ASERT Employment Project Competitive Employment Designed to Meet Individual Goals

Date: 8/12/14 Presenters: James E Connell Jr. PhD, NCSP, BCBA-D

Purpose/Focus

Describe the history, current status and future directions of the PA, BAS Employment project through the ASERT Collaborative

PA Autism Needs Assessment Employment Challenges

PA BAS Autism Needs Assessment guides

ASERT(s) projects

Employment identified as a significant need

ASERT Employment Census Data

2005: There were just over 1,400 adults with autism receiving services in Pennsylvania

2013: 8,395 adults with autism in PA 2015: 13,998 adults with autism in PA 2020: 31,075 adults with autism in PA 2030: 76,041 adults with autism in PA

Adults with Autism - Workforce Caregivers answering for adults 55% unemployed

Individuals answering for themselves 47% unemployed

Demographics

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60% 13.30%

20.60%

19.10% 16.40%

11.60%

19.00%

Income

< $20,000 $20,000-$39,999

$40,000-$59,999 $60,000-$79,999

$80,000-$99,999 ≥$100,000

Education

Adults with Autism Responding for Themselves • 80% reported that finding employment opportunities was difficult

Adults with Autism Responding for Themselves Among those employed: 22% did not feel comfortable sharing that

they had ASD with anyone at work 44% had told at least their supervisor

75% reported some discrimination Underutilization of skills (15%)

ASERT Employment Project History

Year 1 - Began with understanding the problem Needs assessment data Available employment models

Conceptualize a solution that meets the

needs of a very diverse population Look to the research

Develop a plan for moving forward based on

the landscape and research findings

Supported Employment

Supported employment Developed in the United States at the

beginning of the 1980s, as a means of providing practical, on-the-job training to people with intellectual disabilities based on their individual needs. Conceptualized for those not capable of “real

work”

Phases of Supported Employment

Assessment Job finding Job analysis Job matching Job (re)design Introduction into the workplace Training on the job/job coaching Support outside the workplace Ongoing support

Customized Employment

Customized Employment is a flexible process designed to personalize the employment relationship between a job seeker and an employer in a way that meets the needs of both.

Phases of Customized Employment

Discovery Job search planning Job development and negotiation Post-employment support

Key Differences Between Customized Employment and Supported Employment

Customized Employment does not begin with placement

Customized Employment searches for competitive employment options

In Customized Employment the employee has competencies that benefit the workplace

ASERT Employment Project History

Year 2 - Train providers (oops)

Take a step backwards

Rethink, re-conceptualize problem and

solution

ASERT State-wide Employment Initiative (The Plan) Introduce CE to provider agencies Emersion workshop Online training program On-site consultation

Provider agencies from West, Central and

Eastern ASERT Regions

ASERT State-wide Employment Initiative (The Plan) What went wrong?? System level Provider level Staff level

Year 3 - Operationalize Model New job service definitions New job specialist qualifications Subsidized rate structure Seek guidance/modification/approval from

BAS

Year 4 - Start small – pilot sites

ASERT Employment Project History

KEY GOALS Operationalize the process

Provide training in best practices to providers

Increase the availability of, and access to employment services

for individuals with autism

Create opportunities for dialogue with potential employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with autism

ASERT Year 3 Employment Project

Operationalize Employment First in BAS Job Specialist service definitions

Plan for careers – not finding a job

Review Products with BAS Discuss incentivized rate structure

possibilities Identify pilot sites Plan with pilot sites

Service Definitions

Job Assessment Employment Development Job Development and Finding Business Development

Employment Support

Job Assessment

Employment Development- Job Development and Finding

Employment Development- Business Development

Job Support

Transportation Discovery

Billing, Rate Structure

Modified More on this later Primary goal, to support the work and incentivize

agencies to train staff

Staff Qualifications

Training Pay for performance Incentivized Reimbursement

Engaging the Business Community

Small Business Organizations Large Box IT Companies Small – independent companies

ASERT Employment Moving Forward Pilot new service definitions in selected agencies Subsidize rate structure?? Measure outcomes related to: Time in career placement process Discovery Business development Support

Career outcomes Salary Retention Satisfaction

Other?

ASERT State-wide Employment Initiative Follow-up: Years 5 and beyond Begin expansion into statewide network

through pilots Add new providers to the network Collect outcome data Report on successes and barriers Work with the Office of Developmental

Programs, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Autism Services to continue expansion for Employment First State

Special Thanks to Our Community Partners

ASERT Eastern Collaborative & A.J Drexel Autism Institute Kaitlin Koffer Miller, Erica Rohloff, Lindsay Shea, Lauren Tucker

BAS Carol Lynch, Pia Newman, Stacey Nonnemacher

CIS Susan Schonfeld

DPW Diane Cashman

Employment Analytics Rob Hoffman

Griffin Hammis Corey Smith

Special Thanks to Our Community Partners

Keystone Al Hermantin, Sherry Moyer

SPIN: Annemarie Clark, Andrea Davis, Kathy Sykes

Vista School Lisa Pellman

Western Psych (UPMC) Gregory Allan

Youth Advocate Programs Inc. Lori Burrus

Thank you!

Questions?

Website: www.PAautism.org Email: info@Paautism.org