High unemployment rates continue to be a major challenge for individuals with extensive support needs. These individuals are often unemployed or underemployed (Wehman et al. (2014), despite their desire and ability to work (Roux et al., 2013). In order to reduce challenges and help young adults with extensive support needs achieve better employment outcomes, it is imperative to use effective interventions. Supported employment is one intervention that has enabled people with extensive support needs to achieve employment in competitive, integrated work environments (Wehman et al., 2014).
WIOA (2014) defines supported employment (SE) as
competitive integrated employment, including customized employment, or employment in an integrated work setting in which an individual with a most significant disability, including a youth with a most significant disability, is working on a short-term basis toward competitive integrated employment, that is individualized and customized, consistent with the unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, including with ongoing support services for individuals with the most significant disabilities—
SE assists individuals with the most extensive support needs to achieve competitive integrated employment. SE demands specialized skills from service providers (i.e., employment specialists) to achieve effectiveness. Employment specialists must be skilled in identifying consumer choices, securing funding, locating community jobs, interacting with parents, assisting with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) determination, arranging transportation, and effectively training clients to meet work standards (Wehman et al., 2014). SE consists of four phases–getting to know the job seeker, job development and matching, training and support, and job retention services (see Table 1).
Table 1
Phases of Implementing SE
Getting to know the job seeker An employment specialist reviews the individual’s relevant records, conducts interviews, situational assessments, and home visits to identify the individual’s interests, strengths, abilities, and support needs for obtaining and maintaining employment. |
Job development and matching An employment specialist contacts community businesses aligned with the individual’s interests, conducts a thorough job analysis, and determines which job is the best match for both the job seeker and business. |
Training and support An employment specialist assists the individual to learn specific job tasks and how to navigate the work environment; support is faded over time. |
Job retention services An employment specialist checks in on the individual and employer monthly to address concerns. |
Note: Phases and descriptions were developed from Schall et al. (2015)
Several studies provide evidence that SE is an effective program for improving employment outcomes for transition-aged youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For example, Wehman and colleagues (2014) examined employment outcomes for youth and young adults (ages 16-25) with intellectual and developmental disabilities and found that individuals who received SE had consistently higher rates of employment than individuals that did not receive SE. Additionally, the impact of SE was greatest for individuals with intellectual disability or autism who received Social Security benefits, were enrolled in special education during high school, and graduated from high school. Similarly, Iwanaga et al. (2023) found that individuals with intellectual disability (ages 16-36) who received SE were more likely to reach competitive integrated employment, earn more money, and work more hours weekly than those that did not receive SE. Of importance, the rate of successful employment for transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual disability who received SE services was 71% as compared to 43% for the group that did not receive SE services.
SE is an evidenced-based practice found to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities (Wehman et al., 2018). Despite its success, there are several important factors that could impact the quality of SE services and outcomes. The following are possible factors and considerations for transition personnel.
Supported Employment
This video discusses best practices in supported employment.
Supported Employment Quality Features
This document describes the features of high-quality supported employment.
Iwanaga, K., Lee, D., Hamburg, J., Wu, J. R., Chen, X., Rumrill, P., Wehman, P., Tansey, N. T. & Chan, F. (2023). Effects of supported employment on the competitive integrated employment outcomes of transition age and young adults with intellectual disabilities: A non-experimental causal comparative study. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 58(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-221223
Roux, A. M., Shattuck, P. T., Cooper, B. P., Anderson, K. A., Wagner, M., & Narendorf, S. C. (2013). Postsecondary employment experiences among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(9), 931-939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.019
Schall, C. M., Wehman, P., Brooke, V., Graham, C., McDonough, J., Brooke, A., Graham, C., McDonough, J., Brooke A., Ham, W., Rounds, R., Lau., S. & Allen, J. (2015). Employment interventions for individuals with ASD: The relative efficacy of supported employment with or without prior Project SEARCH training. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 3990-4001. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2426-5
Wehman, P., Taylor, J., Brooke, V., Avellone, L., Whittenburg, H., Ham, W., Brooke, A. M., & Carr, S. (2018). Toward competitive employment for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities: What progress have we made and where do we need to go. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 43(3), 131-144. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796918777730
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. 29 U.S.C §705 etseq. (2014). https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/29/705