Supported employment provides meaningful and competitive paid employment in the community for people with severe disabilities. People with severe disabilities can receive accommodations and pay into the tax system rather than draw from it. Work is an essential part of life for most adults; without support, many people with disabilities cannot attain jobs or lose their jobs.

• Unemployment of people with disabilities is a major and urgent public policy concern. *12% of adults ages 21-64 have a severe disability. In February, 2009, only 19.8% of people with disabilities, over the age of 16 and not living in institutions, were working.
• Disabilities are much more prevalent in the low-income population than the total adult population. One of every 3 Americans with disabilities lived in a household with an income under $15,000 a year in 2000. People with disabilities have significantly lower household income than people without disabilities who are not employed.
• About 1/3 of people with disabilities work compared to about 75% of people without disabilities; those people with disabilities who are employed work substantially fewer hours and for substantially less pay than those without disabilities.
• Among unemployed people with disabilities, 2 out of 3 want to work.
• People with early onset of disability (prior to age 22) have a lower probability of completing high school or receiving post-secondary education; many are not adequately prepared for the workforce. They have an even lower probability of being employed than people who have onset of disability as adults. Child disability rates have grown in recent decades. Mothers are less available to work due to care-giving responsibilities and can have severe economic consequences for the family.

Supported employment provides individuals with disabilities a chance to break out of the perpetual problem of unemployment or underemployment and low income. It is estimated that supported employment participants pay over $100 million each year in federal, state, and local taxes. Through work, these individuals increase their annual earnings by about 490% and their primary income is from employment rather than from public assistance.

Nationally, only 20% of individuals receiving day supports from state because of intellectual and developmental disabilities participated in integrated employment. This number has declined since 2001 (1). Employment is on the decline as are wages and hours worked for those with any disability as well as those with a mental disability. Unemployment of anyone is costly to all levels of government.

The cost of placing an individual into competitive employment with support is $4200 compared to the $7200 annual cost for an individual in a day program.

Employers often have misconceptions about the costs of accommodations for and the abilities of people with disabilities.

The Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities and many other agencies have found that 90% of employers are very satisfied with performance of workers with disabilities, report that supported employees relate well to their co-workers, and state that assistance from supported employment agencies is very helpful in dealing with workplace issues.

GAPSE: The Network on Employment promotes mainstream employment for people with disabilities through supported & other customized employment services for individuals and their employers.

For more information:
GAPSE: 850 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30602
1-866-248-4764
www.gapsenetwork.com