Pushing the Integrated Employment Agenda: Employment Systems Partners and the High-Performing States Model

This article summarizes data collected from key informants in Iowa, Maryland, and Oklahoma regarding efforts to support integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We highlight features that contribute to the effectiveness of collaborative structures that have resulted in each state’s success in achieving integrated employment outcomes for individuals with IDD across three state systems: IDD, vocational rehabilitation, and education. We present these features using the seven elements of the High-Performing States Employment Model. These elements have been found to be important in achieving higher rates of competitive integrated employment outcomes for people with IDD.