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j. 1. B. Who are minorities;

Current Narrative:

Although each item is researched separately, for the purposes of brevity two areas of needs assessment will be combined into one section of this update. These items are:

  • Individuals with disabilities who are minorities.
  • Individuals with disabilities who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program.

California Population

Projection by the Demographic Research Unit from the California Department of Finance indicates total estimated population of California at 38.9 million. Of this total, ACS 5-year estimates for 2013-2017 indicate 10.6% of Californians are reported to have some type of disability. In comparison with the greater U.S. population, 13.2% of all Americans are reported to have a disability.

For 2017, the ACS indicates the employment rate of working-age people with disabilities in California was 36%, versus 37% nationwide. People without disabilities were employed at greater rates: 77% nationally and 75% for California. The wage gap between working-age people with and without disabilities is significant. In 2017, the full-time/full-year (FTFY) median annual earnings of working-age people with disabilities was $40,353.  Conversely, people without disabilities out-earned people with disabilities by $5,096 ($45,449 median annual earnings). According to the 2018 Annual Report on People with Disabilities in America, the national poverty rate of individuals with disabilities (ages 18-64) was almost 30% in 2017. In contrast, the poverty rate of individuals without disabilities was estimated at 13%.

Ethnicities: Underserved or unserved populations within California may be identified by comparing data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and other survey sources with CDOR consumer demography. According to CDOR PY 2017-18 case records, consumers who report their ethnicity as Hispanic/Latinx represent 38.3% of CDOR’s caseload followed by White (35.6%); African American (15.7%); Asian American (5.2%); American Indian (0.8%); and Pacific Islander (0.3%). During PY 2016-2017, consumers who reported their ethnicity as Hispanic/Latinx represented 36.8% of CDOR’s caseload, followed by White (36.9%); African American (16.8%); Asian American (4.9%); American Indian (0.8%); and Pacific Islander (0.3%).

Findings: According to the 2017 ACS for California, 8.2% of individuals with a disability identify as Hispanic/Latinx. The 2011-2014 CSA identified Hispanic/Latinx ethnicities as an underserved group. However, as a result of cultural outreach measures to Hispanic/Latinx communities, there has been a significant increase in representation of this ethnic group. The CDOR’s most recent caseload data more accurately represents the California population and the Hispanic/Latinx is no longer considered underserved.

Additionally, CDOR’s caseload data aligns with the 2013- 2017 ACS findings which identifies the ethnicities of Californians with disabilities as White alone, not Hispanic or Latinx (13.5%) and Black or African American (15%). America Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian (16.4%) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (10.4%) ethnic groups may be considered underserved based upon comparative data, and there may be a need for CDOR to continue increasing outreach efforts, information and referral on VR services.

Primary Disability Impairments: For PY 2017-18, CDOR caseload data identifies Psychiatric disabilities as the most commonly reported disability (25.7%); followed by Learning (19.7%); Physical (16.9%); Intellectual (13.0%); Cognitive (7.7%); Deaf (5.7%); Blind/Visual (4.7%); Traumatic Brain Injury (1.2%); and Not reported (5.4%).

During PY 2016-17, Psychiatric disabilities were the most commonly reported disability impairment (26.4%); followed by Learning (19.8%); Physical (17.9%); Intellectual (11.5%); Cognitive (8.2%); Deaf (6.0%); Blind/Visual (5.6%); Traumatic Brain Injury (1.26%); and Not Reported (3.3%).

Findings: In comparison, California population estimates by the 2017 ACS indicate the following proportions for non-institutionalized people with disabilities among all ages:

  • 5.8% reported an Ambulatory Disability
  • 5.2% reported an Independent Living Disability
  • 4.3% reported a Cognitive Disability
  • 3.0% reported a Hearing Disability
  • 2.0% reported a Visual Disability

Cognitive disability was identified as the second-highest self-reported impairment with the highest reported disability type being Ambulatory as reported in the 2017 ACS. Participants of the Survey reported one or more disability, as appropriate, and may account for the differences between CDOR’s caseload data and ACS data. Another important note is as with ethnicity, terms used by the Census to specify disabilities do not fully align with CDOR’s disability categories. Furthermore, CDOR may conduct research into whether the disparity between CDOR caseload data and ACS data can be attributed to underserving of consumer populations or if there are other factors causing the disparity.

For both Blind/Visual and Hearing impairments, CDOR caseload indicates higher representation than the population estimates reflected in the ACS. In the light of the data reflected in the Census and in CDOR’s consumer caseload, Blind/Visual and Hearing disabilities are not considered underserved.

Mental health-related impairments comprised the majority of CDOR’s caseload for the past five program years and has placed emphasis on service delivery to this population by developing goal one under priority one to ensure consumers with behavioral health disabilities receive wraparound services and provide a continuum of care. Refer to Description (l)(1) for additional information on this goal.

Considering the disparity in disability representation between CDOR caseload data and ACS data, i CDOR caseload data for all disability types may be represented at significantly higher proportions than the disability categories indicated in the ACS estimates for California.

Self-care and Independent Living disabilities are categories that are not drawn out specifically in CDOR caseload data but could identify those with the most significant disabilities. Future research may involve consulting with Independent Living partners such as Independent Living Centers and Mental Health Cooperative Programs located throughout the state.

