This special issue on employment and young adulthood focuses on policy and practices affecting young people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) as they develop new skills and work in the general labor force. The six articles in this issue report on important research related to: (a) minimum and subminimum wage utilization; (b) work experiences while transitioning from high school; (c) the effect of state funding on employment equity; (d) experiential models of employment support; (e) experiences of individual and family members engaging in employment services; and, (f) employment perceptions of staff working in inclusive higher education environments.
Competitive integrated employment remains elusive for most people with IDD. Young adults with IDD experience even greater challenges, making them one of the most excluded groups from the United States labor force. Recent changes in policy and practice aim to provide greater opportunities for young adults and others with IDD. For example,...