Barriers and Facilitators to Cross-System Employment Collaboration

Submitted by Clare Papay on

The Think College Inclusive Higher Education Network established an exciting new workgroup to promote and improve collaboration between colleges and universities, vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies, developmental disability (DD) agencies, employers, and others that support students with intellectual disability (ID) to go to college. The Employment Partnerships Collaborative Workgroup is facilitated by the Rehabilitation Research & Training Center (RRTC) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).  In its first year, the workgroup focused on identifying the current landscape of employment partnerships within IPSE programs serving students with ID. This included identifying what contributed to successful system-level collaboration and what hindered that collaboration.

Contributors of Employment Partnerships

The Workgroup identified four core contributors to employment partners across systems in collaborating with IPSE programs to enhance paid employment opportunities for students with ID: 1) legislation/policy, 2) communication, 3) knowledge and perception of IPSE programs and college students with ID, and 4) engagement with employers.  Below are some examples of how these four factors can be facilitators and/or barriers to cross-system employment collaboration:

 

Facilitators

Barriers

Legislation/Policy
  1.  IPSE student outcome data used to show results of programs on employment outcomes of students with ID to impact policy changes
  2. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)  funds, including Pre-Employment Transition Services funds, leveraged for employment-related activities
  3. Programs across the state communicating and working together to increase state-level policy and collaboration
  1. Inconsistent terminology used in legislation across systems
  2. Variation of policy interpretation across states/localities which impacts funding of services
  3. Lack of IPSE program and VR staff knowledge on policy related to IPSE programs and funding

Communication
  1. State Medicaid and DD agencies included in the conversation to increase involvement in IPSE initiatives
  2. Formal or informal relationships developed with VR and employers by getting to know each other’s needs and creating ways to meet these needs
  3. VR connecting with campus career services, IPSE advisory boards, business advisory boards
  4. Interagency communication where everyone is at the table communicating together
  1. Cross-system communication with differing terminology and requirements
  2. Systems working in silos that limit leveraging of resources and opportunities to  collaborate
  3. Not understanding each system’s goals and how IPSE programs meet those goals
  4. Lack of time to invest in developing strong lines of communication and relationships

Knowledge and Perceptions of IPSE Programs and College Students with IDD
  1. Leadership across systems understand IPSE and what states, colleges, and employers can do to support programs
  2. Student voices used to advocate and spread awareness of programs and inclusion in paid employment
  1. Lack of knowledge of and training on IPSE programs and their credentials
  2. Barriers in perceptions and expectations of IPSE students with ID working in competitive integrated employment
  3. Wide spectrum of IPSE programs and outcomes

Engagement of Employers and Employer Organizations
  1. Positive relationships with HR to carve/develop positions for students
  2. IPSE staff provides education and resources to employers
  3. Leveraged VR employer relationships and networks
  4. Strong Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) state-level chapter representation
  1. Lack of investment in a variety of employment
    opportunities that include individuals with disabilities 
  2. Current economic conditions

 

From Knowledge to Action

As it continues its work in year two, the employment partnerships workgroup will be diving into formulating a plan to address and take action on the previously identified barriers and facilitators to employment. 

If you are looking at enhancing your system-level collaboration, here are some recommendations from the workgroup on places to begin:

  • Invest in building relationships - Invest time in networking and building relationships with campus, community, and agency partners. Be intentional about creating space to build rapport and get others invested in your program.
  • Educate partners and get educated - Be ready to explain inclusive higher education and your program, including outcomes. Learn about the partners and what supports and services they provide. Work together to identify shared goals and objectives and how that could translate into paid employment opportunities.
  • Get informed - Research local, state, and federal policies and practices that support system engagement with IPSE programs that could lead to increased paid employment opportunities. Discover what partnerships other programs in your state have built that have benefited paid employment opportunities. Reach out to Think College, experts in the field, and other program directors to get advice.
Project
Inclusive Higher Education Network