The article defines "supported employment" for severely disabled persons and describes a Maryland parent training program which focused on understanding the range of employment options, the components of the supported work model, and actions to promote supported employment options. A hypothetical case study examined by parents in the course is…

Boatworks, a subsidiary of Stepping Stones Growth Center in Oakland, California, provides work experience to developmentally disabled persons and helps them learn skills useful in private sector jobs. Workers learn job responsibility, quality control, and work safety procedures and are paid according to productivity. (CB)

This paper suggests that supported employment programs should view themselves as learning organizations for whom people with severe or profound disabilities are a prized resource, since they encourage the organization to invent new ways to develop jobs, foster administrative flexibility, review assumptions about potential, and take responsibility…

Examined job tenure among 85 individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Surveyed clients' demographic, clinical, and vocational histories, their initial reactions to specific jobs, and aspects of the work environment. The average job lasted 70 days. Longer tenure was predicted by previous work history, early satisfaction with the job, lower…

A Consumer Satisfaction Survey was administered to 110 persons with severe disabilities involved in a supported employment program. Results indicated most consumers liked their jobs, were happy with supported employment services, and would use them again. However, most also felt their current job was not the career they would like to have…

This paper describes the TEACCH (Teaching and Educating Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children and Adults) program, which has provided supported employment services to over 100 clients with autism. Three models of supported employment used by the program are discussed, as are program demographics and long-term support mechanisms.…

Analysis of the employment histories and functional characteristics of 1,411 individuals involved in supported employment programs in 8 states found less than 8 percent had severe or profound disabilities. Further research and demonstration activities and modification of federal and state supported employment policies are recommended. (Author/DB)

The literature on parental attitudes towards supported employment for adults with mental retardation is reviewed, and issues needing further research are raised. The role of expectations in service delivery and research is pointed out. (Author/DB)

This paper describes a customer-driven approach to supported employment in which people with disabilities are able to exert choice and control. Best practices in supported employment are reviewed and contrasted with practices presently operating. Specific information on how a customer can select a supported employment provider (renamed a community…

This article presents case examples that illustrate strategies for promoting natural job supports for employees with disabilities. Strategies include, among others, collaborating with work-site personnel to develop modifications and providing general consultation on person-environment factors that promote the success of the supported employee and…

The Manhattan Transition Center provides supported employment for youth with mild to severe disabilities. Local enclave worksites staffed by teacher/paraprofessional teams place participants in jobs. Under the zero-reject policy, employers and service providers are responsible for participants' personal and work-related growth. (SK)

Comparison of 2 studies of employers' attitudes toward the employability of persons with severe disabilities (one of Fortune 500 corporations and one of New York State employers) found that both groups were favorable toward employability. Executives from large companies and individuals with prior positive experience with the disabled were the most…

Three men and three women with moderate intellectual handicaps but no work experience outside sheltered workshops were employed by the Royal Australian Mint in the first enclave project in the Australian Capital Territory. Significant worker wages and improved independence and self-esteem were noted, and social security savings of over $7000…

This 24-month study of 302 supported employees with mental retardation found that approximately 30 percent continued to be employed in their original employment situation; 20 percent were employed in subsequent employment situations; over 31 percent had lost their employment and were awaiting replacement; 4 percent no longer needed services; and…

The subjective judgments of 188 government policymakers, counselors, supervisors, co-workers, and others toward employment training for persons with very severe disabilities were investigated. Respondents' reactions to videotape samples of employment training indicated more positive evaluations of students with less severe disabilities but…