Employment for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

Since the early 1980s, employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities have shifted from segregated settings such as sheltered workshops to full integration into community employment settings. The latter model, often referred to as supported or customized employment, is primarily intended for individuals with disabilities who, because of the severity of their disability, need ongoing and intensive supports in order to access and maintain integrated community employment. A key characteristic of this model is that individuals work in fully integrated settings where the majority of coworkers do not have disabilities. In this way, individuals with intellectual disabilities experience the full benefits of integrated employment. This entry first describes the critical features of integrated employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities. In addition, emerging models for preparing ...