An analysis of the procedural components of supported employment programs associated with employment outcomes.

Hansen et al. (1989) watched 120 adults with mixed disabilities after they joined supported-employment programs.

The team listed every step the programs used: job finding, on-site coaching, ride help, and boss talks.

They tracked who kept the job, pay level, and how often workers ate lunch with coworkers.

Most workers stayed hired, earned more than workshop wages, and joined the social life of the site.

Programs that blended quick placement with steady coaching got the best mix of hours, pay, and friends.

Nord (2016) later counted the services and found stacking three—search, placement, coaching—made employment 16 times more likely, sharpening the 1989 picture with hard numbers.

Howlin et al. (2005) narrowed the model to high-ability adults with autism and still saw two-thirds stay hired for eight years, showing the same parts work across diagnoses.

Walsh et al. (2020) added a tech twist: letting workers pick favorite tasks before placement lifted performance even when skills did not match, extending rather than replacing the 1989 recipe.

You already run job coaching. Make sure intake includes the full trio—search, placement, and follow-along support—because later studies prove that bundle drives success. Add a quick preference scan so the client likes the task; enjoyment can trump skill gaps and cut your coaching minutes.