Their study analysed data from over 4,600 adults with IDD across 25 US states, examining how different factors influence employment success. The researchers looked at three distinct categories:

1. Competitive integrated employment, which describes jobs in integrated workplace settings paying at least minimum wage.
2. Underemployment, which includes jobs in segregated settings and/or paying below minimum wage.
3. Unemployment among those who want to work.

The team’s findings reveal concerning employment patterns. Only 20.5% of participants had competitive integrated employment, while 38.5% were underemployed and 41% were unemployed but wanted to work.

The researchers uncovered several factors linked to employment outcomes. Those who could help create their service plans had higher rates of competitive integrated employment, while having a guardian was associated with higher rates of unemployment or underemployment.

The study also highlighted wage disparities across different work settings. People in individual jobs where they worked alongside non-disabled employees earned an average of $11.80 per hour. However, those in facility-based workplaces, which are generally organisations that primarily employ people with disabilities, earned just over $4.00 per hour.

Most notably, the researchers found that having employment listed as a goal in a person’s service plan was associated with 4.5 times higher odds of achieving competitive integrated employment compared to those without such goals.

The research by DuBois and her colleagues has important implications for disability service providers and policymakers. The strong connection between having employment goals in service plans and achieving competitive integrated employment suggests the importance of person-centred planning, an approach that puts individuals’ preferences and goals at the centre of their support services.

Ultimately, the path to better employment outcomes for people with IDD starts with planning for and actively supporting their career aspirations.