This brief covers some of the lessons learned in reviewing literature designed to engage with families about employment. It suggests some tips and strategies to use with families to increase effective involvement and collaboration.
Watch the recorded video here. The 44 series is an ongoing series of webinars (each about 44 minutes long, hence the name!) that address various topics related to integrated employment for individuals with IDD. In this edition to the series, originally presented on 11/27/18, speaker Liz Weintraub discussed issue of choice and self-direction in the job search process. She focused on challenges, risk, and empowerment for job seekers with disabilities.
Download the article here. Purpose: Recent policy changes expanding community employment for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and awareness of the important role of family members as facilitators of these opportunities motivated this scoping review of the literature on family engagement with
Kramer, J. (2018). Family Experiences in Engaging in Employment: How Do We Improve Outcomes? In Society for the Study of Social Problems 2018 Annual Meeting (p. 22). Philadelphia, PA: Society for the Study of Social Problems. Retrieved from https://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageid/1780/fuseaction/ssspsession2.sin… Schedule/
Self-advocates with intellectual disabilities describe Employment First efforts in their states, and why those efforts are important.
Quick summary:
Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered asked leaders in the self-advocacy movement to describe the impact of Employment First in their states. The authors spoke with 21 peer leaders across the country and asked, “What does Employment First mean?”
Key findings and quotes
Read the brief here. We conducted an extended search of trainings provided by state agencies and service providers that are targeted towards families. Trainings in the form of written material (handbooks, brochures and computer-based courses) or given in person by service professionals, peers and others have been found to raise expectations that family members with IDD can become employed in their communities.
Download the brief here. This brief summarizes a paper (State of the Science: Engaging Families, 2017) that explores the role of families in individuals’ employment outcomes through a scoping literature review, as well as findings from a qualitative study involving family members and individuals.
Attendees learned how families have modeled employment and advocated for their children to have early work experiences similar to those of their peers without disabilities. Attendees heard how the service system and families have tried to engage across language barriers and socioeconomic differences.
Check out the power point slides from our listening sessions at recent conference sessions. These presentations highlight findings among the three themes listed above.
Read the statement here. These authors worked together to write a statement about what Employment First means and why it’s important.