David Mank, Ph.D. and Teresa Grossi, Ph.D.

Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Indiana Universitywww.iidc.indiana.edu

Turning Tides: Re-Investing in the Future of Supported Employment

APSE – November, 2013

WORK: Intentional physical or mental effort directed toward the production or accomplishment of something, most often to benefit someone other than one’s self.

Initial investments in the 1980’s and 1990’s created

an environment of possibility.

Supported employment emerged in federal law in

1984.

P. L. 98-527

The history from the late 1970’s to the present includes a host of developments and documentation of positive outcomes, development of improved methods, organizational approaches, systemic strategies, as well as policy and funding mechanisms.

There is an unevenness across states in the implementation of employment options.

There are about 20% of people in some day service with access to integrated employment, and this average has been much the same for nearly 20 years.

From impossible to possible ….From possible to beneficial ….From beneficial to allowed ….From allowed to preferred ….From preferred to expected ….From expected to required ….

…. to the same standard as everyone else

Employment

U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Department of EducationCenter for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Social Security Administration

Renewed National Scale Investment

Alliance for Full ParticipationNational Governor’s AssociationEmployment First Approaches

AND …

Supported Employment MethodsCustomized EmploymentSelf-EmploymentProject SearchTransition

Improvements in Employment Implementation

Excellent job matchMaximum hours / week possibleNeutral supportsBenefits planningPersonalizeTake advantage of what is ‘typical’ in a job setting

Maximizing Individual Outcomes

Funding Focused on Outcomes

Individual ChoicesFamily ExperiencesLegislation

New Information About Sheltered Settings

Few hours day / weekGroup employmentSub-minimum wageProviders as employer of recordAggressive use of tax creditsProtecting SSI/SSDI benefits

Ways to Diminish Outcomes

Over 300 different types of cereals?

Over 40 different types of toothpaste?

Over 230 different types of soups?

Did You Know That We Have Choice Of:

How many work experiences (paid or nonpaid) do individuals with disabilities typically have prior to a permanent job?

How many experiences does it take before truly understanding a person’s strengths, preferences, interests, and needs?

How many opportunities prior to closing the case?

Choice For Individuals:

People choose to congregatePeople are happy where they areIts too expensiveThe community is not a friendly place

Some people aren’t “ready”Some people are too severely disabled

Supported Employment is simply a different – not a better - paradigm

Arguments Against Expansion of Supported Employment

Renewed Business

Leadership:

Walgreens, Starbucks, BLN’s

and More

Litigation

U. S. Department of Justice

Renewed Investment in Transition and Post Secondary Education

International Developments

Rising Voice of Self-Advocates

(sabe.org)

Equal employment opportunities for equal pay for all people

Immediately, no new people can go into sheltered workshops

Immediately, no new people can go join an enclave

Ending sub-minimum wage in 2012

Ending enclaves in 2014

Therefore, Be It Resolved

Funding Constraints:Hours of employment delivered for people that do get jobs

Continued slow pace of expansion

“Benefits trap”Sustained pressure in states to expand day services

Potential Threats to Further Expansion of Integrated Employment

PolicyLitigationResearchImplementationFunding

Implications

Do what we already know how to do

Put control of resources in the hands of people with disabilities

Eradicate policy conflictsClose the door of entry into segregated programs

Expand investment with employers

Invest in broader community initiatives

A New Path to Change