Gender differences in access and intervention outcomes: The case for women with disabilities

Gender differences in access and intervention outcomes: the case for women with disabilities Background There are 28 million women living with disabilities in the U.S. People with disabilities experience employment barriers resulting in high unemployment and poverty rates. Women experience higher disability than do men. Women with disabilities face double employment jeopardy. A critical goal of interventions offered by vocational rehabilitation services (VR) is gainful employment. Objective The purpose of this study is to determine gender differences in access to VR and in intervention outcomes.

Methods The study uses Rehabilitation Services Agency (RSA) data from 295,287 cases that were closed by VR in 2004. A t-test of the means is used to test the statistical significance of gender differences in access to VR and in the intervention outcomes observed in educational and employment status, earnings and dependence on public support.

Results Service provision to women was less timely than for men. The results also indicate that VR interventions widened the employment and earnings gap further disadvantaging the women.

Conclusion The analysis results indicate statistically significant access differences in quality of care and timeliness. These differences seem to translate into employment and earnings differences with men experiencing better outcomes than those of women. These findings suggest that men with disabilities stand a better chance of escaping poverty than do women. There is a need for changes in VR service provision that ensures equity in quality of services which might translate into more equitable employment and earnings outcomes.