Realigning Organizational Culture, Resources, and Community Roles: Changeover to Community Employment

Abstract

Although adults with severe mental retardation were one of the primary target groups intended to benefit from supported employment when it first emerged, the vast majority continue to be served in segregated sheltered work or non-work settings. To change this picture, many have believed that resources currently invested in day activity and sheltered employment programs must be redirected to supported employment. Recent studies suggest, however, that most rehabilitation organizations are adding supported employment to their existing array of services, rather than pursuing total changeover from facility-based to community-based employment support. If these data reflect the national experience, the anticipated and necessary shift of resources from segregated to community employment services is not occurring. To supplement existing data, a telephone survey was conducted of eight rehabilitation organizations pursuing changeover. This paper provides information on the experience of these eight organizations related to their reinvestment and agency changeover to supported employment, and offers recommendations for the future.