Competitive Integrated Employment

Moving to Competitive Integrated Employment

Resources for Individuals, Families, Professionals, and Policymakers

Indiana is committed to creating a future where every person with disabilities in our community feels empowered and has the freedom to pursue meaningful local employment. We believe in achieving competitive integrated employment, where individuals earn fair wages by using their valuable skills. This path is open to everyone with the right support and informed choice.  

In an effort to discover more about the successful transition of adults with disabilities from sheltered work environments to competitive employment, the Center on Community Living and Careers has explored the experiences of individuals, their families, and service providers involved in the process. This work was funded by Indiana's Division on Disability and Rehabilitative Services.

In the process of examining employment policy and insights from across the nation and leaders in the field, the Center on Community Living and Careers also compiled valuable resources that service providers can use to support transitioning individuals from any segregated service setting, including day programs.

What is competitive integrated employment?

Competitive integrated employment is a term we use to describe jobs, usually in your local community, paying wages at or above the minimum wage, in workplaces that include people with disabilities as well as people who don’t have disabilities. 

Understanding the Transition

Sheltered workshops in Indiana and nationwide have historically provided structured activities for individuals with disabilities, offering stability and consistency. However, we’ve learned through the years that too often sheltered work paid inadequate, unfair wages, and it prevented people with disabilities from interacting with their peers and communities.  

There’s a better way. Thanks to new legislation and research and to input from people with disabilities, advocates, professionals, and families, we’re developing better ways to support people with disabilities in their communities and in inclusive workplaces.  

Transitioning from sheltered workshops to community jobs might seem daunting, but it's an exciting opportunity for growth and meaningful living. We want to communicate clearly that transitioning to community employment can be empowering and contribute to individual well-being.