Employment

On October 9, 2013, Governor Brown signed AB 1041 (Chesbro) into law, establishing an “Employment First Policy” in California.  The Department of Developmental Services, California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), and California Department of Education (CDE) have entered into an agreement consistent with the State’s “Employment First” policy and other laws to make employment in an integrated setting, at a competitive wage, for individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (I/DD) its highest priority. This is often referred to as “Competitive Integrated Employment” (CIE) and/or “Real Work for Real Pay in the Real World.” 

CIE means:

  • Working in your community, meeting new people.
  • Making minimum wage or more per hour for your work. 
  • A chance to use your skills, promote & get paid more.
  • An opportunity to get health care and retirement benefits from your job. 

The Benefits of Working:

  • Employment is important to the overall health and stability of any individual. 
  • Employment offers wages, benefits, status and opportunities to make connections with coworkers and the community as a whole. 
  • Employment affords the community at large an opportunity to experience first had the capabilities and contributions made by individuals with developmental disabilities. 
  • Employment offers a life with income rather than public benefits. 
  • Employment empowers an individual to dream and create a fulfilling career. 
  • Through work people develop relationships and gain self-esteem. They are not just in the community but they become a part of the community. 
  • Employment offers all people access to other community citizens, a path out of poverty, and independence from service systems. 

 

Does CIE sound like something you want to do? Learn more about what you need to do to find CIE here. 

  • Step 1: Tell your circle of support (family members, teacher, school counselor, regional center service coordinator, or vocational skills counselor) you are interested in CIE
  • Step 2: CIE discussion questions link to a printable page? 
    • Your family & school staff can help you tell your IEP team that you are interested in CIE. They can also help you share what you learned about yourself from answering the CIE discussion questions. 
  • Step 3: Your circle of support can help you have a discussion with your IPP team about CIE. They can also help you share what you learned about yourself from answering the CIE discussion questions. 
  • Step 4: Job skills preparation & training 
    • Work Permit (up to 18 years old) 
    • LEA’s (Your School District) 
    • Workability I (WAI) Program (for students with an IEP) 
    • Workability II (WAII) Program (for students in an adult school) 
    • Workability III (WAIII) (for college students) 
    • Workability IV (WAIV) for University students 
    • College to Career (C2C) Program 
    • Transition Partnership Program (TPP) 
    • Department of Rehabilitation Student Services 
    • American Job Center of California (AJCC) 

  • Step 1: Tell your circle of support (family members, advocates, regional center service coordinator, job coach, vocational skills counselor, or IPP team) you are interested in CIE 
  • Step 2: CIE discussion questions link to a printable page? 
  • Step 3: Your circle of support can help you have a discussion with your IPP team about CIE. They can also help you share what you learned about yourself from answering the CIE discussion questions. 
  • Step 4: Job skills preparation & training
    • Department of Rehabilitation Services
    • American Job Center of California (AJCC) 
    • Regional Center Services 
      • SEP 
      • PIP
      • TDS 

  • Step 1: Tell your circle of support (family members, advocate, regional center service coordinator, or IPP team) that you are interested in CIE 
  • Step 2: CIE discussion questions link to a printable page? 
  • Step 3: Your circle of support can help you have a discussion with your IPP team about CIE. They can also help you share what you learned about yourself from answering the CIE discussion questions.
  • Step 4: Job skills preparation & training 
    • Department of Rehabilitation Services 
    • American Job Center of California (AJCC) 
    • Regional Center Services 
      • SEP 
      • PIP 
      • TDS
  • Benefits Planning 
    • The Effect of Working on Medi-Cal Benefits (CHIIP-California Health Incentives Improvement Project) 
    • Benefits Planning Tools (Disability Benefits 101) 
    • Work Incentives for People with Disabilities (Social Security Online) 
    • Red Book (Social Security Online) 
    • Regional Center Services 
      • SEP 
        • Supported Employment (SE) services through the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and regional centers are aimed at finding competitive work in a community integrated work setting for persons with severe disabilities who need ongoing support services to learn and perform the work. 
        • SE placements can be individual placements, or group placements (called enclaves), or work crews, such as landscaping crews. Support is usually provided by a job coach who meets regularly with the individual on the job to help him or her learn the necessary skills and behaviors to work independently.
        • The DOR is the main vocational rehabilitation program SE service provider for adults with developmental disabilities. However, if the DOR is unable to provide services, the regional center may be able to help individuals get a job by funding SE under the Habilitative Services Program, or by referring them to other programs that provide SE-like services available in their area.
        • If you are interested in applying for SE services you should ask your regional center service coordinator for help. 

  • What kind of accommodations can you ask for? 
  • Ability Tools website link
  • Job Accommodations Network link 
  • Transportation

Beginning July 1, 2016, two significant programs enacted through California’s State Legislature are designed to increase competitive, integrated employment for those with developmental disabilities, pursuant to the Welfare and Institutions Code, Sections 4870 and 4870 (d-g). These programs were expanded as of July 16, 2021. 

With the passage of AB 136, Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) was amended to include 4870.1. and provides funding to establish a program to increase pathways to competitive integrated employment (CIE).  WIC 4870.1 requires DDS, in collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation and stakeholders, to establish contracts or grant opportunities for entities to develop and implement innovative and replicable strategies and practices to increase paid work experiences and employment opportunities for regional center consumers.  

Employment Grants

The Employment Grants Guidelines for 2022-23 will be posted the week of June 27, 2022. This is an open application to organizations with strong ties to the developmental services system, including, but not limited to community based organizations, colleges and universities, and employment providers. AB 136 provides $10M one-time funding for these grants. The purpose of the Employment Grants Program is to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals served by regional centers. Key grant priorities include those that will utilize new, innovative, best or promising practices to support career pathways for youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provide opportunities for competitive integrated employment.   

Employment Workgroup

DDS formed an Employment Workgroup comprised of a range of stakeholders for consultation on the structure and priorities of the grant program.  The workgroup first convened in December 2021, after taking longer than anticipated to secure workgroup members with the desired expertise and experience.  Through regular meetings, the workgroup has identified priority areas for the grant guidelines that DDS will issue to solicit proposals, including innovative pathways to employment, supported employment and customized employment, business focused practices, holistic approach to achieving CIE, and engaging families and youth.  Project types for the grants may include provider education and training, consumer preparations, family and consumer education and training, employment supports and strategies, new and alternative services models and payment, and employer outreach and engagement. DDS anticipates announcing grant awards in August 2022.  Future workgroup meetings will include presentations by employers who have demonstrated a commitment and success employing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities so we can learn replicate experiences and establish partnerships.  

  • System transformation page 
  • SAE initiatives 

  • CIE 
  • PIP 
  • Workforce Data Collection Survey 
  • More TBD 


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Last modified: April 29, 2023