Competitive Integrated Employment

The National Conference of State Legislatures, a partner of the State Exchange on Employment & Disability, recently published a policy brief titled, “Trends in Disability Employment Legislation.” This resource explores key trends from the 2022 and 2023 state legislative sessions aimed at improving employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These trends encompass incentivizing inclusive hiring practices, promoting competitive integrated employment, eliminating subminimum wages for workers with disabilities, addressing the impact of long COVID on the workforce, and enhancing mental health support in the workplace.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services proposes to reinvest ARPA Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) enhanced funding to implement a statewide grant program with HCBS providers, advocates and stakeholders. These grants will address the workforce crisis, support businesses and programs transition to a model that supports individual with intellectual, developmental, and other significant disabilities find and retain work in competitive integrated employment and other innovative solutions.

This strategic planning manual helps states develop a strategic process to increase Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for people with disabilities. This manual is designed as a guide for state leadership teams and facilitators working to create a statewide cross-systems Employment First strategic plan. It is intended to help states strategically align their policy and programs to further CIE as the first priority for all individuals with disabilities.