Expanding Employment Choice for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Utah

This project includes the design and implementation of a person-centered work rotation model in which adults with I/DD will be offered the opportunity to explore jobs in integrated, competitive and inclusive employment settings through a series of 8-10 week paid internships that allow the student to showcase his or her abilities. The model will utilize an ongoing “discovery process” that is cost effective, sustainable and designed to create an environment in which individuals with I/DD and their families are able to make fully informed employment choices.
 

Another important feature of the project, the Employer Payroll Tax Incentive (EPTI) will further advance the Institute’s objective of actively involving employer groups in the hiring of individuals with I/DD. This incentive would take the form of a reduction in the employer’s share of FICA taxes paid on all employees currently or previously receiving SSI and/or SSDI.
 

The far-reaching impact of EPTI lies in its potential to provide permanent funding for long-term employment supports. The EPTI plays a crucial role in the overall project design by creating the employer incentive necessary to ensure that there are a wide variety of real jobs in competitive, integrated employment settings available to project participants who make an informed choice to pursue such employment. 
 

Activities underway to develop, run and evaluate the model include:
 

(1) Design and implement a person-centered, work rotation model through which adults with I/DD will be able to explore jobs through a series of 8-10 week paid internships.  This includes the following actions:

• Identify and recruit employers including private and public organizations representing a wide range of employment settings,
• Identify of a wide range of jobs with pre-established criteria
• Conduct detailed job analyses on each job, and
• Develop systematic instruction protocols matching the detailed job analysis.

(2) Develop a participant selection process targeted to adults with I/DD that fully involves families and adheres to person-centered planning approaches.

Steps include:

• Conduct individual, family and other stakeholder information, outreach and advocacy training
• Identify project participants (self-selecting)

(3) Create and implement a comprehensive case management approach. This includes an ongoing discovery process to support the selection of the internships based on the unique interests and abilities of each individual. The case management team will also provide needed supports at the internship site, including supervisor and co-worker training.  Specific activities include: 

• Establish case management teams (case management coordinator, assistant case management coordinator/job coaches)
• Provide comprehensive training to case management team members on transition education, person-centered planning, supported and customized employment, systematic instruction and benefits planning
• Provide financial benefits counseling
• Assign case management team to project participants

 (4) Implement evaluation protocols that include a rigorous examination of process, participation, outcome, cost savings, and systems change analysis. Special attention will be given to an analysis of the payroll tax incentive and its impact on employer hiring trends. Action items include:

• Finalize design of Employer Payroll Tax Incentive (EPTI)
• Refine the research and evaluation plan
• Develop ongoing data collection systems
• Develop a plan for participant analysis to examine characteristics of self-selecting participants
• Select comparison group