Affiliations: Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention, Richmond,
VA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Valerie Brooke, VCU-RRTC, 1314 West
Main St, PO Box 842011, Richmond, VA 23284, USA. Tel.: +1 804 828 1851; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: While many people with disabilities and employment service
organizations struggle to find jobs and develop strong relationships with
businesses, supplemental staffing companies are becoming an important resource
for linking qualified applicants with disabilities to competitive employment
careers. Yet, there exists a huge disconnect between supplemental staffing
companies recruiting qualified applicants to fill client-employer work orders,
people with disabilities who are seeking employment, professionals with state
rehabilitation agencies and community rehabilitation programs (CRP's) who
assist them with their job searches. This article reports on two public/private
demonstration projects in Virginia, primarily serving individuals with
developmental disabilities. One demonstration project was conducted in an urban
setting working exclusively with MANPOWER with the second demonstration site
occurring in a rural area with Kelly Services and MANPOWER. The two
demonstrations give promise for a public/private collaboration that could
increase the employment of people with disabilities.
Keywords: Supported employment, customized employment, people with significant disabilities, developmental disabilities
