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Article
Strengthening Employment Services for Job Seekers With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Bringing Employment First to Scale, No 15)
ThinkWork! Publications
  • Alberto Migliore, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Kelly Nye-Lengerman, Institute for Community Integration
  • Oliver Lyons, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • John Butterworth, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston
Document Type
Occasional Paper
Publication Date
9-1-2018
Keywords
  • Employment First,
  • Smartphones,
  • Employment Consultants,
  • job development,
  • ThinkWork
Abstract

Strengthening the effectiveness of employment services for job seekers with disabilities is key for improving their employment outcomes and their financial self-sufficiency. The purpose of this brief is to examine the quality of employment services available to job seekers with disabilities, and to offer recommendations for improvement. Findings are from a longitudinal study that involved 61 employment 37 employment programs in 17 states. Data were collected through a survey employment specialists, delivered to the job developers, or participants’ business developers. smartphones every work day for one year. Based on these findings and the literature about effective employment support practices, we recommend that employment consultants be supported to establish a regular review of their time investments, with particular emphasis on: 1. Increasing time invested in supports that lead to hire 2. Spending more time in businesses 3. Increasing interactions with employers 4. Involving family members of job seekers in the employment process

Community Engaged/Serving
No, this is not community-engaged.
Citation Information
Migliore, A., Nye-Lengerman, K., Lyons, O., & Butterworth, J. (2018). Strengthening employment services for job seekers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Bringing Employment First to Scale, Issue 15. Boston, MA: University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion.