A national survey of 48 state coordinators evaluated use of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver to fund supported-employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Very low utilization was found, primarily due to limits on eligibility. Low reimbursement rates to provider agencies and disinterest of providers in using…

Defines and discusses 10 program-development, research, and policy-analysis needs that are crucial for the continued success of the supported-employment program for individuals with disabilities. These include the following: consumer choice and self-determination, meaningful employment outcomes, employer needs and perceptions, natural supports,…

Challenges to supported employment programs for people with disabilities include conversion of day programs to integrated work options, expansion of program capacity, the need to ensure consumer choice and self-determination, and the achievement of meaningful employment outcomes. Specific recommendations are offered for each challenge. (Author/DB)

A Consumer Satisfaction Survey was administered to 110 persons with severe disabilities involved in a supported employment program. Results indicated most consumers liked their jobs, were happy with supported employment services, and would use them again. However, most also felt their current job was not the career they would like to have…

Analysis of the employment histories and functional characteristics of 1,411 individuals involved in supported employment programs in 8 states found less than 8 percent had severe or profound disabilities. Further research and demonstration activities and modification of federal and state supported employment policies are recommended. (Author/DB)

An analysis of employment outcomes of 109 persons (mean age 28) with severe/profound mental retardation from over 90 local community programs indicated that 93 percent were competitively employed, with the mean wage being $3.63 per hour and mean hours of weekly employment being 22. Twelve months after placement, 81.5 percent of clients were still…

Summarizes the present status of supported employment for people with disabilities, discusses major accomplishments of the initiative (such as positive results in benefit-cost analyses) and identifies challenges, including continuing high numbers of individuals in segregated programs, lack of supported employment services for individuals with…

This study examined the activities of employment specialists and nontraditional support providers in a supported employment program for transition-age youth with significant disabilities. Results are detailed for employment characteristics, types of supports needed or desired, identifying and arranging sources of support, support providers, and…

The article reports on a survey of 27 states that received major systems change grants from the Rehabilitation Services Administration to convert traditional day activity programs to supported employment for developmentally and other severely disabled persons. Results indicate states are taking a cautious approach toward converting existing…

Major ongoing supported employment studies conducted at the Rehabilitation Research Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University are profiled in this newsletter. The training center involves individuals with disabilities in the design, implementation, and interpretation of the research. The first research study examined the opinions of 110…

Reports findings from a survey of 385 supported employment agencies on their use of natural supports in time-lined and extended services. Eighty-five percent reported that their agencies emphasize natural supports and that these supports have been successful. Resistance to natural supports by employers and coworkers is discussed. (Author/CR)