Employment Trends in Rhode Island from 2011 to 2017 for Adults with Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities

• Published in: Intellectual and developmental disabilities Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 458 - 471
• Main Authors: Shogren, Karrie A, Anderson, Mark H, Burke, Kathryn M, Antosh, Anthony, Ferrara, Victoria E, Pallack, Mary A, Dean, Evan E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 01.12.2020; American Association of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Americans with Disabilities Act 1990-US; Career Development; Career development planning; Career Planning; Competition; Consent decrees; Data collection; Day Programs; Developmental Disabilities; Disability; Employment agencies; Employment Experience; Employment Level; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Living arrangements; National Surveys; People with disabilities; Self employment; Sheltered Workshops; State Policy; Supported Employment; Rhode Island; United States > US; supported employment; intellectual and developmental disabilities; integrated employment; policy
• ISSN: 1934-9491; 1934-9556
• DOI: 10.1352/1934-9556-58.6.458

This study reports on state-level data in Rhode Island on employment and non-work activities of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving services between 2011 and 2017. The goal was to examine the complex patterns of change over time in individual-level employment outcomes and the potential short-term impacts of a consent decree entered into by the state of Rhode Island to address integrated employment outcomes. Findings suggest that policy initiatives such as the consent decree can lead to reductions in reliance on facility-based work, but also highlight the importance of planning for the transition to competitive, integrated employment and not simply a shift toward non-work activities. Further, the data support the notion that the best predictor of integrated employment over time is previous experiences in integrated employment (not facility-based or other work or non-work activities), suggesting the role of ongoing supported employment and transition services that create and support the maintenance of integrated employment.