Promising Practices by State Agencies

This page is meant to spread the word and spark the imagination as integrated employment opportunities are expanding for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. It is designed to increase communication and broaden perceptions about how it is possible to improve employment outcomes at the system level.

We are always looking for new state agency promising practices!

If you know of innovative initiatives, policies, strategies or activities occurring at your state’s ID/DD agency, and you would like to nominate your story, please contact:

Jean Winsor Jean.Winsor@umb.edu

Tell us about new and creative state-level promising practices that increase access to integrated employment for individuals with I/DD!

Click here to return to Access to Integrated Employment's homepage.

Below are all of our State Agency Promising Practices for browsing. You can also find specific stories by theme by clicking on the following links:

  • Implementation of priority policy goals - State ID/DD agency’s regulations, mission or goal statements around employment for both youth and adults and activities related to the achievement of those goals.
  • Agency organization and operation - Practices or policies around the state ID/DD agency organizational structure (such as new departments, committees, or regional/local re-organization) with respect to the provision of employment for youth and adults with IDD.
  • Funding and service contracting - Innovative and/or effective funding mechanisms, including development of rates, use of blended or braided funding, or use of funding incentives for providers or transition staff who are successful in helping youth and adults with IDD find and maintain employment.
  • Training and technical assistance- Formal training supported by IDD state agencies to help increase the use of innovative employment techniques for employment support providers as well as school-based personnel.
  • Collaboration- Practices that encourage formal and informal interagency relationships with the full range of state agencies (VR, DOE, MH) that more holistically support youth and adults with IDD in employment and emphasize seamlessness from youth to adult services.
  • Performance measurement and quality assurance - Use of individual and provider level outcome data to assess progress and communicate the importance of employment for youth and adults with IDD.
  • Communication- Practices that exemplify shared, multi-level, multi-stakeholder communication as the norm, as well as timely and appropriate communication of core organizational values and message. Communication involves the engagement of all IDD agency constituents including families, employers, and other community or state level organizations.
  • Transition

 

Reaching Target Employment Goals: The Five-year Initiative from Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)

The state of Florida has implemented a five-year employment initiative for people with ID/DD. The goal is to enable at least 50% of adults (ages 18 to 55) receiving APD-funded day services as of July 1, 2004, to achieve community employment by July 1, 2009. APD- funded services include adult day training, supported employment, and non-residential supports and services. Florida is specifically targeting a total of 25% of individuals who were in Adult Day Training (ADT) on July 1, 2004, to be employed by July 1, 2009.

Promoting Public Sector Jobs for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Washington State

King County's program to employ people with disabilities in county jobs is an example of Washington's commitment to the use of innovative approaches to increase integrated employment. In 1989, a training resource funded by Washington State and the county Division of Developmental Disabilities, O'Neill and Associates, submitted a grant application to the Rehabilitation Services Administration to develop public sector jobs for people with developmental disabilities within the state.

Missouri: Using a Regional Technical Assistance Infrastructure to Promote Employment First

Case management services in Missouri’s Division of Developmental Disabilities underwent a shift from a state structure to a regional structure. Within this structure, 12 regions each serve approximately 12–15 counties. Each region has a technical assistance (TA) position designed to support each of the designated priority work areas. These include self-determination, family supports, individual supports and services, Employment First, and accessible housing.

Colorado's Ad Hoc Committee on Employment and Community Participation

The Ad Hoc Committee on Employment and Community Participation began meeting in the winter of 2004 in an effort to promote integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Colorado. The committee was comprised of representatives from the Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) administration; the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; local Community Centered Boards (private nonprofit organizations responsible for authorizing services); advocacy groups; and self-advocates, parents, and service providers.

Employment First! Making Integrated Employment the Preferred Outcome in Tennessee

The Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services (DMRS) implemented the Employment First! initiative in 2002. The goal of Employment First was to make employment the first day service option for adults receiving supports funded by DMRS, Medicaid, or the state. Employment First set the standard that employment was the preferred service option for adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD).

Mandatory Situational Assessments in Tennessee

Tennessee implemented its Employment First initiative in 2002 with a goal of making employment the first day service option for adults receiving supports from the Department of Mental Retardation Services. As part of the Employment First initiative, the state requires a periodic community-based work assessment for all individuals not currently employed in the community. State-contracted and independent individualized support coordinators ensure that individuals who are not in integrated employment participate in a community-based work assessment at least every three years.