Population-Based Estimates to Assist VR Planning and Evaluation
Andrew J. Houtenville, Ph.D.
University of New Hampshire

November 24, 2009
Preface
•	Member of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) at Hunter College
•	We have funds to provide technical assistance to disability-related service providers and policymakers.
•	Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—the sister agency of RSA.
Purpose of this Presentation
#1) Describe the StatsRRTC’s new product – the
       Annual Disability Statistics Compendium
#2) Discuss work with the Independent Living
       organizations
#3) Discuss work with the advocates in Illinois   
       around framing goals using statistics
#4) Discuss the potential of crafting some stylized
       statistics for state VR agencies.
#1) Annual Disability Statistics Compendium

(www.DisabilityCompendium.org)
Annual Disability Statistics Compendium
•	To provide the disability community with a comprehensive set of the statistics
–	Ready access
–	Up-to-date
–	Variety of topics and sources
–	Population (survey) and administrative statistics
–	Guide to existing sources of data and statistics
•	Modeled after Statistical Abstracts of the U.S.
Design of the Compendium
•	Basically ... a massive set of tables with descriptive summary pages
•	Based on existing published statistics
•	References to original sources with links
•	Access to technical assistance via a toll free number
•	A particular focus on state-level statistics in this the first year.
•	Issue with 2008 ACS Summary Files

Topics Covered
•	Population size and disability prevalence
•	Employment, poverty, and earnings from work, 
•	Education (enrollment and attainment)
•	Self-reported health status, health behaviors,	and other health statistics
•	SSI and SSDI
•	Special education
•	Vocational rehabilitation (which will expand next year)
•	Monthly employment statistics	

VR Content
•	Tables 78-81 contain statistics for FFY 2007, by state agency
•	Topics: 
–	Applicants
–	Closures after Services Initiated or Completed
–	Closures with Successful Employment Outcomes
–	Rehabilitation Rate
•	If you’d like to see other statistics to represent the work of state VR, let me know.
#3) Work with Illinois-based advocacy group
•	Engaged in a dialogue with the Colorado State-wide Independent Living Council 
–	Went back and forth between what statistics were desired and what was feasible given current data
•	Estimate county-level statistics using the 2005-2007 American Community Survey (ACS) and SSA statistics
–	Had to use Public-Use Microdata areas
•	Converted to CIL catchment-area statistics
•	Topics included pop size, prevalence, employment, poverty, education, SSI/SSDI
#3) Work with IL Organizations
•	Engaged in a dialogue with the Chicago Community Trust around their advocacy goals
–	Developed a set of state-level statistics that compared Illinois to other states for each of their focus areas
–	Not just statistical tables but statements about goals
•	Example
–	Next page
Example of Using Stats to Set Goals
•	Goal: New Hampshire wants to be the national leader in the employment of people with disabilities.
•	Compendium Table 97
•	Percentage employed in NH = 45.8%
•	Percentage employed in ND = 56.6%
•	Assuming number of PwD remains constant in NH, it would take employing 8,400 PwD to get to 57.0 percent.

#4) Dialogue with State VR Agencies
•	The StatsRRTC has resources and a desire to work with State VR agencies.
–	Best to do that in a group rather than for each agency.
•	Propose --- a back and forth dialogue
–	What would be useful to VR
–	What is feasible given current data
–	Develop table shells
–	Estimate tables
–	Discuss results and desired/feasible additions
Contact Information
	Andrew J. Houtenville, Ph.D.
	Institute on Disability
	University of New Hampshire
	10 West Edge Drive, Suite 101
	Durham, NH  03824
	(603) 862-3999
	Andrew.Houtenville@unh.edu