15 Years of Inclusive Employment in a Down Syndrome Clinic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disabilities have high rates of unemployment and underemployment. Despite benefits to employers and employees, some groups may be hesitant to implement inclusive employment programs due to lack of knowledge, absence of well-defined strategies, and limited exposure to successful examples. OBJECTIVE: To address this gap, the Down Syndrome Program (DSP) in a New England tertiary pediatric hospital established an inclusive employment program that supports and trains young adults with Down syndrome in the development of foundational job skills within a hospital-based clinic. METHODS: This case study examines strategies and lessons learned from the employment program's implementation and evolution. RESULTS: Successful implementation required iterative, tailored approaches to meet diverse needs. CONCLUSION: The DSP developed a framework and collection of best practices for other organizations to adopt for successful employment of individuals with disabilities under an inclusive employment model.