Parents in charge of the system: strategies for increasing supported employment opportunities for individuals with severe disabilities

Abstract

For many years individuals with the most severe disabilities have been denied the opportunity to participate in community integrated competitive employment. Parents and advocates have begun to get frustrated with the limited service that are available in local communities. Yet, efforts by parents to expand services have been stymied due to a lack of knowledge of supported employment, funding, policy and staffing issues. The purpose of this article is to describe the establishment of one supported employment program founded and directed by parents in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.