Supported Employment & Vocational Training
Helps people with disabilities find and maintain competitive employment through job coaching, workplace adaptations, skill development, and ongoing support.
What Is Supported Employment?
Supported employment helps people with disabilities obtain and maintain competitive employment in integrated workplace settings. The approach follows a 'place-train' model — individuals are placed in real jobs with support, rather than being trained in sheltered settings first.
Support includes job matching based on strengths and interests, job coaching on-site, workplace accommodation coordination, social skills support, and ongoing follow-up. The goal is competitive, integrated employment at minimum wage or above.
Vocational training may include pre-employment skills (resume writing, interviewing), workplace social skills, job-specific training, and self-advocacy skills for the workplace.
Who Benefits from Supported Employment?
intellectual disability
Supported employment enables competitive employment through job coaching, task analysis, natural supports development, and ongoing workplace support.
autism
Addresses workplace social skills, sensory accommodations, and job matching to leverage strengths (attention to detail, systematic thinking, reliability).
mental health
Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model has the strongest evidence for helping people with serious mental illness achieve competitive employment.
brain injury
Vocational rehabilitation addresses cognitive, physical, and social barriers to returning to work after brain injury.
What to Expect in a Session
First Session
A vocational assessment evaluates interests, strengths, skills, support needs, and employment goals. This informs a personalized employment plan.
Ongoing Sessions
Job coaching occurs at the workplace — the coach provides on-site training, helps establish routines, and gradually fades support as the employee gains independence. Ongoing check-ins continue as needed.
Your Child's Role
You work in a real job while receiving coaching and support. As skills develop, coaching is gradually reduced to promote independence.
Caregiver's Role
Families support the transition to employment by encouraging independence, helping with transportation, and communicating with the employment support team about any concerns.
When to Start
School Age (6-17)
Transition planning should begin by age 14-16. Work experience, co-op placements, and pre-employment skills training prepare students for future employment.
Adults (18+)
Supported employment services are available for adults of all ages. It is never too late to pursue employment with the right support.
General guidance: The research is clear: people with disabilities can and should work in competitive, integrated employment with appropriate support. Sheltered workshops are being phased out in favour of supported employment across Canada.
| Item | Range | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Assessment | $0–$0 | Intake assessment typically free through provincial programs |
| Per Session | $0–$0 | Varies; ongoing support as needed |
| Insurance | Not applicable — typically funded through provincial employment programs | |
| Tax Credit | Supported employment services are generally free; related expenses may qualify for METC in some cases | |
Money-Saving Tips
- Provincial employment services for persons with disabilities are free (e.g., Ontario ODSP Employment Supports)
- Community Living associations offer supported employment programs at no cost
- Contact your local Neil Squire Society or CCRW for free employment assistance programs
| Province | Status | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC | Fully Funded | CLBC / WorkBC | CLBC funds individualized supported employment; WorkBC provides employment programs for persons with disabilities. |
| AB | Fully Funded | PDD / AISH | PDD community access supports include employment services; AISH recipients can access employment supports while maintaining benefits. |
| SK | Fully Funded | Cognitive Disabilities Strategy | Cognitive Disabilities Strategy funds supported employment programs through community-based organizations. |
| MB | Fully Funded | Community Living disABILITY Services / Employability Assistance | Supported employment funded through CLDS and the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities program. |
| ON | Fully Funded | Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) / Employment Supports | ODSP Employment Supports and Employment Ontario provide job coaching, training, and workplace accommodations at no cost. |
| QC | Fully Funded | Contrat d'integration au travail (CIT) | CIT program subsidizes employers to hire persons with disabilities; CISSS/CIUSSS also provides employment support services. |
| NB | Fully Funded | Disability Support Program | Supported employment services available through the Disability Support Program and community agencies. |
| NS | Fully Funded | Disability Support Program / Employment Support Services | Employment Support Services provides job coaching and workplace supports for persons with disabilities. |
| PE | Fully Funded | AccessAbility Supports | Supported employment programs available through AccessAbility Supports and community partner organizations. |
| NL | Fully Funded | Employment Support Programs | Supported employment through community-based employment corporations and provincial disability programs. |
| NT | Partially Funded | Department of Education, Culture and Employment | Some supported employment services available; limited options due to smaller labour market. |
| NU | Limited | Department of Family Services | Very limited formal supported employment; some programs through Department of Family Services. |
| YT | Partially Funded | Yukon Government Labour Market Programs | Supported employment available through community organizations; Challenge Disability Resource Group is a key provider. |
Evidence & Research
Supported employment, particularly the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, has strong evidence. Multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrate that supported employment is significantly more effective than traditional vocational rehabilitation or sheltered workshops in achieving competitive employment outcomes.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious of any provider who:
- The program only offers sheltered workshop placements rather than competitive, integrated employment
- Job matching does not consider the individual's interests, strengths, and preferences
- The employer is not paying minimum wage or the placement is exploitative
- Support is withdrawn too quickly before the employee is stable and confident in their role
- The program does not coordinate with other supports (mental health, housing, transportation) that affect employment success
How to Find a Provider
- 1
Contact your provincial employment services for persons with disabilities (e.g., Ontario ODSP Employment Supports, BC Employment Services)
- 2
Reach out to your local Community Living association for supported employment programs
- 3
Contact the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) for employment services
- 4
Ask the Neil Squire Society about their employment programs for people with physical disabilities
- 5
Check with your provincial disability organization for a list of supported employment agencies in your area
Conditions That Use Supported Employment
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