A case-study approach illustrates how three survivors of severe traumatic brain injury were able to gain and maintain employment with the assistance of a supported employment program. Emphasis is on types of accommodations, including design and implementation of compensatory strategies. The steps to enhance use of compensatory strategies on the…

This study investigated the use of "natural supports" in the workplace in tandem with supported employment services for employees with severe disabilities. Analysis of data from 462 people in eight states on how "typical" the individual's employment setting was found that incorporating "typical" employment features in workplaces was associated…

This study first classified empirical measures that have been used to assess the social integration of employees with disabilities. It then aggregated findings describing social interaction patterns in employment. Ten categories of measures of social interaction were identified and occurrence of social interaction was found to vary by…

Two hundred adults with mild mental retardation were assessed on overall job satisfaction and self-esteem. Subjects worked either in a sheltered workshop or a supported employment setting. Subjects who worked in supported employment reported significantly higher levels of job satisfaction and self-esteem. Subjects living in semi-independent…

A study evaluated a pre-work assessment for predicting task preferences during supported work with an individual with profound mental retardation as well as deafness and blindness. Results of the workers' choices indicate the pre-work assessment predicted tasks that the worker preferred to perform during his routine job. (Author/CR)

Tribal Child Care and Development Fund administrators work each day to ensure that the children and families in tribal communities have the child care services that best meet their needs. The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a federal block grant for States, Tribes, and Territories, is a key resource to help increase the availability,…

This fact sheet summarizes evidence on the work status of successful rehabilitations/closures for people with mental retardation in light of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992, which strengthened the focus of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs on community employment outcomes. Data analyzed were drawn from the Rehabilitation…

This guide was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide students with information about potential environmental careers with the agency. The brochure presents an overview of the EPA and its efforts to preserve the environment; and describes environmental public service careers, in general, and how scientists, engineers,…

This study examined the benefits and costs of supported employment programs in Illinois during the first 2 years of operation. Benefits and costs were considered for 394 individuals enrolled in 1987 and 519 individuals enrolled in 1988, from three revenue perspectives: that of society as a whole; that of the supported employees; and that of the…

A survey of 1,629 United States rehabilitation facilities and organizations revealed that more developmentally disabled persons are now being hired in competitive employment settings and that job retention is good. Data also confirm that the movement of this population into competitive work settings is both realistic and financially sound.…

This fact sheet reports data from a national survey of state mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD) agencies. The survey was designed to investigate the distribution of people supported by state MR/DD agencies in integrated versus facility-based day and employment services and the levels of funding. Results indicate that while the…

Summarizes the present status of supported employment for people with disabilities, discusses major accomplishments of the initiative (such as positive results in benefit-cost analyses) and identifies challenges, including continuing high numbers of individuals in segregated programs, lack of supported employment services for individuals with…

This article describes a "paid co-worker support" model which enables individuals with multiple disabilities (including severe mental retardation) to maintain competitive employment. A job coach trained two workers with severe disabilities in job skills, and a paid co-worker in support skills; both workers successfully maintained…

The family adjustment of parents (N=117) of young adults with mental retardation to their son/daughter's initial entry into supported employment was evaluated using the Resiliency Model of Family Stress Adjustment and Adaptation as an analytical framework. Results indicated that family strength dimensions are related to family adaptation and that…

The attitudes of employers toward workers with severe mental and physical disabilities and supported employment programs were examined through structured interviews with 47 employers who had hired or supervised workers participating in supported employment programs. Results indicated the employers generally held favorable attitudes regarding the…