People with severe disability who cannot function on their own in a normal work setting have an option: supported employment.
Supported employment is a federal program that helps people with psychiatric problems, mental retardation, learning disabilities and traumatic brain injury get ongoing assistance in order to get hired and perform a job. This assistance may include job coaches, transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training and individually tailored supervision.
Apart from the independence and resultant financial income gained by holding down a job, participants become more interactive with their community and integrate on a social level.
Supported Employment Offers Employer Benefits
A variety of incentives make the program enticing to potential employers:
• Applicants are screened to match skills with the job
• Supported employment services are free
• Supported employees receive onsite job training by professionals
• Follow-up services are provided for the length of employment
In the supported employment model, a job coach is assigned to provide specific training onsite to assist the employee with a learning disability both with the work they perform and adjusting to their new environment. In addition, “natural” support comes from supervisors and co-workers in the form of mentoring, socializing on breaks and outside of work, or learning a new skill together.
Disability Employment Provides Key Components
Three important aspects of the program for workers with severe disabilities:
• Paid employment. Workers with disabilities are compensated with benefits and wages similar to other workers in similar jobs.
• Integrated work sites. Workers with disabilities are not segregated on the job and have access to all activities in which other employees participate.
• Ongoing support. Support is provided for the length of employment.
Supported Employment Models
Four distinct models are currently used to provide supported employment to people with severe disabilities:
• Individual placement. Someone with a severe disability is placed in a community business and provided training in work skills and job-related behaviors, including social skills, by a job coach. The time spent with the coach gradually diminishes, but the support is never completely removed.
• Enclave. A small group (usually five to eight) of people with disabilities receives training together at the host company’s site. They are disbursed throughout the company to work alongside people without cognitive disabilities. Their job coach may be provided by the placement agency, or be a specially trained employee of the host company.
• Mobile work crew. Up to six people with disabilities work as a crew to provide a service. They travel to different locations within a community, often providing janitorial or groundskeeping services.
• Small business. In this model, a small number of people with disabilities are integrated into the business to work alongside those without disabilities.
Visit the Department of Labor website for more resources on supported employment.
