Employment First
Policies & Laws
California’s Employment First Policy
On October 9, 2013, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill No. 1041, which establishes in law an Employment First Policy. California became the 12th state to enact an employment first policy in law. It is the policy of the state that opportunities for integrated, competitive employment shall be given the highest priority for working age individuals with developmental disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. WIC Sect. 4869(a)(1).
WRC’s Employment First Policy
Employment enables adults to lead independent and productive lives while contributing to their community. Consistent with the , inclusive and competitive work will be the first option considered by planning teams for every working-age adult (16 years of age or older) at Westside Regional Center (WRC). WIC Sect. 4869(c).
Paid Internships Program and Competitive Integrated Employment Incentive Funding
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) was amended to add section 4870 to encourage competitive integrated employment (CIE) for individuals with developmental disabilities. CIE is full or part-time work for which an individual is paid minimum wage or greater in a setting with others who do not have disabilities.
Paid Internship Program (PIP)
The purpose of the program is to increase the vocational skills and abilities of consumers who choose, via the (IPP) process to participate in the internship. Click here to read the DDS Letter: Guidelines for Implementation of PIP.
Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Incentives
The purpose of these incentives is to increase sustained CIE placements by Regional Center Service Providers consistent with the client’s Individualized Program Plan (IPP). Click here to read the Letter: Guidelines for Implementation of CIE Incentive Payments.
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.
Implementation Updates
DDS Consumer Employment Dashboard
This dashboard provides information from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to report the percentage of working-age consumers receiving wages and average monthly consumer wages by regional center.
SCDD Employment Data Dashboard
The State of California Developmental Disabilities () System Employment Data Dashboard presents up-to-date data on how well California is implementing the new Employment First policy and supporting people to have regular jobs at regular pay.
Resources for Service Providers
- Employment First Business Advisory Committee – the committee’s purpose: building partnerships and collaboration, promoting outreach and education regarding community-based, integrated employment resulting in the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and community. Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month at 3:30 PM. View the schedule of meetings.
- WRC Employer Outreach Brochure contains information on tax credits, disability hiring, strengthening and diversifying workforce talent, Department of Labor regulatory compliance, Employers and the ADA, and Resources to Assist Employers.
- CIE-PIP Technical Process Information is a visual illustration outlining the overall CIE and PIP process.
- WRC Supported Employment IP Funding Request Requirements offers information on the procedure to request job coach funding for individual placement from WRC.
- Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Toolkit is designed to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) and their families navigate the three departments’ service delivery systems and locating available employment resources.
Resources for Potential Employers
- Reasons to Hire People with Disabilities
- The WRC Employer CIE Outreach (Spanish, )document provides information on Tax Credits/Incentives for hiring people with disabilities, FAQs, DOL compliance, and more.
- Benefits and Opportunities for Employers
- Department of Labor: Hiring People with Disabilities
- Career Cast Disability Network: Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities
- Paid Internship Program
- Got Internship? The No Cost to Employers Paid Internship Program brochure provides information about the Paid Internship Program and fantastic facts about hiring people with developmental disabilities. Click here to read the brochure.
- The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) helps employers recruit, hire, retain and advance people with disabilities. In addition to hosting webinars and other events, EARN also maintains a website, AskEARN.org, which provides information on recruiting and hiring; retention and advancement; laws and regulations; creating an accessible and welcoming workplace; and federal contractor requirements. The website also offers a variety of resources to assist state and federal government agencies in making their workforces more inclusive and reflective of the citizens they serve.
- Getting Hired (GH) provides employers with a full-service solution for attracting, recruiting, hiring, and retaining the talent they need to meet their goals while also complying with OFCCP regulations. GH provides job seekers with a fully accessible career portal and connections to various employment resources.
- The National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) is a collaborative of disability, workforce, and economic empowerment organizations led by the National Disability Institute. The LEAD Center is dedicated to advancing sustainable individual and systems-level change to improve competitive, integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for adults across the spectrum of disabilities.
- Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities.
- Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace fact sheet provides employers information on providing qualified individuals with disabilities with reasonable accommodations.
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Disability Discrimination webpage describes the type of disability discrimination and provides resources to help employees and employers understand the complex issues surrounding this topic.
Shows what this word means
Lanterman Act
The Lanterman Act is the California law that gives people with developmental disabilities the right to services and supports.
WRC’s definition
The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, legislation that mandated the right of people with developmental disabilities to receive appropriate services.
IPP (Individual Program Plan)
An IPP is a written plan you make with WRC. It lists your goals and the services that help you reach them.
WRC’s definition
Individual Program Plan/Individual Support Plan. A written statement of goals and specific objectives in areas important to the client. Each objective contains one or more plans to achieve it and a target date for completion.
DDS (Department of Developmental Services)
DDS is the state department that funds and oversees California's 21 regional centers.
WRC’s definition
The Department of Developmental Services. This state agency administers the contracts with each regional center and sets many of the regulatory standards for service. The department also operates state developmental centers.
SCDD (State Council on Developmental Disabilities)
SCDD is an independent state agency that speaks up for people with developmental disabilities.
WRC’s definition
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need. Formerly known as Area Boards, WRC worked closely with Area Board 10 which was one of 13 agencies in the state that oversaw plans for people with developmental disabilities. Duties include advocacy and monitoring of programs.