Project FORWARD: Where Vocational Rehabilitation Can Make a Difference through Community-Based Participatory Research

Area of Science:

• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Disability Studies
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Vocational rehabilitation (VR) practitioners and disability counselors face challenges placing highly educated individuals with disabilities in suitable employment.
• Equitable partnerships between service agencies and employers are crucial for effective supported employment programs.
• Underemployment among college graduates with disabilities can be reduced through strengthened partnerships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the application of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) in vocational rehabilitation (VR).
• To present a supported employment model co-developed using CBPR principles.
• To address challenges in connecting skilled individuals with disabilities to aligned employment opportunities.

Main Methods:

• Partnered with universities, industry stakeholders, and young adults with disabilities following CBPR principles.
• Co-developed and implemented Project FORWARD, a supported internship program.
• Focused on collaborative planning for recruitment, internship structure, and workplace support within the semiconductor industry.

Main Results:

• Outlined three core features of CBPR and five strategies for building research partnerships.
• Project FORWARD demonstrated how CBPR addresses employer and participant needs via flexible internship design.
• Provided practical considerations for implementing CBPR in VR research.

Conclusions:

• CBPR offers a valuable framework for advancing VR research through collaboration, equity, and community relevance.
• CBPR bridges academic and industry goals, supporting co-creation of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Future research should prioritize sustaining community partnerships and developing inclusive employment interventions.