Illinois Center for Transition and Work

Dr. Riesen is the Director of Research and Training at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) at Utah State University. The IDRPP is Utah’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disability (UCEDD). In addition, Dr. Riesen has an appointment as Research Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. His research focuses on improving employment and community-based outcomes for individuals with extensive support needs. Most recently, he is developing and validating fidelity scales for customized employment discovery and job development, developing a competency-based training curriculum for Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) waiver providers and participants, and providing technical assistance to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (ICF/IDs) who are transitioning residents to community settings. He has written extensively on competitive integrated employment, transition to employment, instruction for inclusive classrooms, work-based learning, and compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Keynote: Making the Grade or Missing the Mark?  Preparing Students with Disabilities for Competitive Integrated Employment

Federal legislation reinforces the notion that preparing all students to be career-ready is an essential component of secondary education. Despite this legislation, students with disabilities, especially those with more significant disabilities, remain chronically under- and unemployed. Data also suggests that, even when individuals with disabilities work, they are employed primarily in three broad occupational categories including food preparation, office work, and building and grounds keeping, and students are paid wages below people without disabilities in similar positions. It has been nearly 35 years since the IDEA transition mandate was introduced and yet questions remain about employment outcomes for students with disabilities. This presentation will explore whether the education system is making the grade or missing the mark when preparing students with disabilities for competitive integrated employment.