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Support

There may be a number of reasons why you need employment support. It could be to learn a job, to get help with organizing, to gain workplace social skills or other reasons related to a disability. The time an individual receives employment supports varies, depending on their needs.

Types of Employment Supports

Natural Supports
Natural supports generally don't require payment, which is why they're called “natural.” These could be friends, teachers, family members, co-workers or other individuals.

Employment Specialist / Job Coach / Job Developer / Work Support
These professionals are paid to help people find or prepare for work, or support them with learning or maintaining a job. They also work with employers.

Hiring Employment Support

The decision to hire employment support is usualy made by the job seeker or employee and the state agency that will be paying for their services. Generally, this will be a school, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency, or the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

You have the right to choose the provider agency you wish to work with. You may consider interviewing a number of them. Interviewing can be a great way to find out about their experience working with people with particular needs and their experience finding jobs in particular fields of interest, and also to get a sense of who they are.

If you’re receiving employment support you may be spending a lot of time with your employment specialist, so it’s important to feel comfortable.

Paying for Employment Supports

A school, VR agency or DHHS generally pays employment specialists, coaches and developers. There are also times when individuals who require the support will pay for the service themselves. For SSI and SSDI recipients, this could be incorporated into an IRWE or PASS.

VR generally contracts with employment agencies, also known as Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), to provide time-limited support to an individual to achieve specific goals as outlined on their Individualized Plan for Employment. This could be to do career exploration, find a job, train in a job or keep a job.

If an individual requires ongoing support on a job to keep the job, then VR looks to other sources to provide the funding that will extend beyond the VR case. The funding source can depend on the individual's disability and their connection to other service providers.

  • Developmental Disability: Individuals receiving case management services through the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), may be eligible for limited funding for employment support. Visit the OADS site for more information on availability, eligibility and how to apply.
  • Mental Health Disability: Transition-age youth who are receiving mental health services through the children’s behavioral health service system may be eligible for adult mental health services, depending on the nature of their disability. The eligibility requirements for adult mental health employment supports are the same as the requirements for adult mental health case management services. Individuals receiving adult mental health case management services through the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS), may be eligible for employment support funding. See the SAMHS Vocational Resources site for more information on availability, eligibility and how to apply.
  • Brain Injury: VR has limited funds for individuals who have acquired brain injuries and require limited employment support to maintain employment. Speak with a BRS VR counselor for more information.
  • Other impairments: Individuals who do not have impairments that meet the requirements above but still require employment support may be eligible to receive employment supports. Speak with a BRS VR counselor for more information.

More information: