Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals

Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE), a study of 13,444 randomly assigned youth and their families, includes six model demonstration projects and a technical assistance center funded through the U.S. Department of Education and a national evaluation of the model demonstration projects funded through the Social Security Administration. The Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services and the Executive Office of the President partnered with the Department of Education and Social Security Administration to develop and monitor the PROMISE initiative. This article provides an overview of PROMISE as the introduction to this special issue of Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals.

Youth who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits experience disparate educational, employment, and economic outcomes when compared to youth with disabilities who do not receive these entitlements. Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE) was a 6-year national research demonstration project that designed, implemented, and evaluated interventions that led to more successful postschool outcomes for youth SSI recipients ages 14 to 16. Although prior research demonstrations have been conducted testing the combination of case management with other services and supports with SSI populations, research on the taxonomy of those case management strategies considered most effective in supporting positive postschool outcomes is very limited. This article presents a comprehensive taxonomy of case management that provides a common frame of reference for future research on effective case management strategies and translation to practice by discussing implications for policy, practice, and further research when supporting successful postschool outcomes of youth SSI recipients.

Transition services, particularly those that feature work-based learning experiences, often require designated staff to spend the majority of their time in the field. They also require that staff have the skills and supports to properly and effectively deliver these services. Training and monitoring these staff is critically important to ensure youth with disabilities experience strong employment outcomes. Maryland PROMISE was a statewide experimental, multicomponent, and community-based transition project that served 997 youth receiving Supplemental Security Income and their families. To ensure that staff effectively delivered services, Maryland PROMISE provided carefully designed professional development activities that included training, field-based coaching, and performance monitoring. This article reports on the Maryland PROMISE capacity building activities for project staff, provides data on the results of that process, and offers implications for the effective delivery of community-based transition services.

Racially and ethnically diverse youth with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits were randomly assigned to usual services, including available school and vocational rehabilitation (VR) transition services, or enhanced case management and transition services through the Wisconsin Promoting Readiness of Minors in SSI (PROMISE) federal demonstration grant. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis demonstrated increased age, being African American, having a psychiatric disability, and transition services predicted higher youth employment rates. However, enhanced PROMISE transition services were no longer significant in the presence of VR services, suggesting the effect of enhanced services was mediated by increasing engagement in VR. Limitations and implications are discussed regarding the relationship between school and state VR transition services and postsecondary competitive integrated employment outcomes.

Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 Plans may earn a diploma or a certificate of completion when leaving secondary education. This study examined differences in career- and work-based learning services and work experiences of students who earned a high school diploma or a certificate of completion upon exiting high school. Case service data of 969 students with disabilities were analyzed. Results suggested groups differed in the number and types of career- and work-based services, work experiences, post-high school expectations, and work-related concerns expressed by parents. Differences between groups were observed by types of career and work experiences. Significantly greater proportions of diploma-earners expressed expectations to work and attend college. Parents of both groups expressed concerns about their youth losing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and about their youths’ safety and ability to work independently. Limitations and implications for research, policy, and practice are provided.

Transitioning students with disabilities are at a disadvantage for post-school employment. This article explores ASPIRE case managers’ roles in promoting employment among transition-age youth with disabilities receiving SSI. Qualitative and quantitative studies examined programmatic factors related to employment. Results showed that higher rates of face-to-face case management meetings and early employment experiences were associated with improved employment outcomes. Effective case managers’ interactions with families were characterized by persistence, flexibility, and a holistic focus. Case management during the transition to adulthood, which crosses independent living, education, and employment domains, is important. A cross-domain case management model can be effective in mitigating multiple barriers to self-sufficiency experienced by families living with disability and poverty. Limitations and implications for research and practice are included.