The development, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a vocational rehabilitation guidebook

Background: Students with mobility disabilities may perceive barriers in accessing post-secondary education for several reasons, one of which is financial support. Parents of students with disabilities are typically the primary support for their children in applying for services to support their education but may lack self-efficacy and literacy in how to support them post-high school. Objective: This study describes the development of a guidebook intervention paired with a seminar designed specifically for parents of students with mobility disabilities who are interested in post-secondary education and examines the preliminary efficacy of the intervention. This study aimed to educate parents of students with mobility disabilities on the processes of applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS). Methods: This pre/post-intervention, mixed-methods study included parents of students with mobility disabilities aged 12-23 who are interested in attending post-secondary education. Participants engaged in an educational intervention program that included a seminar and guidebook. Prior to the start of the seminar, participants completed a pre-intervention survey evaluating their confidence and knowledge of SSI and VRS. After the seminar, participants reviewed the guidebook and completed a post-intervention survey assessing the guidebook's usability and their confidence and knowledge of SSI and VRS. In addition, 20% of participants were randomly selected for follow-up interviews. Participants: Forty parents completed the survey, seven completed the interview. The median age of their children was 16, 29 of the students had a congenital disability, 11 acquired their disability. Five families were previously connected to Vocational Rehabilitation, 35 were not. Results: Statistically significant increases in confidence (p < 0.00) and knowledge (p < 0.00), were seen after exposure to the intervention. High usability (M = 9) scores were also observed. Qualitative results further expanded participants’ views on the intervention and indicated that they valued the development and use of the intervention. Conclusion: This study is the first to describe the development of an intervention to support parents of children with mobility disabilities to access SSI and VRS services, and examine the preliminary efficacy of the intervention. Further efforts are needed to distribute the guidebook, examine the impact on enrollment among students with disabilities, and examine the impact of the intervention among a wider population of persons with disabilities.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Huang, Kathryn Florence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rice, Laura A

• Vocational Rehabilitation
• mobility disability
• college
• financial aid

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Kathryn Huang

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129279

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129279