Search

We investigated the extent to which employment consultants implemented job development practices recommended in the literature when assisting job seekers with intellectual or developmental disabilities. We contacted 83 employment consultants from 25 employment programs in Minnesota and Connecticut. Fifty-nine participants were eligible and completed surveys. We found inconsistencies between the employment consultants' practices and the job development literature in areas such as involvement of family members and acquaintances, observation of job seekers in work and nonwork environments, analyses of employers' needs, development of customized jobs, and assistance with work incentives planning. We recommend a system-wide effort for supporting employment consultants in implementing promising job development practices. This effort needs to involve funding agencies, employment programs, accreditation agencies, training programs, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to validate a training curriculum for employment consultants who assisted job seekers with intellectual or developmental disabilities in finding individual paid employment. Eighty-four employment consultants from 25 employment programs were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. After receiving training, the employment consultants in the intervention group reported, on average, 3.4 more placements during a one year period, $0.99 greater hourly earnings, and 6.7 more weekly work hours, compared to the employment consultants in the control group. Based on these findings, we recommend that training and mentoring activities be provided for employment consultants to enhance individualized job placement and supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]