The outcomes achieved by previously placed supported employees with intellectual disabilities: Second verse same as the first?

Abstract

This study examined the vocational outcomes achieved by two groups of supported employees with intellectual disabilities – 12,767 supported employees who had been competitively employed within the preceding 36 months and were now looking for a new job (i.e., the “re-placed” cohort) and 12,767 supported employees who had not been employed previously and were looking for their first job (i.e., the “initial placement” cohort). Individuals in both cohorts were matched based upon their disability, the presence of secondary disabilities, and gender. Analyses determined that individuals who were in the re-placement cohort were more likely to be employed (71.1% versus 60.6%), work more hours per week (22.30 versus 21.75), earn more wages per week ($144.11 versus $136.03), and cost less to serve ($4,424.35 versus $4,727.85) than individuals who were seeking their initial placement within the community.