Cost-benefit analyses of employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding the cost-benefit of vocational rehabilitation services is critical to improve competitive integrated employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze and synthesize micro and macroeconomic analyses of various types of vocational services which promote the employment outcomes of individuals with IDD. METHODS: This scoping review searched peer-reviewed and grey literature sources published between 2000 and 2020, examining both micro and macroeconomic analyses. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies reported positive effects for the cost-benefit of integrated service approaches such as supported and customized employment. Conversely, our findings show no cost-benefit for sheltered workshops, and in some cases, negative effects. CONCLUSION: Limitations to the included studies as well as implications and recommendations for practice, policy, and future research are discussed.

Interventions for improving employment outcomes for persons with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review update

“…As individuals with ASD may possess varying levels of social competencies, interventions that enhance social skills can be particularly effective for job‐related activities such as interviewing and interpersonal interactions with other employees (Grob et al, 2019 ). Although many individuals with autism are currently served in segregated prevocational settings, previous research has indicated that individuals with previous experience in these segregated settings are actually less likely to eventually gain competitive integrated employment (Taylor et al, 2021 ). In addition to job development services, another set of interventions often targets work‐related skills such as specific job training tasks that may help individuals with ASD maintain their employment through on‐the‐job training and long‐term support (Schall et al, 2020 ).…”

Cost-benefit analysis of a non-government organization and Australian government collaborative supported employment program for autistic people

“…First, there is a direct reduction of unemployment risk following the intervention. This reduced unemployment risk may reflect that the 3-year program employs participants directly in the community (Taylor et al, 2021) and provides support across multiple domains of the autistic person’s functioning (e.g. environmental, individual) while taking a strengths-based perspective (Scott et al, 2019).…”

The impact of competitive integrated employment on economic, psychological, and physical health outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

“…In operationalising CIE as a public service outcome and the goal of policy, conceptualization has primarily been as an outcome in-and-of-itself. However, research has also indicated that CIE may in turn provide other advantages and opportunities for individuals with disabilities; beyond serving as an outcome in and of itself, meaningful employment may provide economic opportunity (e.g., Taylor et al, 2021), better quality of life (e.g., Beyer et al, 2010;Dean et al, 2018;Iwanaga et al, 2021), and perhaps even better health outcomes (e.g., Inge et al, 2009;Robertson et al, 2019).…”

“…In operationalising CIE as a public service outcome and the goal of policy, conceptualization has primarily been as an outcome in‐and‐of‐itself. However, research has also indicated that CIE may in turn provide other advantages and opportunities for individuals with disabilities; beyond serving as an outcome in and of itself, meaningful employment may provide economic opportunity (e.g., Taylor et al, 2021), better quality of life (e.g., Beyer et al, 2010; Dean et al, 2018; Iwanaga et al, 2021), and perhaps even better health outcomes (e.g., Inge et al, 2009; Robertson et al, 2019). These benefits of employment are not limited to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; research examining the global population (with and without disabilities) has found substantial links between employment and happiness, quality‐of‐life, and other non‐monetary benefits (De Neve & Ward, 2017).…”

“…A national report issued by the Institute for Community Inclusion indicated that only 18.6% of individuals receiving support from state intellectual and developmental disabilities agencies in 2015 were in CIE, and this number has continued to decrease since 2001 (Winsor et al, 2019). Further, advocates of sheltered workshops and other segregated options continue to pursue funding earmarked for CIE at the state and national level despite evidence that they do not serve as pathways to CIE (Taylor et al, 2021; Wehman et al, 2018). These entities also continue to pay subminimum wages via federal certificates.…”