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Patterns of support for employees with severe disabilities
1Institute for the Study of Developmental Disabilities, Indiana University, Bloomington 47408-2601, USA. dmank@indiana.edu
Mental Retardation
|January 13, 1998
Summary
Supported employment strategies incorporating natural supports, which use existing workplace resources, are linked to better economic and integration outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Understanding typical job features is key for successful employment and community inclusion.
Area of Science:
- Disability Studies
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Supported employment is increasingly linked with natural supports.
- Natural supports leverage existing workplace resources to improve outcomes for people with disabilities.
- This research builds on prior work examining employment features and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between typical employment features and economic/integration outcomes.
- To investigate the role of natural supports in enhancing employment for individuals with disabilities.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 462 participants across 8 states.
- Examination of features of employment in relation to wage and integration outcomes.
Main Results:
- Understanding and utilizing typical employment features in workplaces correlates with improved wage and integration outcomes.
- The study identified specific employment characteristics associated with positive results for disabled individuals.
Conclusions:
- Incorporating natural supports and typical workplace features is crucial for enhancing economic and integration outcomes in supported employment.
- Findings have implications for job development and workplace analysis strategies to better serve individuals with disabilities.