State Trends in Employment Services for People with Developmental Disabilities: Multiyear Comparisons Based on

This monograph summarizes national and state level changes in employment patterns for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. It presents longitudinal data from state mental retardation/developmental disability (MR/DD) agencies covering 8 years between FY88 and FY96, and for federal/state vocational rehabilitation services covering the years FY85 to FY95. Data indicate: (1) MR/DD agencies have expanded their capacity to provide day and employment services; (2) MR/DD agencies have reported an increase in the number and percent of individuals in integrated employment; (3) there is some suggestion that integrated employment has been an add-on service rather than a true systems change; (4) the service delivery system for persons with disabilities in day and employment services is changing; (5) within the vocational rehabilitation system, there has been a steady improvement in employment outcomes for persons with disabilities; (6) state investment in employment outcomes varies among states, based on a standardized rate measure of the number o