Customized Employment is a Real Game Changer!

With about one quarter of America’s workforce having a disability, employment of people with disabilities should be a natural occurrence. However, that is not the case. People with disabilities continue to have a higher unemployment rate than people without disabilities and continue to be under-represented in the overall workforce. This is particularly true for people with significant disabilities. Employers, families, and even some rehabilitation counseling professionals underestimate the capacity of people with significant disabilities to work in competitive integrated employment. Potential available opportunities are also underestimated.

With the inception of supported employment in the 1970s and 1980s, greater opportunities were created for individuals with the most significant disabilities to have real work in competitive jobs with prevailing wages and the potential for benefits. Supported employment utilizes job developers and job coaches to find current openings in the marketplace that, with appropriate supports, can be obtained and maintained for individuals with significant disabilities. These opportunities are created in partnership with state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies (or state developmental disabilities agencies) and contracted community rehabilitation programs (CRPs). Vocational rehabilitation counselors work closely with job coaches and job developers to assure that quality placements and long-term stability occur.

The challenge with supported employment is that it requires the CRP and the person with a disability to move into existing jobs and adapt to that specific role. There are times that this is not the most successful option for the employer or the person with a disability. Sometimes more creativity is required. This is where customized employment (CE) becomes the right answer. Customized employment considers the specific strengths of the individual and the specific needs of an employer to carve out required, valued tasks and create an integrated competitive job that meets needs of the employer and the needs of the person with a significant disability. Ideally, it is a perfect match for the expectations of both.

What is Customized Employment?

I was first introduced to CE by my colleague and friend, Abby Cooper, in 2001. We were working together in Washington State VR, and she had been an advocate of supported employment since the early 1980s but had also become an expert in customized employment and one of the countries biggest proponents by 2001. She continues to be one of the countries leading experts and has provided significant guidance to me over the years on the subject. As a past state VR director, I have frequently looked to her to provide training to my staff. Since my introduction to CE, I have continued to be a strong supporter as well.

Customized employment is a specific subset of supported employment.  Customized employment is person-centered, strengths driven, individually responsive and consistent with the values of integrated, inclusive, full wage and community-based employment for all (Marc Gold & Associates, n.d.). CE is a tool to help individuals who have not been successful through more traditional job search methods. It attempts to create success for both the employer and the person by matching the unique skills of the individual with the unmet needs of the employer. It bypasses the “competitive nature of more traditional employment strategies” by seeking employers and proposing specific employment to the employer (LEAD Center, 2019). CE responds to specific needs of employers with applicants who can meet those needs. It is a process of discovering the strengths, needs and interests of an applicant and negotiating employment that meets the person’s and the employer’s expectations (Cooper, 2024). By looking and the specialized skills of the individual it is possible to create success for both.

Important Features of Customized Employment

A key player in the CE process is the job developer. They serve as the person who helps the potential job seeker understand their skills and as the person who develops relationships with potential employers. First, the job developer must believe the person can work and that the job developer can make it happen. Second, the job developer must help the job seeker believe they can work. This oftentimes also means helping the family believe the person can work. This creates hope which can result in success. Next, there is a process of discovery to discern the skills that the job seeker can use in an integrated work setting. Once the discovery process has been completed, the process for seeking a potential employer begins. It is important to remember that this is a person-centered process. Unconditional positive regard for the consumer is essential (Cooper, 2024).

Job developers must develop and maintain relationships with employers for CE to be successful. Initially, employers may not be interested or may be concerned about the value of CE in their company. Cooper (2024) suggests jobs can be developed and relationships built with employers by sharing with employers that as a job developer “you are giving the employer an opportunity to do something important; as the developer you have resources; it is important to value inclusion; and you are helping to solve a problem…” The initial meeting is never about selling the employer on hiring a person. This first meeting is about learning about the employer and their business. This time can be used to respond to any preconceived negative ideas the employer might have about hiring a person with a disability. Once a relationship is developed and the job developer has really listened to the employer, then solutions can be offered. Sharing stories of past success with employers can be helpful. You can help employers gain understanding about what you offer and how it meets their needs. A successful employer relationship can lead to a possible CE.

Conclusion

Without quality employment, people with significant disabilities can fall into poverty and isolation (Frankly, this is true for all people, not just people with disabilities). When a vocational rehabilitation counselor partners with a CRP for CE, it can be the first step to real opportunity for integrated employment for a job seeker that might otherwise be left out of the world of work. CRP staff can create meaningful options to also meet employer’s needs. CE becomes a win-win for employer and job seeker.

References

Cooper, A. (2024, May). The magic and art of job development. New York Alliance for Inclusion Innovation. https://nyalliance.org/Employment_for_People_with_I_DD.

LEAD Center (2019, March). Customized employment systems brief:  Implementing customized employment, guided group discovery and self-guided discovery in a variety of settings with a variety of partners. Author. https://leadecenter.org/employment-strategies/customized-employment-and-discovery/.

Mark Gold & Associates (n.d.). Customized employment. Author. https://www.marcgold/whatisce.