State-Level Variation in Vocational Rehabilitation Service Use and Related Outcomes Among Transition-Age Youth on the Autism Spectrum.

The team looked at every teen with autism who entered Vocational Rehabilitation in one year.

They compared all 50 states to see who got services and who left with a paid job.

Income, race, and state job rate were counted so only state rules remained.

Huge gaps stayed. A youth in one state was many times more likely to get help than a twin in another state.

The same luck held for leaving the program with a job. State rules beat personal traits.

Ohan et al. (2015) first saw the odd truth: transition youth use the MOST VR hours yet have the WORST job rate. Heald et al. (2020) now show the real driver is not youth traits but the state they live in.

Burgess et al. (2014) tracked 2006-2014 and found jobs rising but still part-time and low-pay. The new data say those gains were not even; some states leapt ahead while others stood still.

Sung et al. (2015) proved job placement and on-the-job supports raise odds for both boys and girls. Heald et al. (2020) add: whether you receive those key services still depends on your ZIP code.

You can write the best transition plan, but state policy can still block services. Use this paper when you appeal for more hours, job coaching, or placement funds. Show administrators that peer states achieve better outcomes with the same kids. Push for the service package Connie et al. proved works: placement plus follow-along support.