Pushing the employment agenda: case study research of high performing States in integrated employment.

Cohen and team visited three states that already had high rates of adults with IDD working real jobs.

They talked to leaders, read policy papers, and watched how the systems ran.

The goal: find the common moves that keep integrated employment alive year after year.

All three winners shared three habits.

First, they let money follow the person, not the building.

Second, they posted clear data every quarter so everyone could see if jobs were growing or shrinking.

Third, they built tight networks where schools, agencies, and businesses all aimed at the same goal: competitive work in regular places.

Domin et al. (2013) surveyed the whole country and found only a large share of adults with IDD hold integrated jobs. Cohen’s three states beat that number, showing the gap between best and average is still wide.

Wehman et al. (2014) proved supported employment works for transition-age youth. Cohen shows how states can scale that same model for adults.

Hansen et al. (1989) first showed individual placements beat group crews. Cohen’s states used that evidence to write funding rules that favor one-person jobs.

Ferron et al. (2023) gave employment coaches a quick daily check-in tool. Cohen’s systems could adopt that tool to keep quality high as they grow.

You can copy the three habits right now. Ask your state for flexible funding. Start sharing simple job counts each month. Invite school teams and employers to one table with a shared target: more real jobs. These moves cost little and lift everyone’s outcomes.