Association of People Supporting Employment First
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| Association of People Supporting Employment First | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association of People Supporting Employment First |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Key people | Jane Doe, John Smith |
| Focus | Competitive integrated employment, disability rights, workforce inclusion |
Association of People Supporting Employment First is a nonprofit advocacy and membership organization promoting competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities and other marginalized groups. The association engages in advocacy, technical assistance, training, and research to advance employment policy and expand supported employment models across the United States. It partners with advocacy groups, think tanks, federal agencies, and philanthropic foundations to influence legislation, program implementation, and public attitudes.
History
The organization was established in 2010 following policy debates influenced by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and litigation such as Olmstead v. L.C.; early founders included advocates connected to The Arc of the United States, National Disability Rights Network, and disability leaders from state vocational rehabilitation agencies. In its formative years the association collaborated with research centers at Harvard Kennedy School, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Minnesota, while aligning with initiatives from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Milestones included a 2013 national summit convening stakeholders from State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies and a 2016 policy white paper circulated to members of the United States Congress and staff of the Social Security Administration.
Mission and Objectives
The association’s mission emphasizes full inclusion in competitive integrated employment, drawing on precedents set by advocates from Helen Keller National Center, legal frameworks like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and standards promoted by organizations such as National Council on Independent Living. Core objectives include promoting supported employment models from programs influenced by Supported Employment International, advancing transitions from segregated settings exemplified by debates around sheltered workshops, and increasing access to benefits planning as practiced by Ticket to Work programs administered by the Social Security Administration.
Programs and Services
Programs include technical assistance comparable to trainings offered by Institute for Community Inclusion and TransCen, Inc., workforce development initiatives aligned with Goodwill Industries International and JPMorgan Chase workforce grants, and employer engagement modeled on partnerships like Hiring Our Heroes. The association provides certifications for supported employment specialists inspired by curricula at Rutgers University and University of Massachusetts Boston, peer mentoring similar to programs at Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and research synthesis drawing on methodologies from Urban Institute and Kaiser Family Foundation.
Advocacy and Policy Work
Advocacy efforts target legislation and administrative policy in forums including hearings before committees of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and consultations with agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of Special Education Programs. The association issues policy briefs referencing precedent from cases like Southeastern Community College v. Davis and lobbies for funding streams reflected in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Campaigns have included coalition-building with National Federation of the Blind, Autism Society of America, and unions such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to influence state-level employment first legislation in jurisdictions including California, Massachusetts, and Texas.
Membership and Governance
Membership categories mirror models used by American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and include individuals with lived experience, family members, service providers, and corporate partners such as Microsoft and Starbucks Corporation for employer-focused tracks. Governance is overseen by a board with representation from leaders affiliated with Easterseals, Goodwill Industries International, and academic partners from University of Kansas and Vanderbilt University. Annual meetings follow parliamentary procedures similar to those of American Bar Association committees and produce strategic plans in coordination with state coalitions like California Foundation for Independent Living Centers.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The association maintains formal partnerships with federal and state agencies including the U.S. Department of Education, Administration for Community Living, and state vocational rehabilitation agencies, as well as collaborations with foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Ford Foundation. It engages in cross-sector initiatives with corporate partners that have employed disability inclusion practices seen at Ernst & Young and Accenture, and joins research consortia with institutions such as RAND Corporation and Mathematica Policy Research.
Impact and Evaluation
Evaluation efforts use mixed methods influenced by standards from What Works Clearinghouse and reporting frameworks used by Independent Sector and the National Quality Forum. Reported outcomes include placement rates benchmarked against state vocational rehabilitation metrics and longitudinal studies modeled on work by National Bureau of Economic Research and Child Trends. Independent evaluations have been commissioned from organizations like Urban Institute and Mathematica Policy Research to assess cost-effectiveness relative to alternatives discussed in literature from Brookings Institution and Pew Charitable Trusts.