Overview
Competitive, integrated employment is a key part of living a meaningful and inclusive life in the community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). However, the majority of people with I/DD remain either unemployed or underemployed despite their ability, desire, and willingness to work.
You can learn more about The Arc’s position on employment by reading our position statement.
Why It Matters
People with I/DD can be employed in the community alongside people without disabilities and earn competitive wages. But too many barriers exist that lead to people with I/DD being unemployed or underemployed, hindering the opportunity for financial stability. Currently, people often leave school with little to no community-based vocational experience or planning for transitioning from school to work. Many have been placed in “prevocational” programs and “disability-only” workshops where they are paid below minimum wage and have little expectation of moving into competitive jobs where they can work alongside people without disabilities. These low expectations foster job discrimination.
When employed, few people have opportunities to advance, explore new possibilities, or, in their later years, retire. Unrealistically low limits on assets and earnings make people fear losing vital public benefits if they work too many hours or earn too much. Lack of other services — like transportation or of accommodations like assistive technology — can also hinder success.
What The Arc Is Doing
People with I/DD should have the supports necessary from individuals and systems to enable them to find and keep community jobs based on their preferences, interests, and strengths, work alongside people without disabilities, receive comparable wages, and be free from workplace discrimination.
Our Policy Goals
The Arc’s Public Policy Goals make recommendations to help people with I/DD reach their full potential and become as independent as possible through integrated employment. Keys to success include supporting implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), toward maximizing employment outcomes, and improving transition outcomes; supporting “Employment First” policies as a strategy to increase opportunities for competitive integrated employment of individuals with I/DD; and expanding training and technical assistance to community rehabilitation providers to transition from the use of subminimum wages and nonintegrated environments, including career counseling and information about training opportunities required by WIOA.
Our Coalition Work
The CCD Employment and Training Task Force works on issues relevant to the employment of people with disabilities, including best practices, school-to-work transition, training of staff and people with I/DD, and systems.
How You Can Help
There are many ways to advocate with and support The Arc’s grassroots movement.
Follow a manual added link
DONATE
Help strengthen our policy advocacy efforts to protect critical programs.
GET INVOLVED
Find and connect with your local or state chapter of The Arc.
The Arc of the East Bay offers life skills education and employment services tailored to the needs and goals of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our clients set their own annual goals, often with input from their families. Dedicated Arc staffers – called Direct Service Providers – then work tirelessly to help clients achieve those personal goals.
