Job Support

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like other employees, sometimes need support to thrive on the job. Below you'll learn more about best practices for job support. We cover a range of key topics such as transition from school to work and using natural supports in the workplace.

BRINGING EMPLOYMENT FIRST TO SCALE: Assisting Job Seekers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Guide for Employment Consultants

The literature about effective support practices for assisting job seekers with disabilities is extensive. However, employment consultants do not always implement these practices consistently. This suggests that there is a need for articulating these practices into a clearer, more easily communicated support guide. To meet this need, this brief provides a checklist of support activities, organized around five key elements:

Leveraging Natural Supports for Essential Workers During COVID-19 (Massachusetts)

This promising practice outlines how the Institute for Community Inclusion’s Employment Services Team (EST) has been able to leverage natural supports for essential workers during the Covid-19 outbreak. The EST’s core strategy of cultivating of natural supports at the time of job placement has enabled staff to continue to easily provide any necessary supplemental support remotely.

Christina: Mastering a Job with Remote Supports During COVID-19

photo of christinaChristina is an energetic young woman who works at Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia, Missouri as a part-time dietary aide. She enjoys her job and earns well above minimum wage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Christina’s work conditions and responsibilities changed. As a result, the nature of her supports also shifted from having an on-site job coach to remote supports via iPhone. With the support of her provider, the Center for Human Services (CHS), Christina was able to alter her position and supports and maintain employment.

Making It Last: Workplace Supports for People with Autism

Submitted by Melanie.Jordan on Wed, 05/09/2018 - 10:27
Something amazing is happening with autism employment - in Belgium! Although focused on "high functioning autism", the Belgian approach has many lessons for employment services to people with "classic" autism. We will discuss their techniques for synthesizing assessment results into a whole-person perspective, and using that to plan workplace supports. Toward the end of the session, one of the leading autism employment practitioners in the US will join us for an interactive conversation about other emerging practices.

Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Quality Employment Practices

Individuals with ASD can work but need to be matched with jobs that build on their strengths and interests. Consideration needs to be given to the demands of particular jobs, the physical and social environments, and how instruction or accommodations can be provided that will make success possible. This brief discusses strategies for support and planning, collaboration, creative strategizing, and an intimate understanding of the person with ASD as a unique individual to make success possible.

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