There are more then 5 million Americans who experience Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD). This includes Autism, Downs Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy just to name a few. Unemployment
rates for these Americans are well over 80%.
Here’s the thing, despite the high unemployment rate many individuals who experience IDD have the skills necessary to perform jobs, just as important, they want to work. When given a chance they’ve shown strong
employer loyalty and have a reputation as hard working dedicated employees with no more sick time or increased cost to employers. Those who succeed typically have a strong network of people to assist the job seeker overcome personal challenges to employment
success. Some get help to improve skills related to socializing, caring for one’s self, time management, positive problem solving or transportation.
The need for services to support people who experience IDD is great and not projected to decrease anytime soon. The Center for Disease Control states that developmental disabilities rates, more specifically, those
within the Autism spectrum have increased over 289% in the past 12 years.
Collaborative Employment Innovations –CEI is a start up agency currently severing less then 5 individuals. We help our customers to development skills and strategies necessary for those with moderate to significant
disabilities to obtain “integrated employment.” Our approach is holistic; we not only look at the individual’s career goal, interest, skills and capacities but equally the overall obstacles to the individual’s employment success. Our customer are empowered
throughout the process, they are invited and expected to be fully involved (to the best of their abilities) in the development and execution of a job placement action plan.
Integrated employment refers to jobs held by people with disabilities in typical workplace settings where the majority of employees are not people with disabilities, they earn at least minimum wage and they are
paid directly by the employer.
Our approach also includes working with businesses to help them maximize productivity and manage costs. We assist businesses by helping to identify jobs that are overlooked, done by outside contractors at a higher
rate or entry- level tasks performed by a highly paid professional whose time could be better spent doing others things.
Today is an exiting time as The United States Department of Labor has introduced “The Employment First Policy.” There are millions of Americans from all economic and ethnic backgrounds who are eager and waiting
to make meaning contributions to their communities and the work force. Your pledge will allow us to increase our capacity to help up to 35 people annually. That's help for 35 people who may other wise spend much of their day home, isolated and lonely, to
get out into the community and the work force. You will also be aiding in the continued efforts towards social change from institutionalization and segregation to full equality and inclusion for individuals who for far too long have lived in the shadows of
society.