Employment in integrated settings at competitive wages offer people with disabilities a direct pathway to greater independence and self-sufficiency. The employment resources below have been compiled for educators, professionals, and providers who work with people with disabilities.
- ACL's Profiles in Integrated Employment highlights stories and best practices from agencies and states leading the way towards integrated employment for people with disabilities. Read tips for employment service providers transitioning to an integrated employment model.
- The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition’s (NTACT) Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Toolkit was developed as a resource for use by educational and vocational rehabilitation agencies to improve post-school employment outcomes for students with disabilities. The toolkit was developed to facilitate the collaboration necessary to implement secondary transition services across agencies at the state, community and student levels and increase the use of evidence based practices (EBPs).
- The National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD) is a collaborative of disability, workforce and economic empowerment organizations dedicated to improving employment and economic advancement outcomes for all people with disabilities funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Resources offered by the LEAD Center include Customized employment best practices and Employment First informational briefs.
- Transition Tennessee offers professional development and resources with the goal of preparing students with disabilities for life after high school. Resources include an Educator Blueprint for teachers, special education directors, school administrators, and district leaders, and a Pre-ETS Blueprint for counselors and service providers.
- "Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success," is a curriculum developed by ODEP focused on teaching "soft" or workforce readiness skills to youth, including youth with disabilities. Created for youth development professionals as an introduction to workplace interpersonal and professional skills, the curriculum is targeted for youth ages 14 to 21 in both in-school and out-of-school environments. The basic structure of the program is comprised of modular, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.