Barriers to Employment for Californians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CPCIDD) has released a report titled *Challenges and Barriers to Employment for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in California*, which highlights the persistent obstacles faced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in securing competitive, integrated employment. Despite California's Employment First policy, which has been in place for over a decade, the report reveals that employment rates for individuals with IDD have stagnated between 12.4% and 17.2% over the past 15 years.

The report, funded by Ability Central, is based on insights gathered from eleven roundtable discussions and five in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, including employers, supported employment providers, and individuals with IDD. Key findings indicate several systemic barriers that hinder access to meaningful employment:

• Employer Uncertainty: Many employers express confusion regarding reasonable accommodations, liability issues, and the role of job coaches, which can deter them from hiring individuals with IDD.

• Job Coaching Quality: There is a notable inconsistency in the quality of job coaching, compounded by workforce shortages that limit access to skilled employment support.

• Transportation Issues: Individuals relying on paratransit or working nontraditional hours face significant transportation barriers.

• Fear of Losing Benefits: Concerns about losing essential benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) often discourage individuals from pursuing additional work opportunities.

• Regulatory Constraints: Existing regulations and rate-related limitations restrict provider flexibility and the availability of specialized employment supports.

The CPCIDD report outlines several policy-informed opportunities aimed at enhancing employment pathways for individuals with IDD. These include aligning systems to support employers and providing actionable information to facilitate better employment outcomes.

Teresa Anderson, Executive Director of CPCIDD, emphasized the need for systemic alignment, stating, “People with IDD want to work, but the systems surrounding employment—transportation, benefits, service structures, and workforce capacity—are often misaligned or difficult to navigate.” Griffen Stapp, Executive Director of Ability Central, added that the disparities in employment are not due to individual limitations but rather systemic barriers that require informed policy changes and coordinated investments.

While the report presents a comprehensive overview of barriers, some critics argue that it may not fully address the individual challenges faced by people with IDD, suggesting that personal agency and skills development should also be emphasized alongside systemic changes.

The findings of the CPCIDD report aim to inform policymakers and community partners about the necessary steps to improve employment outcomes for individuals with IDD in California. The full report is available for public access, providing a resource for ongoing discussions and potential reforms in employment practices.

• “From policy to practice: obstacles and opportunities for inclusive employment in California People with IDD want to work but the systems surrounding employment are often difficult to navigate.” — Teresa Anderson, Executive Director, CPCIDD

• “The CPCIDD Employment Report makes clear that employment disparities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not the result of individual limitations, but of systemic barriers that can and must be addressed through informed policy, coordinated investment, and shared accountability,” — Griffen Stapp, Executive Director, Ability Central