Quality in supported employment: a new demonstration of the capabilities of people with severe disabilities

Abstract

Supported Employment for people with severe disabilities has resulted in wage and economic outcomes more than triple the wages in segregated settings. Furthermore, supported employees realize far better integration outcomes than their counterparts in segregated settings. Nonetheless, the average supported employment earnings are US$464.00 per person per month, well below the poverty line. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new demonstration of the capabilities of people with severe disabilities in the work place. This paper describes an effort that has resulted in 55 jobs in a single organizational structure, a County government. The wage and benefit outcomes are nearly three times the outcomes of supported employment nationally. These employees with disabilities, who are similar in disability labels and severity of disability to national figures, also receive full employment benefits and have worked an average of nearly 3 years. The results are discussed in the context of the key features that might be replicated in the ongoing implementation of supported employment.