Employment Services Toolkit
The Employment Services Toolkit from Employment First Missouri provides person-centered tools to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find and maintain employment through career exploration, job development, and supported employment guided by each person's preferences and abilities.
Empowerment through employment
The Employment First Missouri project at the Institute for Community Inclusion provides technical assistance to promote the advancement of integrated community employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Missouri.
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Becoming an Employment First Agency
Are you a Targeted Case Management (TCM) provider interested in becoming a model agency of national best practice in person-centered & self-determined employment pathways for individuals & their supports?
The Employment First consultation provides an opportunity to assess culture & processes which facilitate change management focused on person-driven employment support coordination.
Scaling Best Practices
- Facilitated interviews, organization self-assessment, & consultation are used to evaluate current capacity
- Recommendations, technical assistance, & training to implement capacity building strategies are available at no cost
- Based on Tiered Supports Model
- Customized Strategies to Address Barriers
- Ongoing Support for Staff
We Want to Hear From You!
We are creating an online course about supporting older workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and we want to hear directly from self-advocates.
We are asking employment professionals, targeted case managers, DSPs, and other professionals to help us connect with adults with IDD, age 40 and older, who:
- Want to continue working as long as possible
- Are thinking about or planning for retirement
- Are in phased retirement or working fewer hours
- Have fully retired and found meaningful ways to spend their days and weeks
We want to learn what people enjoy about work, what helps them be successful, how they are thinking about their future, and what makes life meaningful during and after employment. We are also interested in what kind of support is important when it comes to both work and planning for retirement.
Professionals are welcome to support the person during the interview in whatever way is helpful. The goal is to make the conversation comfortable and ensure the person's experiences, ideas, and preferences are heard.
There are no right or wrong answers. We simply want to learn from people with lived experience! Please contact Leslie Quarles at [email protected].
Why CRP Data Matters: Participate in the 2026 National Survey
Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs) play a critical role in providing employment and day services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Yet, national information about CRP operations, workforce needs, and emerging practices remains limited.
The 2026 National Survey of Community Rehabilitation Providers, conducted by the ICI-UMass Boston and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), gives CRPs across the country an opportunity to share their experiences and help inform future planning, research, and decision making.
The survey takes approximately twenty minutes to complete. Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate. For more information about the survey, view the study fact sheet.
Please complete the survey by September 30, 2026. This survey is for any agency who provides employment or day services.
Take the survey: https://www.CRPSurvey.com/respond
Contact Us
Contact us, request a custom or specific training, or to ask any other questions.
Contact UsFeatured Resources
Guide to Informed Choice in Employment
Informed choice is the process of choosing from options based on accurate information, knowledge, and experiences. This publication provides background and guidance on ensuring the provision of employment services and supports is reflective of informed choice.
Upcoming Trainings & Events
Select event for more information.
Denotes a EmploymentFirst Missouri event.
Denotes a EmploymentFirst Missouri event.
Managing Social Security Benefits for Employment Success
$Free
Webinar
At this training, you will learn about the basics of Social Security benefits (SSI and SSDI) and how going to work impacts these and other benefits (including Medicaid and Medicare). Also discussed will be various work incentives that can be used to address benefit concerns and help individuals go to work, as well as various resources that are available to assist and guide individuals with benefit issues. The importance of consistent and positive messaging regarding the ability to address benefit issues and become successfully employed will also be covered.
Partnering with Residential and Community Based Day Services for Employment Success
$Free
Webinar
Successful employment outcomes often depend on strong collaboration across support teams. This session highlights practical strategies for employment service providers to partner effectively with residential and community-based day services, with a focus on communication planning, role clarification, and creative problem-solving to address common challenges and improve coordinated support.
Empowering Lifelong Employment: Tailored Strategies for Older Workers with IDD 2.0
$Free
Webinar
This is the follow-up session to 1.0, where we will take a deeper dive into employment and retirement scenarios for older individuals with IDD. We will review key elements and concepts covered in 1.0 including ageism, ableism, and principles of Employment First. By using creative and critical thinking, along with current tools and best practices, we can gain insight into how to support older individuals to maintain full participation in the community.
Language Issues in Supporting Individuals with Disabilities
$Free
Webinar
Learn about how disability language relates to services provision, and the importance of providing services and supports in a way that is sensitive and responsive. You’ll also learn about the ongoing evolution of language in describing people with disabilities, the difference between person-first and identify-first, and the importance of honoring individual preferences. An introduction to Plain Language will also be provided.
Best Practices in Job Coaching and Support Strategies for Success
$Free
Webinar
This training will cover the most effective strategies for staff supporting individuals in employment. Ways to foster a fruitful partnership with an employer will be reviewed such as first impressions, learning company values, and adapting methods to match the environment and needs of the individual. You will learn about the critical importance of staff supplementing, not replacing, existing natural supports, the full range of support strategies, and the importance of facilitating belonging in employment and community settings.
See all our events on our training page