The paper proposes a conceptual framework with which to view employability of persons with severe disabilities. The central features of autonomy of adaptability in applied research programs in competitive employment are examined. Strategies to promote autonomy of performance are identified: self-control techniques, withdrawal of treatment components (sequential withdrawal, partial withdrawal, and partial-sequential-withdrawal), and traditional behavior change techniques. To promote adaptability of performance, studies are cited of the effects of general case programming. The importance of assessing the strategies alone and in combination is stressed. Three pages of references are included. (CL)