Getting a job,sustaining a job,and losing a job for individuals with mental retardation

Abstract

The employment rate for 7,750 individuals with mental retardation served by the South Carolina network of Disability and Special Needs local Boards was 16.9% for these individuals was 28%; individuals employed during 1996 and 1997 had a job in the subsequent year. Restaurant hostess/cashier, retail, and food preparation had the lowest rates of hiring and the lowest rates of loss for all types of employment. The job categories with the largest number of individuals with MR were janitor/laundry/cleaning followed by dishwasher/bus-person. Although decisions about employment should be made based on individual abilities, goals and desires, policymakers can adopt a strategy for monitoring the rate of obtaining new jobs and job loss to evaluate the performance of local employment support providers.