Abstract
Over the past decade there has been steady growth nationally in the use of supported employment with increasing numbers of consumers with severe disabilities obtaining competitive work for the first time. Representatives of 42 state / territorial systems responded to a national survey, conducted to assess the impact of supported employment, and reported that a total of 74,960 individuals participated in supported employment in 1991. Persons with the primary disability classification of mental retardation accounted for 62.8% of all supported employment participants; 30.4% of these individuals with mental retardation were in the moderate MR classification with 8.7% in the severe or profound classification. The individual placement model (79.7%) was the dominant supported employment option utilized. A weighted mean hourly wage of $4.45 and a mean weekly wage of $111.44 were reported. The total of VR funds was $74,860,404 with non-VR funds reported at $160,164,388. Despite a severe economic recession in many parts of the United States in recent years, the supported employment program initiative continues to grow. It was concluded that the major areas of further effort needed in supported employment are a) more diversity in funding base b) greater efforts at conversion from segregated to integrated programs c) participation by people with more severe disabilities, and d) sustaining and expanding the rate of growth so more people can participate.
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