Entering work: employment outcomes of people with developmental disabilities

Abstract

This paper provides a current snapshot of employment outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities who had recently entered integrated employment (individual and group supported jobs) with the support of a community rehabilitation provider. Individual outcomes are based on an analysis of the National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers conducted between 2004 and 2005 by the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Survey results show that the majority of respondents with developmental disabilities worked part-time in individual jobs, predominantly in the entry-level service industry; earned above federal minimum wage; and received paid time off. Differences in employment outcomes by type of integrated employment model are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings.

The Role of Community Rehabilitation Providers in Employment for Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Results of the 2010–2011 National Survey

“…Data suggest that individual employment yields higher levels of income and a wider array of job choices than does group-supported employment, despite the fact that people in group supported-employment work more hours on average (Boeltzig, Timmons, & Butterworth, 2008;Human Services Research Institute, 2012). Individuals in group-supported employment are also more likely to report that they want to work elsewhere (Human Services Research Institute, 2012).…”

Factors Related to Early Termination From Work for Youth With Disabilities

“…However, facility-based employment (also referred to as sheltered workshops) is no longer considered a successful employment outcome for youth with disabilities (Boeltzig, Timmons, & Butterworth, 2008). This is because facility-based employment is part of the secondary labor market.…”

“…There is a trend in rehabilitation counseling of placing individuals with disabilities, especially those with developmental disabilities, in facility-based employment (Braddock, Hemp, & Rizzolo, 2005), despite the fact that it is not considered a successful employment outcome for individuals with disabilities (Boeltzig, et al, 2008). Because workers in secondary labor markets tend to have less stable employment, participation in the secondary labor market could be a reason for early termination for youth with disabilities.…”

Implementation of Job Development Practices

“…However, only a minority of adults with IDD are employed in regular businesses, and the percentage has declined from 25% in 2001 to 20% in 2009 (Butterworth et al, 2011). In addition, when adults with disabilities work, they tend to be in entry-level jobs with limited hours and earnings (Boeltzig, Timmons, & Butterworth, 2008;Mank, Cioffi, & YovanofF, 2003;Migliore & Buttetworth, 2008). This problem is even greater for adults with the most significant disabilities (Gilmore, Schuster, Timmons, & Butterworth, 2000;West, 1995).…”