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Supported Employment

Q. What is supported employment?

A. Supported employment is paid, competitive employment for people who have severe disabilities and a demonstrated inability to gain and maintain traditional employment. Supported employment occurs in a variety of normal, integrated business environments. Further, supported employment includes:

• Paid minimum wage or better:
• Support provided to obtain and maintain jobs; and
• Promotion of career development and workplace diversity.

Q. What are the facts about employment?

A. Prior to 1986, people with disabilities had few employment options. They were either unemployed or placed in segregated employment. Today, nationwide, there are over 105,000 individuals with multiple and profound disabilities experiencing independence, integration, and empowerment in competitive, community-based careers accessed through supported employment. Real employment provides an opportunity for long-term dignity, a chance at upward mobility, and an opportunity to break out of the perpetual problem of unemployment and underemployment.

• It is estimated that supported employment participants earn nearly $600 million annually and pay over $100 million each year in federal, state, and local taxes.
• The percentage of people dependent on public assistance/disability benefits as their primary source of income drops dramatically as a result of participation in supported employment. The result is that 52% of participants' primary income is their paycheck, rather than public assistance or disability benefits.
• Individuals with disabilities participating in supported employment increased their annual earnings 490%. On average, hourly earnings increased from $0.84 to $4.13.

Q. Is supported employment cost effective?

A. Yes. Supported employment is cost effective.

• The average cost of a supported employment placement to the federal/state vocational rehabilitation program is $4,000; half of all placements cost less than $3,000 per individual.
• The cost of placing an individual into competitive employment with support is $4,200 compared to the $7,400 annual cost of keeping an individual in a day program.
• A state-by-state comparison indicates that costs for supported employment are from 40% to 80% of the costs of other day services, such as sheltered workshops or work activity centers.

Supported employment is funded by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992, Title I and Title VI.

Q. What are the benefits of supported employment?

A. The benefits of supported employment include:

• Real employment provides an opportunity for long-term dignity, a chance at upward mobility, and an opportunity to break out of the perpetual problem of unemployment and underemployment.
• It is estimated that supported employment participants earn nearly $600 million annually and pay over $100 million each year in federal, state, and local taxes.
• The percentage of people dependent on public assistance/disability benefits as their primary source of income drops dramatically as a result of participation in supported employment. The result is that 52% of participants' primary income is their paycheck, rather than public assistance or disability benefits.
• Individuals with disabilities participating in supported employment increased their annual earnings 490%. On average, hourly earnings increased from $0.84 to $4.13.

Q. What is Gateway Employment Resources policy on supported employment?

A. Gateway believes supported employment programs should be encouraged in the following ways:

• Employment must be viewed as a real option for people with disabilities. Preparation for career selection must be part of all educational programs.
• Individuals with disabilities need to be involved in all aspects of decision making that affect their work lives.
• Federal and state legislative and administrative initiatives must include job development and creation. Federal and state initiatives must reflect an emphasis on inclusion and integrated work settings rather than on segregated and non-work settings.
• Work by people with disabilities needs to happen within and as a part of the regular work force in typical work settings.
• Workers with disabilities should be protected by applicable state and federal statutes with regard to work rules and pay rates. Basic worker benefits and opportunities for upward and lateral mobility need to be available.
• Employment supports should be based on individual needs and preferences and should be flexible.

References
Brooke, V., Wehman, P., Inge K. & Parent, W. (1995).
Toward a customer-driven model of supported employment. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Supported Employment (1995). Supported employment fact sheet. Richmond, VA: VCU-RRTC.

Revell, G. (1993). P.L.102-569: The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992. VCU-RRTC Newsletter. Richmond, VA: VCU-RRTC.

Wehman, P. (1996, January).
Supported employment saves dollars and makes good sense. Richmond Times Dispatch.

Wehman, P. (1988).
Supported employment: Toward equal employment opportunity for persons with severe disabilities. Mental Retardation, 26(6), 357-361.
Resources

VCU/RRTC on Supported Employment,
1314 West Main Street,
P.O. Box 94201,
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2011
PHONE: (804)828-1851
FAX: (804)828-2193.

Association for People in Supported Employment (APSE),
1627 Monument Avenue,
Richmond, Virginia, 23220
PHONE: (804)278-9187.
Related Topics

Natural Supports, Conversion, and Positive Behavioral Supports
Author

Alicia A. Cone,
Virginia Commonwealth University
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Supported Employment.
Edu5acc@titan.vcu.edu

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