The Impact of Early Work Experiences on VR Outcomes

Abstract

In response to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation (MOVR) developed a new service designed to provide early work experiences for VR-eligible students with disabilities. The MOVR summer work experience was offered prior to a student’s final year of high school and consists of a 6-week paid work experience with an employer in a competitive integrated setting with support provided by a community rehabilitation program (CRP). The primary purpose of this evaluation was to determine whether participation in the summer work experience impacted postsecondary employment outcomes, as well as develop a better understanding of the underlying mechanism(s).