Supported employment originated in the United States. The main aim was an alternative to traditional rehabilitation programmes for persons with severe disabilities. This type of employment is a versatile model that can be provided in a variety of ways. Parmenter (2011) states that such variety of supported employment can be individual placement, Hybrid, and mobile work crews. According to (Wehman et al., 1997), The individual placement option would appear to be the dominant one in the United States. In 2012, 83 % of supported employment participants were in individual supported employment positions compared to 77 % in 1995. Hybrid consist of a group of individuals, usually between three to eight, who work in a special training group within a host company. Not all members of the group may move into the company’s regular workforce but for some this would be the ideal opportunity to move into individual placement. On the other hand, a mobile work would consist of a similar sized group, with one or more job coaches, which travels through a community offering specialized contract services, such as gardening or grounds-keeping. Notwithstanding all this, there is no best model of Supported Employment. This is because Supported Employment must be flexible, variable, accommodating, and require a collaborative approach.
This model presents the concept that anyone can be employed if they want paid employment whilst sufficient support is provided. The European Union of Supported Employment has produced position papers and guides to the supported employment model. One of the best guidelines is the European Union of Supported Employment Toolkit.
Parmenter, Trevor R. (2011). What is Intellectual Disability? How is it Assessed and Classified? International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 58:3, 303-319
Wehman, P., Revell, G., & Kregel, J. (1997). Supported employment research: expanding competitive employment opportunities for persons with significant disabilities. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED408777.pdf#page=10
Tonio Axisa 