An Alternative Approach to Employment Service Supports: Utilizing Localized Collaboration and Business Engagement

Background: This conceptual paper uses data from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD) to examine this organization's Community Workforce Development program and the Employment Collaborative of Cuyahoga County (ECCC) put in place to successfully provide service to people with developmental disabilities. The history of this collaborative process involving the Cuyahoga DD, community-based organizations, governmental agencies, as well as non-profit organizations was explored. Further, the development of vocational rehabilitation (VR) trends towards business engagement (BE) and the dual customer approach have been discussed as they contribute to a successful intervention strategy. Objectives: The authors analyzed the Cuyahoga DD's collaborative strategy developed to ensure community engagement in increasing IDD employment in the region. Methods: This is a conceptual paper using a qualitative methodology that enabled the authors to describe, illustrate, and analyze the collaborative process to make suggestions for improvement and sustainability. Results: The alternative approach to the Community Workforce Development contributed to the improvement and sustainability of employment service supports based on local collaboration and community engagement. Conclusion: The application of the initial business model with minimum resources resulted in challenges that have been successfully addressed in the subsequent alternative approach to employment service support.