The Case for Supported Employment

Employment holds immense potential for moving people with disabilities from poverty to financial security (and it’s good for the public purse)

A recent literature review by the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship, Supported Employment for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Social and Economic Outcomes, highlights research looking at the benefits of supported employment versus sheltered programs.

Beyond providing income, employment has the added benefits of social status, inclusion, personal growth, satisfaction, and self esteem.  Furthermore, employment relieves our publicly funded disability income systems of the requirement to support people financially and provides quality employees to employers.

Download the Literature Review here

The review alludes to the use of tax credits, wage subsidies and other financial incentives to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities.  If you know of a lit review that examines this arena, I’d love to know about it.