The National Supported Employment Initiative

Issue title: Supported Employment

Subtitle: A Three-Year Longitudinal Analysis of 50 States

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shafer, Michael S.^; | Revell, W. Grant | Isbister, Fred

Affiliations: University of Arizona | Virginia Commonwealth University | Rehabilitation Services Administration

Note: [] This article was supported in part by cooperative agreement no. H133B80052 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the authors and no official endorsement by NIDRR, RSA, or OSERS should be inferred. Special thanks go to Dr. Richard Melia, Project Officer. Address all correspondence to Michael S. Shafer, University of Arizona, Division of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Abstract: A national three-year longitudinal study of supported employment is reported. This study surveyed state agencies involved with vocational rehabilitation, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and mental health as well as other pertinent state agencies to assess the extent and nature of supported employment services. The results of this survey indicate that over 32,000 individuals are currently served in supported employment. Overwhelmingly, these individuals are employed in service-sector positions where they work part- or full-time while earning an average hourly salary of $3.90. The results of this study are discussed in light of their implications for the continued development of supported employment services.

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-1991-1103

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 9-17, 1991