David Mank, Ph.D. and Teresa Grossi, Ph.D. Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University Turning Tides: Re-Investing in the Future of Supported Employment APSE – November, 2013

WORK: Intentional physical or mental effort directed toward the production or accomplishment of something, most often to benefit someone other than one’s self.

Initial investments in the 1980’s and 1990’s created an environment of possibility.

Supported employment emerged in federal law in P. L

The history from the late 1970’s to the present includes a host of developments and documentation of positive outcomes, development of improved methods, organizational approaches, systemic strategies, as well as policy and funding mechanisms.

There is an unevenness across states in the implementation of employment options.

There are about 20% of people in some day service with access to integrated employment, and this average has been much the same for nearly 20 years.

 From impossible to possible ….  From possible to beneficial ….  From beneficial to allowed ….  From allowed to preferred ….  From preferred to expected ….  From expected to required …. …. to the same standard as everyone else Employment

 U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy  Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities  Department of Education  Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services  Social Security Administration Renewed National Scale Investment

 Alliance for Full Participation  National Governor’s Association  Employment First Approaches AND …

 Supported Employment Methods  Customized Employment  Self-Employment  Project Search  Transition Improvements in Employment Implementation

 Excellent job match  Maximum hours / week possible  Neutral supports  Benefits planning  Personalize  Take advantage of what is ‘typical’ in a job setting Maximizing Individual Outcomes

Funding Focused on Outcomes

 Individual Choices  Family Experiences  Legislation New Information About Sheltered Settings

 Few hours day / week  Group employment  Sub-minimum wage  Providers as employer of record  Aggressive use of tax credits  Protecting SSI/SSDI benefits Ways to Diminish Outcomes

 Over 300 different types of cereals?  Over 40 different types of toothpaste?  Over 230 different types of soups? Did You Know That We Have Choice Of:

 How many work experiences (paid or nonpaid) do individuals with disabilities typically have prior to a permanent job?  How many experiences does it take before truly understanding a person’s strengths, preferences, interests, and needs?  How many opportunities prior to closing the case? Choice For Individuals:

 People choose to congregate  People are happy where they are  Its too expensive  The community is not a friendly place  Some people aren’t “ready”  Some people are too severely disabled  Supported Employment is simply a different – not a better - paradigm Arguments Against Expansion of Supported Employment

Renewed Business Leadership: Walgreens, Starbucks, BLN’s and More

Litigation U. S. Department of Justice

Renewed Investment in Transition and Post Secondary Education

International Developments

Rising Voice of Self-Advocates (sabe.org)

 Equal employment opportunities for equal pay for all people  Immediately, no new people can go into sheltered workshops  Immediately, no new people can go join an enclave  Ending sub-minimum wage in 2012  Ending enclaves in 2014 Therefore, Be It Resolved

Funding Constraints:  Hours of employment delivered for people that do get jobs  Continued slow pace of expansion  “Benefits trap”  Sustained pressure in states to expand day services Potential Threats to Further Expansion of Integrated Employment

 Policy  Litigation  Research  Implementation  Funding Implications

 Do what we already know how to do  Put control of resources in the hands of people with disabilities  Eradicate policy conflicts  Close the door of entry into segregated programs  Expand investment with employers  Invest in broader community initiatives A New Path to Change