Connecting employers with people who have intellectual disability

Longstanding advocacy for employment opportunity, recent legislative and policy developments, and advancements in employment service practice have contributed to an emerging notion of presumptive employability for individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, low levels of employment remain the norm for people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disability. Further, an examination of employer views of people with intellectual disability suggests that effective connections remain elusive between employers and employment service programs that support job seekers with intellectual disability. In this article employer perspectives are considered and case descriptions of effective connections of people with intellectual disability to employers are provided in order to meet demand-side operational needs. These perspectives have implications for elevating the effectiveness of employment service practice.