Preparing community rehabilitation providers to deliver a provision of employment supports: A tiered training approach

BACKGROUND: Despite legislation and policy designed to promote employment for people with disabilities, outcome data suggest that individuals with disabilities, especially those with the most significant disabilities, remain unemployed and underemployed. While several variables may contribute to these poor outcomes, the capacity of organizations and individuals who provide employment supports to employment seekers with disabilities may contribute to the perennially low employment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the training structure for employment specialists and job coaches who implement supported and customized employment. RESULTS: Utah has developed a tiered training approach model to address the different levels of training needed to provide quality training to direct support professionals. The tiers of training included (a) workplace supports training, (b) employment specialist training, and (c) customized employment training. CONCLUSION: To improve quality employment outcomes for people with disabilities, community rehabilitation providers and funding agencies must have a thorough understanding of validated employment support strategies. The tiered training offered in Utah represents one state's attempt to provide quality training and support to direct support staff. Several training-related recommendations for funding and capacity building have been identified because of training initiatives.