What does Employment First refer to?

• A. A policy requiring employers to hire only with specialist supports.
• B. A set of services to help individuals seek and maintain employment, including supports provided to or by an employer.
• C. A funding program for training only.
• D. A concept emphasizing facility-based employment.

Answer: (B)

Employment First is about helping people with disabilities obtain and maintain paid work in regular, integrated settings, with a broad package of supports. It isn’t limited to training funding or to placing someone in a sheltered or facility-based job. Instead, it includes a range of services designed to help the individual seek and keep employment, and it often involves supports provided to or by the employer, such as job coaching, workplace accommodations, transportation, and ongoing follow-along supports. This emphasis on integrated, community-based employment and collaborative supports with employers is why this description fits best.