Effective transition from school to the adult community and employment for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) requires knowledge of an array of state and community agencies and organizations. This paper provided an overview of current research on employment outcomes for persons with ASD, with emphasis on employment outcomes achieved through participation in services provided by State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. Descriptions are given for the primary providers of employment and related supports in the adult service system for transitioning youth with ASD. Two case study examples are provided detailing the development and implementation of employment plans responsive to the unique needs and abilities of young adults with ASD. Becoming well informed about resources at the community and state level and learning how to network effectively among these resources are emphasized as key to planning and implementing an effective transition program for a youth with ASD.

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The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from a national survey of a random sample of community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) that hold Special Wage Certificates established under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. 214(c). The intent of the survey was to identify the types of services provided, the trends in the employment services, and the factors that were perceived as inhibiting and facilitating integrated employment outcomes. The survey results are categorized for this report in the following three areas: 1) characteristics of community rehabilitation programs, 2) organizational change trends, and 3) factors that influence the type of employment program utilized by consumers with disabilities. Representative results from the survey are that overall, facility-based programs continue to be the predominant service provided by community rehabilitation programs holding 14(c) certificates. Of the 20,075 staff members identified as serving consumers, only 1,741 (8.7%) are reported as working with individuals earning at least minimum wage. Although competitive employment and individual supported employment services among these CRPs are growing at a faster rate than other services, use of facility-based services continues to expand. Overall, the findings indicate that the organizations that provide daily services to those Americans with disabilities utilizing 14(c) certificates are continuing to predominately support facility-based work and non-work activities versus services leading to integrated employment outcomes.

Findings from a national survey of state mental retardation/developmental disability agencies regarding use of the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver to fund supported employment were reported. Numbers of individuals and funding levels were requested for day habilitation services for FYs 1997 and 1999, before and after the(P.L. 105-33), which removed eligibility restrictions for this service. Findings show that growth rates for this service far exceeded growth rates for other day services, with high growth rates in a small number of states. However, supported employment accounted for less than 16% of those receiving day habilitation services through the Waiver and only 12% of day habilitation funding, with the remainder going to day support, prevocational services, and other segregated options.

The goal of Ticket to Work is to support job acquisition and job retention among Social Security Administration (SSA) disability beneficiaries in job situations where earnings are sufficient to move these individuals off SSA disability cash benefits. This article considers the adequacy of provider payment incentives through the Ticket to Work for helping persons with mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD) achieve employment outcomes. It examines the work support strategies that have demonstrated their effectiveness in assisting persons with MR/DD acquire and retain employment, particularly with SSI and SSDI recipients. It analyzes the experience to date in using performance-based funding to purchase job acquisition and retention services, and the implications of this experience for the implementation of the Ticket to Work reforms. Specific areas related to the Ticket to Work addressed in the article include: the ceilings on current proposed milestone-outcome and outcome payments in the Ticket compared to what is known about providers' cost structures in other performance-based funding systems; and the factors likely to influence the decision-making of Employment Networks in accepting or rejecting Tickets. The article concludes with recommendations for restructuring the Ticket to Work to improve the adequacy of access to the Ticket program for SSI/SSDI recipients who are potentially viewed by Employment Networks as highly challenged in achieving an employment outcome.