Organizational Transformation: Guiding Principles for Community Providers (Bringing Employment First to Scale, Issue No. 6)

A key area of focus for our Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) is organizational transformation, leading to improved employment outcomes for those served by community provider organizations. Community provider organizations and their staff are the primary source of day and employment supports for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Among this large provider community, variation of services and employment philosophies exists. Many believe that facility-based programs are essential for individuals with disabilities who are having difficulty getting or maintaining competitive work in the labor force, and have limited plans to expand competitive integrated employment. Others believe that all individuals with IDD can work if provided the appropriate supports. State and federal systems, however, increasingly expect individuals with IDD to have access to quality employment supports. Community providers are challenged to consider how they will transform their facility-based employment services in order to provide opportunities for competitive integrated employment, including supported and customized employment options