Employment Options

People of all levels of ability can succeed at work. You may need some support or accommodations. You can obtain more information on local resources by clicking on the blue text.

Competitive Employment: * A workplace that provides employment that pays at least minimum wage and in which most workers are non-disabled.

Supported Employment: A method of integrating people with disabilities into competitive employment. Support includes use of a job coach, who helps the person with a disability function on the job. A job coach is a person who assists adult workers with disabilities, providing vocational assessment, instruction, overall planning, and interaction assistance with employers, family and related government and services agencies.

Sheltered Employment: * A structured work environment (usually a workshop facility) for persons with disabilities where they can learn work skills; can either be a transitional or permanent placement.

Job Coach: * A person who assists adult workers with disabilities (especially those with mental retardation), providing vocational assessment, instruction, overall planning, and interaction assistance with employers, family and related government and services agencies.

If you have significant impairments, you may not be able to find employment or may choose not to work. In that case, you may want to consider a day support program.

* definitions taken from Exceptional Learners: an Introduction to Special Education, Ninth Edition, Daniel P. Hallahan & James M. Kauffman, Allyn and Bacon. New York. copyright 2003.