Objective:

Demonstrate feasibility of a pilot employment support intervention in an outpatient clinic setting.

Background:

As young individuals transition into adulthood, milestones such as independent living and gainful employment become paramount. However, for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), these milestones can diverge notably from those of typically developing peers. They often confront distinct challenges, especially during shifts from pediatric to adult health care and transitioning from school to employment. Despite the positive influence of employment on quality of life, fragmented support systems create barriers to achieving this outcome. The GUIDDANCE study was conceived to address these issues, offering an innovative blend of vocational support within a transition services framework at a large academic hospital. 

Design/Methods:

GUIDDANCE introduced vocational support tailored for IDD youths within three health clinics. The overall goal is to measure employment’s impact on health outcomes such as adaptive behavior, BMI, and emergency department visits. Secondary outcomes include targeted vocational case management's effect on referral uptake and placement in Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). This current phase demonstrates feasibility of the intervention.  

Results:

We demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating employment counselors within two established clinics providing transition services to patients with IDD. Since initiation of this program, an employment counselor has been present at 29 clinics, providing counseling to approximately 70 patients/families. Future work will measure the impact of the employment intervention on adaptive behavior skills. 

Conclusions:

The project bridges gaps between healthcare and vocational systems. We have demonstrated that it is feasible to forge a partnership with a state office of vocational rehabilitation and a neurodevelopmental clinic. The impact of employment on health outcomes could drive broader interdisciplinary interventions, emphasizing the collective endeavor's significance in enhancing the IDD community's quality of life.