Abstracts

RATIONALE: Adults with epilepsy in New York State vocational rehabilitation programs are falling under a restrictive interpretation of waiver guidelines that will compromise their ability to attain vocational supports. Eligibility requirements include IQ, psychological and behavioral assessments, with results often excluding them from needed services. We seek to examine the employment of adult individuals with active and controlled seizures in vocational rehabilitation programs that will show the need for vocational supports for this population to attain and maintain employment in the community.
METHODS: A 10-Item survey was sent throughout New York State to 228 vocational service providers for adult individuals with developmental disabilities.
RESULTS: 29 (13%) Vocational Rehabilitation Program Directors responded identifying 1,082 (14%) adult clients diagnosed with epilepsy out of a total client population of 7,582. 93% of agencies offer supported employment, 66% competitive employment, 69% prevocational training, 90% job development/placement, 83% job coaching, 86% follow-along services, 52% workshops and 41% enclaves. Client Inteligent Quotients range from profoundly retarded to normal. 90% of clients with epilepsy have an additional developmental disability including Mental Retardation (83%), Mental Health issues (5%), Cerebral Palsy (2%), Downs Syndrome (1%) and (14%) with additional disabilities. Of those individuals with controlled seizures, 11% are employed in the community, 14% work in a workshop, and 3% work in an enclave. Of those individuals with active seizure, only 6% work in the community, 9% work in a workshop, and 1% work in an enclave.
CONCLUSIONS: Those individuals with epilepsy that are receiving vocational supports are less likely than persons with other developmental disabilities to find competitive community employment. Those individuals with active seizures receiving the same supports are considerably less likely to find competitive community employment. Under current New York State waiver guidelines, these individuals receiving vocational supports may no longer be eligible to receive services through their current developmental disabilities providers. Without services, their opportunity to strive for and reach a personal employment goal will be eliminated.
[Supported by: Epilepsy Foundation of Southern New York]