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Stapleton, D., Nowak, M., & Livermore, G. (2001). The role of supports in successful labor force entry for youth with disabilities. Falls Church, VA: The Lewin Group.
Abstract
This report is part of a series examining the role of supports in enabling people with significant disabilities to succeed in competitive employment, and improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Through a series of three focus groups, this study looked at the experiences of working individuals over age 18 who became employed after the onset of their disabilities.
The study found that employment and other success requires strong motivation; participants strongly preferred mainstream education over segregated special education; their transition to work was challenging; and participants value individualized services and supports that enable them to participate in society. Loss of health care coverage was a major concern in the transition process, as was understanding the complexities of moving from Medicaid/SSI eligibility as a child to eligibility as an adult.
Policy implications of the findings are that de-coupling Medicaid eligibility from SSI, as is done under the Medicaid Buy-In program, will motivate people to work and increase work expectations, and that federal policies should help make workplace accommodations more available. Services and supports should help youth with transitions in housing and health care as well as employment. Finally, policy should promote the use of individualized supports not provided directly by the government, including informal supports from family and friends.
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