Real Work for Real Pay: Inclusive Employment for People with Disabilities

This groundbreaking text advances a critical element of empowerment for people with disabilities: inclusive, competitive, and meaningful employment opportunities. The only comprehensive resource on this topic, Real Work for Real Pay is an authoritative collection of current best practices, employment theories and policies, and specific tools that support positive change in the workplace. Readers will get the most thorough, up-to-date information on every aspect of inclusive employment, including

• implementing workplace supports such as assistive technology, instructional strategies, and personal assistants



• reconciling the different perspectives of employers and employees



• understanding and using SSA work incentives



• matching individual preferences to satisfying work



• helping individuals make alternative work arrangements, such as self-employment and telecommuting



• developing performance-based funding strategies for employment services



• forming strong partnerships with businesses and other agencies within the service system

With contributions by more than twenty authorities — including vocational rehabilitation specialists, disability rights experts, business consultants, and researchers — this is an essential text for students in upper-level courses and a must-have reference for inservice supervisors and managers. Readers will be fully equipped to help individuals with disabilities realize the benefits of real work for real pay: economic well-being, improved social and work skills, and greater self-esteem.

Dr. Wehman is Professor of Physical Medicine with joint appointments in the Departments of Rehabilitation Counseling and also Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. He serves as Chairman of the Division of Rehabilitation Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Wehman has his Ph.D. in Behavioral Disabilities from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As one of the original founders of supported employment, he has worked closely with business and industry since 1980 and has published over 200 articles and authored or edited more than 40 books primarily in transition, severe disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury and employment for persons with disabilities. He has been the Principal Investigator on 41 million dollars in grants during his career.

As the father of two young adults with disabilities, he brings a strong parental as well as business perspective to his work. He is highly active in speaking to professionals, parents, advocates and businesses on transition and employment for people with autism, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other developmental disabilities. On a daily basis he works with individuals with disabilities, communicates regularly with professionals in the world of business related to disability and diversity, and is active in teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and doctoral students in rehabilitation medicine, special education, rehabilitation and psychology. A major focus of Dr. Wehman's work is on expanding the partnerships with businesses of all sizes so that more persons with disabilities can gain entrance into the workplace and retain employment successfully.

He is a recipient of the Kennedy Foundation Award in Mental Retardation in 1990 and President's Committee on Employment for Persons with Disabilities in 1992. Dr. Wehman was recognized as one of the 50 most influential special educators of the millennium by the Remedial and Special Education journal in December, 2000. He is also Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Dr. Inge is Assistant Professor at VCU and has been associated with the university for 24 years. She is currently the Director of the Training and Technical Assistance for Providers, a project funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, that is charged with providing technical assistance and information to improve the employment outcomes of individuals with significant disabilities and to reduce the use of subminimum wage certificates. Dr. Inge has directed a number of federally funded employment projects for individuals with significant intellectual and physical disabilities. She has co-edited two books and written numerous book chapters, newsletters, and other resource materials for facilitating the competitive employment outcomes of citizens with significant disabilities.

Mr. Revell conducts research in the areas of state systems change and funding of competitive enrollment outcomes. He is Training Manager for the Training and Technical Assistance for Providers, a project funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, that is charged with providing technical assistance and information to improve the employment outcomes of individuals with significant disabilities and to reduce the use of subminimum wage certificates. He has worked for more than 30 years in the area of building competitive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Ms. Brooke is a faculty member at VCU and has been working in the field of employment for people with disabilities since 1979. She is Project Director for the Social Security Administration’s Regional Benefits Planning, Assistance, and Outreach Technical Assistance Center. Ms. Brooke is nationally recognized for her personnel training programs and technical assistance work at the local, state, and federal levels. She has authored numerous book chapters, journal articles, newsletters, and fact sheets on transition and employment for people with disabilities. Her areas of interest include creating business partnerships, systems change, and self-advocacy leadership.