The ‘Ambulatory’ disability category used by the ACS to describe physical impairments related to mobility can only be compared to CDOR’s closest disability category description of ‘Physical’. Due to the differentiation in terms used to describe disability types, a comparison of CDOR’s ‘Physical’ disability type cannot be directly made to the term used to describe physical disability of ‘Ambulatory’. However, Physical disability is represented in significantly greater proportions for CDOR demography than what is indicated in the ACS’s Ambulatory disability category.

Next Steps: Definitions used to describe disability by the ACS and CDOR do not readily align. The CDOR uses eight primary disability impairments in contrast with the five disability types used by the Census and there are limitations in disability descriptions reflected in the ACS. Due to the limitations in the level of detail used to describe different disabilities, there is a possibility that certain disability types may be underserved in reference to population estimates available in the ACS. As no direct comparison of ACS population estimates by disability can be made with CDOR consumer disability data, future research for inclusion in the final CSA may involve deeper analysis into which specific disabilities comprise each of the five disability types, then conducting a detailed comparison of the two datasets to assess areas of underserving among the disability types.

Educational Attainment: According to the 2017 ACS, the percentage of people with disabilities ages 25 and older living in California with only a high school diploma or equivalent was 24.8% and 12.5% for a Bachelor’s degree.

In PY 2017-18, 17% of all CDOR consumers whose cases were closed attained a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by 1.8% having an Associate’s degree or vocational/technical certificate or license, and 1.8% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Findings: Based on available ACS data, CDOR consumers are less likely to have the same level of postsecondary education when compared to individuals with disabilities statewide. The CDOR conducted research through a workgroup to assess outcomes of consumers receiving either college/university or business/vocational training services though the VR program. The workgroup was formed to identify opportunities for enhancing the efficacy of these training services. The following initial findings emerged as a result of the workgroup:

  • College/University Vs. Business/Vocational Training: Explained in further detail in item VI-VR j.1.D, CDOR consumer data indicates a 13.4% difference in wages for those who opt for College/University training in lieu of vocational training, and an almost 31% difference in wages for those who have had college/university training versus no college or vocational training.
  • Consumer Outcomes After Year Three of College/University or Vocational Training: The third-year consumers receive either university or business training appears to be a critical point in time. Attrition rates for consumers receiving this service indicate only about 25% of consumers who begin college and university reach the fourth year. Consumers receiving business/vocational training see an increase in their successful closure rates within the first year of service but experience a drop-in closure rates if these consumers have not found employment by the fourth year of receiving the service. The decline in closure rates go from mid-50% to high 30%.

Next Steps: As a result of the initial findings for CDOR consumers who receive college/university or business/vocational training, CDOR is exploring ways to increase the number of consumers that complete their college/university training and becoming employed. One such measure is to make it a priority to increase the quality of employment outcomes for consumers. The CDOR’s first goal under priority one is to help consumers find a career track with upward mobility that offers sustainable and living wages. The CDOR will measure the progress at achieving this goal by increasing the number of consumers that attain credentials and have measurable skills gains. Refer to Description (l)(1) for additional information on this goal.

The final CSA will provide further analysis and considerations for consumers who receive college/university or vocational training.

Earnings: According to the 2017 ACS, the nationwide median annual earnings for people with disabilities working full-time/full-year employment and ages 18 to 64 years old is $40,353. In comparison, people without disabilities earn $45,449 annually.

CDOR caseload data indicates that in PY 2017-18, median annual earnings for people with disabilities whose cases were closed successfully was $23,040, or $12.00 per hour. In the previous 2016-17 PY, median annual earnings for consumers whose cases were closed successfully was $21,120, or $11.00 per hour. Data indicates CDOR consumer median wage attainment is at or slightly above California’s minimum hourly wage of $11.00 for employers with 25 or less employees to $12.00 for employers with 26 or more employees per hour as of 2019.

Findings: The ACS findings on the annual earnings of individuals with disabilities and CDOR consumer caseload data indicates a wage gap. Using the 2017 data, CDOR consumers earn $17,313 per year less than the annual earnings for people with disabilities reported by the ACS. To this end, CDOR has made increasing the quality and quantity of employment outcomes for consumers its first priority for the 2020-2024 State Plan, with the first goal being to increase wages and the second goal to increase successful employment outcomes. The CDOR continues to seek opportunities to better serve individuals with disabilities by increasing partnerships with local businesses to develop or expand work experience, internships and employment prospects.

Disability Type and Wage: CDOR caseload data indicates a correlation between disability type and wage. For SFY 2017-18, median hourly wage attainment by disability type indicates consumers with blind/visual impairments earn the highest wages on average, compared to all other disabilities:

  • Blind/Visual: $22.49
  • Physical: $16.56
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing: $15.94
  • Psychiatric: $15.42
  • Traumatic Brain Injury: $14.80
  • Cognitive: $13.00
  • Learning: $12.17
  • Intellectual/Developmental: $12.00

Next Steps: The CDOR will explore ways to increase wages for all consumers, including those with the most significant barriers to employment, and places an emphasis on this in priority one, goal two to increase consumer wages during the next four program years.  Refer to Description (l)(1) for additional information on this goal.