Project FORWARD: Where Vocational Rehabilitation Can Make a Difference through Community-Based Participatory Research

Practitioners in vocational rehabilitation (VR) and college disability counselors often face challenges connecting highly educated individuals with disabilities to employment that aligns with their skills and training. Building equitable partnerships between service agencies and employers is essential to creating effective supported employment programs. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) offers a promising approach to strengthen these partnerships and reduce underemployment among college graduates with disabilities. This article introduces the use of CBPR in VR through the development of a supported employment model.

Following CBPR principles, we partnered with universities, industry stakeholders, and young adults with disabilities to co-develop and implement Project FORWARD. This supported internship program aimed to help college graduates with disabilities transition into competitive employment in the semiconductor industry through collaborative planning of recruitment, internship structure, and workplace support.

We outline three core features of CBPR and present five strategies for building partnerships at different research stages. Project FORWARD serves as a case example demonstrating how CBPR can address both employer and participant needs through flexible internship design, with clear protocols for recruitment, training, and accommodation. We also discuss practical considerations for researchers applying CBPR in VR contexts.

CBPR provides a valuable framework for advancing VR research by promoting collaboration, equity, and community relevance. It bridges the goals of academic and industry partners while supporting the co-creation of meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Future research should focus on sustaining long-term community partnerships and developing inclusive employment interventions.