Supported Employment

Supported employment includes efforts by different groups to help those with a disability find employment. Benefits offered to the employee include help identifying the types of skills they have and how they can use those skills in a specific job. Employers may also use supported employment to increase their access to a committed work force with decreased recruitment costs.

Services provided through Supported Employment

Supported employment efforts can include a wide variety of efforts by different sponsored organizations to increase the access to employment for the disabled. Common services provided through supported employment services include on the job training, individual assessment, working with a job coach, career planning, individual employment planning, job sourcing and matching, mentoring, support by fellow employees, and vocational profiling.

Who might use Supported Employment?

Supported employment services are only offered to those who are ready to work and who genuinely need assistance. If you are not job ready (which means you are ready and willing to work with the required education, training and motivation) you may not qualify for support employment services.

Supported employment services are provided to those who qualify free of charge. If you find employment through supported employment services you will be granted the same rights as other employees and will have the right to negotiate your salary and terms of employment like other workers.

How do I find a Supported Employment Provider?

Finding a supported employment provider varies by state. For instance, in the state of Texas the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) provides a list of vendors on their website who can provide supported employment services to eligible vocational rehabilitation consumers. Information for supported employment services in your state can also be found online.