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National Survey of State Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies’ Employment and Day Services (1988–2023)

Data Note No. 106, 2026

This Data Note reports on the core findings from the National Survey of State Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agencies’ Employment and Day Services through FY 2023. These data focus on participation in integrated employment, community-based non-work, and facility-based services (both work and non-work. 

State Data: The National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes through 2023

Data Note No. 105, 2026

Data Note 105 summarizes the findings from the National Report on Employment Services and Outcomes Through 2023. Overall, the findings suggest that across data sources, people with IDD experience greater levels of unemployment, underemployment, low wages, and poverty compared to those without disabilities and those with non-IDD disabilities. 

Indiana: Using Funding to Improve Integrated Employment Services

Indiana is strengthening integrated employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by aligning Medicaid HCBS waiver funding, provider transformation, and technology to support community-based employment. Through phased elimination of facility-based services, investments in provider capacity, and exploration of value-based payment models, the state is building a more sustainable system focused on quality and individual employment outcomes.

Social Security Administration Data: Employment Trends and Work Incentive Participation Among SSI Recipients (2023)

Data Note No. 104, 2025

Data Note 104 summarizes Social Security Administration data from 2003-2023 on work incentives and their utilization by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. It compares recipients' likelihood of working and participating in work incentives by disability type. It also describes how the percentage of SSI recipients working is recovering since 2020. Finally, the Data Note illustrates how the rate of employment among SSI recipients varies by diagnostic group with some modest increases since 2020.

What are the Most Important HCBS Waiver Elements for Increasing Integrated Employment Participation? Results of a Delphi Process with IDD Agency Staff

This Research to Practice brief examines how state Medicaid HCBS waiver design affects access to integrated employment for people with IDD by analyzing state funding policies, identifying predictors of better employment participation, and gathering expert input through a Delphi panel. Findings indicate that strong funding incentives and staff capacity are most critical for improving employment outcomes, while transportation remains a major barrier.

The Impact of Economic Fluctuations on Employment for People with Disabilities

Data Note No. 103, 2025

Data Note 103 summarizes national data on employment among adults receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to blindness or disability. Over the past three decades, the number of working-age SSI recipients has grown, yet only about 8% were employed in 2023. Employment rates among SSI recipients have mirrored broader economic trends, declining during major recessions and never returning to late-1990s levels. While the data reflect persistent challenges, they underscore the need to strengthen policies and supports that promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Outcomes of People with Intellectual Disabilities: 2015–2024

Data Note No. 102, 2025

This Data Note describes the characteristics, services received, and employment outcomes of adults with an intellectual disability (ID) who exited from the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program during fiscal years (FY) 2015 through 2024, in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). We compare the findings of adults with ID to the findings of people with other disabilities.

National Data Show Rising Employment & Opportunity for People with IDD

Data Note No. 101, 2025

Data Note 101 summarizes national data that show progress toward inclusive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Facility-based work and subminimum wage use have declined, while poverty rates and unemployment have dropped. While data suggest progress, there is a need to continue strengthening policies, practices, and initiatives that prioritize employment.

The Relationship between State IDD Agency Employment Payment Methods and Employment Service Provision for People with IDD

This Research to Practice brief highlights findings from a study analyzing 101 Medicaid HCBS waivers and national survey data to explore how waiver features relate to integrated employment services. The study identifies policy elements that may enhance employment outcomes for individuals with IDD across the U.S.
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