Competitive Integrated Employment Systems Transformation

Overview

YTI researchers are working collaboratively with several partners under the Disability Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (DEP-RRTC), housed within the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.

This study examines which state policies and practices are most effective at transforming systems to support competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Why This Work Matters

Currently, over 76% of people receiving services from state IDD systems receive only non-work services, and only 11% have individual jobs in the community. Despite growing adoption of Employment First policies across states, barriers remain in aligning policies, funding, and service delivery to effectively support CIE. Understanding which transformation strategies work and how to implement them successfully is critical for improving employment outcomes.

Additional Info

Activities

This three-phase study will:

(1) Conduct a national policy scan of 10 high-performing states for CIE and survey system leaders across all 50 states to identify prevalent and effective practices.

(2) Conduct focus groups and interviews with leaders from high-performing states to understand how they successfully implement CIE transformation efforts.

(3) Produce a new set of evidence-based High-Leverage Practices and actionable implementation guidance to help state and federal policymakers successfully transform systems to support CIE for people with significant disabilities.

Website

https://bbi-dep-rrtc.org/

Contact information

Ellice Switzer
Email: es656@cornell.edu

Kaitlyn Jackson
Email: kj256@cornell.edu

Funding agencies

The DEP-RRTC is funded to Syracuse University by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Principal investigator

Ellice Switzer

Collaborating partners

Syracuse University, Mathematica, Harvard University, Rutgers University, National Organization on Disability