Evaluation of the Ticket to Work Program Initial Evaluation Report

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report benefited greatly from the support and advice provided by our project
officer, Paul O’Leary. Paul helped us frame the issues, focus the evaluation efforts,
and use the many SSA data files related to the Ticket to Work program. He also
provided very helpful comment on a draft of this report.
Mike Scott worked tirelessly and thoroughly to develop the data files and programs used
in the analysis of Ticket program participation. In addition, Miriam Loewenberg helped to
with file development as part of her larger effort to create the huge longitudinal data files
that will be used for the impact analysis. All of our data analysis was greatly facilitated by
many SSA staff who answered our questions and provided guidance about the most
appropriate data sets and variables. These staff include Linda Martin, Mary Barbour, Charlie
Scott, Joel Packman, Eileen Hull, Bernie Wasiljov, John Saylor, Lou Koontz, and Michael
Zambonato.
SSA staff from the Office of Operations, Office of Employment Support Programs,
Office of Disability and Income Support Programs, and Office of Legislative
Communications and Affairs provided detailed comments on a draft of this report. They
were particularly helpful in ensuring that we correctly described Ticket to Work policies and
regulations.
The project also received useful advice and insightful comments from the project’s
Technical Evaluation Support Group whose members include the following:
• Evelyn Brodkin (University of Chicago)
• Jeff Funk (Social Security Administration)
• Claire Ghiloni (Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission)
• Bill Kalsbeek (University of North Carolina)
• James Lepkowski (University of Michigan)
• Arthur Meltzer (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)