Recreation in Supported Employment
Abstract
For nearly ten years, NC has witnessed the development and expansion of supported employment for persons with developmental disabilities. Supported employment has proven effective in assisting persons with developmental disabilities to work in integrated settings rather than in traditional sheltered workshops or day activity programs. Supported employees are earning more money. However, something is missing.
A study funded by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities in 1993 that investigated the lives of persons with developmental disabilities in the 'long term support phase' of supported employment found that the typical supported employee has four goals listed on his service plan. "When asked what he would like to add to the plan, his first addition is 'recreation and leisure' activities..." (B.A. Dalton et al./Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 5 (1995) pp. 202-203.) This project is developed in response to consumers in supported employment who expressed their needs and preferences.
Recreation in Supported Employment is an innovative project funded by the US Department of Education, Rehabilitative Services Administration, in the category of Initiating Recreation Programs for Individuals with Disabilities. The purpose of this project is to assist persons with developmental disabilities to increase the skills they need to be able to participate successfully in existing, inclusive community recreation opportunities. The Center for Recreation and Disability Studies in the Curriculum in Leisure Studies and Recreation Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will design and deliver a model program that will infuse recreation and leisure content and strategies into the supported employment process. Through leisure education and expanded community skills training, participants will acquire specific community living skills, develop strategies for community participation, and make connections to natural supports. In addition, the project will demonstrate the significance of the role of recreation in the overall rehabilitation process and the contributions recreation makes in reinforcing work skills and in enhancing job satisfaction and maintenance.
Project goals include:
1. to develop and implement a leisure education/community skills training program as an aspect of supported employment that is consumer-responsive, community based, and promotes inclusion;
2. to increase the number of individuals with developmental disabilities who participate in community recreation activities and ensure that "recreation and leisure" is added to their service plan;
3. to implement "systems change" strategies to ensure continuation of the recreation services after the funding period; and
4. to disseminate a field tested model with the support of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.
The project will directly target adults with developmental disabilities in a 5 county area of North Carolina who are participating in supported employment programs in conjunction with vocational rehabilitation agencies. For additional information contact Karen Luken or Beth Sorensen at 919-962-1222.