Cost-effectiveness of supported employment

Monetary costs and benefits of supported employment to individuals, taxpayers, and society were assessed as was the cost-effectiveness of the nonmonetary benefit, namely, quality of life of employees, as a result of supported employment. Participants were 20 individuals from two Central Illinois agencies serving clients with developmental disabilities. Costs and effects were evaluated using benefit-cost and cost-effectiveness analyses. Supported employment was found to be cost-beneficial from the perspectives of the supported employee, the taxpayer, and society over a 5-year period as programs move from sheltered employment. In addition, supported employment was also more cost-effective with regard to quality of life than was sheltered employment.