Deaf-Blindness: Personal Attributes, Vocational Support Services, and Employment Outcomes

Literature Review – Premiere Career Services
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October 14, 2023
Navigating the vocational landscape presents unique challenges for individuals with deaf-blindness, a demographic often overlooked in academic and vocational research. Despite the integral role employment plays in enhancing quality of life and fostering independence, there remains a significant gap in understanding the specific needs and barriers this community faces. The study delves deeply into the intricate interplay between personal attributes, vocational support services, and employment outcomes for those with deaf-blindness. By drawing insights from a rich dataset, the research not only sheds light on the multifaceted factors that shape their job prospects but also underscores the paramount importance of adopting tailored and collaborative vocational rehabilitation strategies to ensure their successful integration into the workforce.
Review of Related Literature
Frentzel, E., Geyman, Z., Rasmussen, J., Nye, C., & Murphy, K. M. (2021). Pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities: A scoping review. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 54(2), 103-116.
This comprehensive article dives into the multifaceted challenges students with disabilities face when seeking employment. With an emphasis on the importance of vocational rehabilitation counseling in enhancing employment prospects for these students, the authors embark on a mission to unearth strategies that significantly bolster employment chances. The methodology is rooted in a scoping review that meticulously examines the literature surrounding pre-employment transition services tailored for students with disabilities. The study casts a wide net, spanning sources from America, Europe, and Australia, capturing diverse perspectives and findings.
One of the pivotal revelations of the study is the acknowledgment of the myriad employment-related obstacles that students with disabilities grapple with, thus underscoring the dire need for potent vocational rehabilitation counseling. Delving deeper, the authors categorize the transition services under study into five cardinal groups: job exploration counseling, immersive work-based learning experiences, holistic counseling avenues for collegiate or training programs, comprehensive workplace readiness training, and rigorous self-advocacy instruction.
Among the myriad of insights, a few stand out prominently. The article underscores the tangible benefits of robust pre-employment services, notably enhancing employment prospects for students with disabilities. Experiential work-based learning, simulated workplace engagements, internships, and student-helmed enterprises emerge as particularly efficacious. Moreover, the authors champion the indispensable role of self-advocacy skills, emphasizing their centrality in enabling students to adeptly recognize and articulate their unique needs and rights within the workplace milieu.
This article serves as a lighthouse in the broader context, illuminating the path for PCS's evaluative endeavors. It offers invaluable insights into crafting strategies that not only equip individuals with disabilities with the requisite skills and...