Capacity Building Grant University of TexasPan American University of North Texas

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Capacity Building GrantUniversity of Texas-Pan
AmericanUniversity of North Texas
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Panel of Presenters

• Dr. Paul Leung
• Dr. Linda Holloway
• - University of North Texas
• Dr. Frederick Menz
• - University of Wisconsin-Stout
• Thomas Shefcik
• Dr. Joan Reed
• - The University of Texas-Pan American

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Why Diversity Research?

• Dr. Paul Leung
• University of North Texas

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What Diversity Research Can Do

• Diversity research can help VR and CRPs to
• Identify Diverse Cultural Values
• Understand Cultural Competency
• Use Culturally Appropriate Methods

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Racial Bias in Rehabilitation

• Rosenthal (2004) Practicing VR counselors rated
  African American consumers more negatively than
  European American clients
• Strohmer Leierer (2000) Systematic counselor
  bias in gender,age,social class,etc.

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Responsiveness to 21st Century America

• Demographic Changes faster and quicker than
  most projections
• Decreasing resources
• Increasing expectations

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Qualitative Research Advantages

• Qualitative Research can
• Collect a different type of data.
• Look beyond the numbers.
• Focus on the lived experiences of participants.
• Value the uniqueness of individuals.

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Participatory Action Research (PAR) Model

• Ethnic / racial population research.
• Collaborative, diverse research team.
• Consumers are involved in the research.
• Can look at sub-groups that are often overlooked
  or ignored.

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Capacity Building and Section 21

• Thomas Shefcik
• The University of Texas-Pan American

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Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act

• Disability strikes ethnic and racial minorities
  at a disproportionately high rate.
• Patterns of inequitable treatment of minorities
  have been documented in all major junctures of
  the VR process.
• Lower participation rates.
• Higher rates of unsuccessful case closures.
• Less VR dollars spent on minority consumers.

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RSA Capacity Building for CRPs

• Rehabilitation Research Initiative, a partnership
  between The University of Texas-Pan American and
  the University of North Texas (Region 6
  CRP-RCEP).
• Objectives
• Conduct research to identify barriers,
• Identify new and innovative strategies,
• Disseminate results.

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What Did We Do?Research Methods and Product
Development

• Dr. Joan Reed
• The University of Texas-Pan American

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Multi-Method Research

• Literature Review
• Focus groups
• CRP staff
• VR personnel
• Consumers (IL center)
• Telephone Interviews
• CRP staff in six major cities
• Web-based survey
• VR counselors in six states

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Products Developed

• Rehabilitation Research Initiative website
• www.panam.edu/dept/rehabri
• Why Diversity Matters A Training ToolKit for
  Community Rehabilitation Programs
• http//www.panam.edu/dept/rehabri/Design/toolkit/i
  ndex.htm

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Rehabilitation Research Initiative Home Page
http//www.panam.edu/dept/rehabri/
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NEW! Online Diversity Training Resource

• Why Diversity Matters
• A Training ToolKit for Community Rehabilitation
  Programs

See it online at www.panam.edu/dept/rehabri
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Products Developed

• WebCT Course
• Diversity Training for Community Rehabilitation
  Programs
• Available from the Region 6 CRP-RCEP at
  University of North Texas

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Products Developed

• Article
• Barriers to the Participation of Hispanic/Latino
  Individuals in Community Rehabilitation Programs
  (Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling,
  Summer 2005).
• Monograph
• Increasing Capacity of Community
  Rehabilitation Programs to Serve Hispanic
  Individuals (December 2005).

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What Did We Learn?Research Results

• Dr. Linda Holloway
• University of North Texas

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Barriers to CRP Access

• Transportation
• Language
• Cultural mistrust
• Low expectation of job placement
• Lack of understanding of the rehabilitation
  process
• Technology
• Differing concepts of time

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Counselor survey (n 169)

• 165 use CRPs
• 52 - No barriers exit that limit access to CRPs
  by minority consumers
• The ONLY barrier to minority participation in
  CRPs is when they do not speak English

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Top 3 factors that influence selection decision

• Type of employment services offered (107)
• Success rate (106)
• Location (66)
• Type of consumers served (63)
• Interpreters/bilingual staff (33)
• Materials in consumers language (1)

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Top 3 consumer traits

• Type of disability (23)
• Severity of disability (118)
• Vocational aptitudes (91)
• Vocational interests (87)
• Language spoken by consumer (18)
• Age (8)
• Race or ethnicity (6)

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What effect does language have on participation

• Minor barrier (72)
• Major barrier (47)
• No effect (37)
• No opinion (10)
• Not answered (3)

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Ratings of other barriers

• Transportation major barrier (94)
• Technology major barrier (65)
• Low expectations of job placement (62)
• Lack of knowledge of VR process (56)
• Cultural mistrust (47)
• Concept of time (37)

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Ensuring Multicultural Competencies

• Know your own cultures
• Assume good intentions
• Actively listen
• Use person-centered planning
• Avoid ethnic stereotypes
• Ask.. What does that mean to you?
• Be a role model to others
• Share stories

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What Does it Mean?Interpreting the Results

• Dr. Frederick Menz
• University of Wisconsin-Stout

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Expanded Framework for Classifying Barriers and
Strategies to Increase Access, Participation,
and Success
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Barriers An Expanded Framework

• Locus or origin of barriers,
• Context in which barriers will be important,
• Perspective on barrier importance,
• Relative importance of barriers.

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Strategies Dealing with the Barriers

• Mission statements
• Community connectedness
• Inclusivity
• Communication
• Orientation
• Comprehensiveness and equal access

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Strategies Dealing with the Barriers

• Individualization
• Specialized services and support
• Staffing
• Training and development
• Organizational development

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Diversity research can help us build INCLUSIVE
community rehabilitation programs.