It Takes a Village: Influences on Former SSI/DI Beneficiaries Who Transition to Employment.

EDUCATIONAL attainment; ATTITUDE (Psychology); CONFIDENCE; EMPLOYEES; EMPLOYMENT reentry; EXPERIENCE; FOCUS groups; EMPLOYMENT of people with disabilities; DISABILITY insurance; INTERVIEWING; PHENOMENOLOGY; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL personnel; MENTORING; PARENTS; PEOPLE with disabilities; PSYCHOLOGICAL resilience; ROLE models; SELF-efficacy; ASSISTIVE technology; SOCIAL security; VOCATIONAL rehabilitation; QUALITATIVE research; AFFINITY groups; DATA analysis; SOCIAL support; SOCIAL services case management; SELF advocacy; MEDICAL coding; FAMILY attitudes; DESCRIPTIVE statistics

Less than 1% of Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/DI) beneficiaries transition from benefits to employment each year. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 22 individuals who successfully made this transition. Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The resulting analysis provides deep insights into the factors that may facilitate self-sustaining employment for former beneficiaries including strong role modeling, parental encouragement and pressure, mentors, and support from vocational rehabilitation counselors. As a result of this analysis, self-efficacy is re-conceptualized as resulting from these facilitating factors rather than an explanation of employment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]