A comparison of adult learning disability subtypes in the vocational rehabilitation system

Abstract

Objective: To examine the personal adjustment and vocational outcomes of adults with different subtypes of specific learning disabilities. Design: Cluster analysis was used to derive subtypes from a vocational rehabilitation population, and nonparametric tests were used to test hypotheses. Participants: Three hundred sixty-one successfully employed persons were compared with 252 unsuccessfully employed persons. Main Outcome Measures: Rates of secondary psychiatric disorders, type of training, and category of vocational attainment were the outcome measures. Results: Subtype was associated with vocational outcome and training but not with prevalence of secondary psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusions: Subtypes of specific learning disabilities exist in the vocational rehabilitation population and are associated with differences in vocational training, success rates, and occupational placement.