twenty-eight former MCB customers whose cases were closed as either successfully employed or unsuccessfully employed during fiscal years 2003 and 2004 were examined via mail survey. A series of chi-square analysis indicated that MCB customers who had a previous work experience were more likely to be closed as employed than those who did not have any work experience. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between employment outcomes and the degree of functional vision. Similarly, there was no statistically significant relationship between primary source of support and employment outcomes among participants. Implications for vocational rehabilitation practice as well as suggestions for future rehabilitation research are provided.