tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411374816740853749.post1054141041930177497..comments2024-01-19T10:00:59.182-05:00Comments on The DD News Blog: Supported Employment : Is it Cost Effective for People with Severe Disabilities?Jill Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00976558739433548844noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411374816740853749.post-90038433914305584032017-01-05T10:34:01.529-05:002017-01-05T10:34:01.529-05:00I really appreciate your comments, Jill, and I wis...I really appreciate your comments, Jill, and I wish more parents of children with disabilities would let their voices be heard. I have operated Supported Employment programs now for 26 years and I can tell you that you are asking the right questions. I have had to close a sheltered workshop and I firmly believe it was not in the best interest of our community or the people we serve. The "cost savings" of SE programs are truly only seen when compared to sheltered work. And that almost always happens because families are forced to utilize services less with people sitting at home more. And further, in my experience, it is extremely rare when the cost of SE services are exceeded by the benefit of someone working. Many SE proponents will add that you can't put a value on helping an individual sense of self worth, etc. when they get a job. My stance (which is way politically incorrect with my colleagues) is that if this is ultimately the argument for SE, who are we to assume everyone with a disability wants to even go through this process? It's like the thinking is: "Oh sure they say they are happy with the old way, but we KNOW they would be much happier doing it our way." How is that thinking person centered?? The vast majority of the people and families I have worked were happy with a sheltered work situation. There were some that wanted to move on to competitive employment, and we worked hard to make that happen. I still argue that we need workshops. We need do things to ensure abuses aren't happening and find ways to make them more cost efficient and accountable. THAT idea has never been researched and bypassed by programs looking to secure funding and attempting to make SE an "evidence-based" practice (which also has it's own issues that I won't get into here). There are some vocal parent advocacy groups who have pushed the SE idea, but my experience shows far more on the other side of the issue. I would encourage you to continue to find other parents and care-providers who feel the same way as you, because I believe the pendulum needs to come back the other way at some point. Thanks for your post, Jill.Scott W.noreply@blogger.com