Abstract:

American Indians and Alaska Natives comprise less than one percent of the resident population of the United States.  Consequently, they are included with "Other Races" or "Other Ethnic Groups" in most tabulations of the general population subdivided by "race" or "ethnicity."  General surveys of the population regarding disability and employment have to be quite large in order for the sample size of American Indians and Alaska Natives to be sufficient to produce statistically reliable estimates that can be compared with estimates for other "ethnic" or "racial" groups, in order to identify statistically significant differences.  Data that is readily available for larger "ethnic" or "racial" groups is often not available for American Indians and Alaska Natives.  Therefore, a special effort is needed to gather and analyze such data, which will be abstracted, summarized, and made available to researchers in order to assist in planning and evaluating successful employment services for American Indians residing on and off reservations.

Purpose:

To compile a coherent summary of data on American Indians and Alaska Natives with disabilities and their employment status, in order to assist in planning VR strategies and to recommend better ways to collect data to ensure usefulness.

Progress to Date:

Objective 1: ·Data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was obtained, and analysis is complete except for the most statistically sophisticated results. New statistical software ("STATA") for analyzing these results has been obtained and installed (Activity 1.1) ·RSA-911 data analyzed (Activity 1.2) ·Alcoholism data analyzed (Activity 1.4) ·National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiological Survey (NLAES) data obtained and prepared for analysis (Activity 1.5). Dr. Spero Manson recommended this database to us. It was derived from a very large national survey conducted in 1992 by the NIH, at the time it was the most ambitious and comprehensive survey of its type ever conducted. Objective 2: see below Objective 3: Data on a national survey of Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) was obtained from the RRTC on CRPs with the assistance of Dr. Fredrick Menz. The data was analyzed by Dr. Margie White, who wrote a draft report that was submitted to Dr. Menz for review. Dr. Menz made a few recommendations, which are being implemented. Objective 4: ·Drs. Schacht & White wrote a technical paper on NHIS sampling design that was submitted for publication (Activity 4.3). ·Dr. White has written a very substantial draft of the Final Report.

Objective 3: Draft final report on CRPs by Dr. White Objective 4: ·A memo making recommendations for improvements to national database collection was submitted to the Project Officer and other NIDRR staff (9/2000). These recommendations were passed on to the Interagency Subcommittee on Disability Statistics, which the P.I. has now joined. ·A substantial draft of the final report has been written by Dr. White Objective 2: The data needed for this objective is not yet being collected by the tribal VR programs. However, such data may become available in the future. Project staff will maintain contact with CANAR staff about the need for this type of data, and when it might be obtained.

Note: This Project has been endorsed by the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR).

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