Conclusions
For the past 5 years Alaska Works has implemented programs and worked on policies to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities and to increase employment opportunities. This survey is a follow-up to the 1999 Survey of Employment Barriers for Persons with Severe Disabilities (P. Hanes). Since the survey instrument used in this study was slightly different than the one used in the previous survey, a comprehensive comparison could not be made. Further, small sample sizes for some categories prevented similar correlation analysis. However, many of the findings from this study are similar to the 1999 findings with a few exceptions.
Respondents in this study were similar to those who responded to the 1999 survey in the following ways. The majority were women, who were not married at the time, and did not have children living with them. Educational levels were similar with forty percent having a high school diploma or GED, and one third had education beyond high school. Proportionately, the respondents in this study were older with more than half over the age of 50 years old. Another difference was that almost half of the respondents in this study were Alaska Native or American Indian as compared to the 1999 study with over half being Caucasian. The onset of the disability was similar in both groups of respondents, with the largest percentage reporting their disability developed gradually. The majority of respondents reported their physical health was poor.
The employment status of respondents in this study was very low with only 4% employed and 1% self-employed. This may be due in part to the average age of the respondent group which was older and approaching retirement age. The employment rate is higher (16%) if all respondents who indicated they had ever worked after receiving benefits are considered. Employed participants resided primarily in the urban communities of Fairbanks and Juneau.
As found in the 1999 study there was a significant relationship between the educational attainment and income level of respondents before they started collecting benefits. Individuals with higher levels of education reported higher levels of income before they began collecting Social Security benefits or Adult Public Assistance. Both surveys found that respondents had substantial work histories (more than 10 years) before receiving benefits with the vast majority working fulltime. This study found that almost half of respondents had worked positions other than the service field. However, employment following benefits was primarily part-time in the service industry. Respondents indicated they were just as satisfied with their employment after receiving benefits as before. Similar to the 1999 survey, individuals who participated in Vocational Rehabilitation Services were more likely to have been employed since they began collecting benefits. This study found that pre-job skills training, job finding skills, and job skills training were the vocational rehabilitation services most frequently used.
The importance of service and supports to obtaining and maintaining employment found in this study were similar to those found in the 1999. This study found reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation and affordable housing at the top of the list by almost all respondents. Other important services and supports were interpersonal support (i.e., family, friends, employers and co-workers); and benefits (i.e., affordable health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, retirement plan). In addition to health or disability, the most important barrier to employment for respondents was making enough money and the affect of wages on their benefits.
Almost all respondents received Adult Public Assistance and did not want to lose benefits. Eighty-eight percent of respondents (N=188) indicated they were currently receiving Adult Public Assistance and 43% reported they wanted the ability to save money beyond the current limit if it meant they would lose this benefit, but they did want the ability to set aside earnings in an Independence, Retirement, or Medical Savings Account.
This study found that 18% of the respondents indicated they might work or change jobs in the next year. Further, respondents preferred part-time employment. This might be due to fear of losing cash benefits and not being able to make enough money. The number of unemployed respondents who might consider employment might be increased if they were assured of affordable transportation and housing. In addition, the results of this study suggest that efforts to increase access to job skill training would enable individuals receiving disability benefits to quality for higher paying jobs. This would address the primary concerns about making enough money and losing benefits.
