What is Supported Employment?
Supported employment programs assist people in finding competitive employment—community jobs paying at least minimum wage, which any person can apply for according to their choices and capabilities. Supported employment is a successful approach that has been used in various settings by culturally diverse consumers, employment specialists, and practitioners. Supported employment programs do not screen people for work readiness, unlike other vocational approaches, but help all who say they want to work. Supported employment programs are staffed by employment specialists who help consumers look for jobs soon after entering the program. Extensive pre-employment assessment and training, or intermediate work experiences, such as prevocational work units, transitional employment, or sheltered workshops are not required. Employment specialists facilitate job acquisition. For example, they may assist with application forms or accompany consumers on interviews. Employment specialists support con
Supported employment is a service that assists an individual to get, learn and keep a paid job/career in an integrated work setting where most of your co-workers are persons without disabilities. Paid work may be full time or part time. Each worker with a disability may have his or her own individual job or work within a small group called a crew or enclave. Supported Employment is sometimes called “Customized Employment” when a job is individually negotiated and developed. It is based on an individualized determination of the strengths, needs and interests of the person with a disability, and also is designed to meet the specific needs of the employer. Customized employment assumes that accommodations and supports will be identified to allow the individual to perform the functions of a job. For a few individuals supported employment may mean “self-employment”, having your own business and having your own boss. Specialized employment staff or typical non diabled co-workers at a busines
Supported employment facilitates competitive work in integrated work settings for individuals with the most severe disabilities (i.e. psychiatric, mental retardation, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury) for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred, and who, because of the nature and severity of their disability, need ongoing support services in order to perform their job. Supported employment provides assistance such as job coaches, transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training, and individually tailored supervision. Supported employment is a way to move people from dependence on a service delivery system to independence via competitive employment. Recent studies indicate that the provision of on-going support services for people with severe disabilities significantly increases their rates for employment retention. Supported employment encourages people to work within their communities and encourages work, social interaction, and integratio
