Supported Employment in NYC: A Guide for Adults with Disabilities and Their Families

Work is more than a paycheck. For adults with disabilities, a job means community, purpose, and independence. Yet for too long, many New Yorkers with intellectual, developmental, or mental health disabilities were steered toward sheltered workshops or day programs rather than real employment in the open labor market.

Supported employment is the alternative — and it works. Across New York City, thousands of adults with disabilities are now working at real jobs, earning real wages, alongside coworkers who do not have disabilities. This guide explains exactly how the system works, who it serves, and how to access it.

What Is Supported Employment?

Supported employment, often called competitive integrated employment (CIE), means working in a mainstream workplace at or above minimum wage, alongside employees without disabilities, with individualized support as needed. The term "competitive" refers to a job that any person could apply for and compete for — not a set-aside position. "Integrated" means working in a typical community setting, not a segregated facility.

This model stands in contrast to sheltered workshops, where workers with disabilities are grouped together in separate facilities and may be paid sub-minimum wages. Federal law and New York State policy have increasingly shifted away from that model in favor of supported employment, recognizing that people with disabilities thrive when given the same opportunities as everyone else.

Supported employment does not mean "easy" jobs or part-time volunteer roles. Participants work in every industry imaginable: retail, food service, healthcare, office administration, landscaping, technology support, and more. The job is chosen based on the individual's interests, strengths, and goals — not just what happens to be available.

Who Benefits from Supported Employment?

Supported employment in NYC serves adults across a wide range of disability categories. Common populations who benefit include:

• Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) — including Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions that affect cognitive development.
• Adults with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — who may have acquired cognitive, physical, or behavioral challenges following an injury and need structured workplace support to re-enter employment.
• Adults with serious mental health conditions — including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression, who are stable enough to work but benefit from an employment specialist who understands their needs.
• Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — at any point on the spectrum, many of whom have specific strengths that make them exceptional employees when placed correctly.
• Adults with physical disabilities — who may need workplace accommodations or assistance navigating transportation and workplace access.

There is no strict diagnosis requirement. The determining factor is whether an individual needs ongoing support to obtain or maintain employment, and whether they express a desire to work.

NYC-Specific Programs and Agencies

New York City has multiple overlapping systems that fund and deliver supported employment. Understanding which program applies to your situation is the first step toward accessing services.

How Job Coaching Works

Job coaching is the core service that makes supported employment possible. It is delivered in two phases: job development and on-the-job support.

Funding: How Supported Employment Is Paid For

One of the most common questions families ask is: "How much does this cost?" For most participants, the answer is nothing out of pocket.

Medicaid Waiver (OPWDD)

For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported employment is funded through New York State's Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver administered by OPWDD. This means Medicaid covers the full cost of job development, job coaching, and follow-along services. The participant (and their family) pay nothing. Eligibility requires an OPWDD determination of developmental disability and Medicaid enrollment.

ACCES-VR

For adults who are not OPWDD-eligible, ACCES-VR can fund vocational rehabilitation services including supported employment. ACCES-VR is a federally funded program (under the Rehabilitation Act) and does not require Medicaid. There is an eligibility determination process, but services are generally available to any adult with a documented disability that creates a barrier to employment.

In practice, many participants start with ACCES-VR funding and then transition to OPWDD Medicaid waiver funding for long-term follow-along support once they are employed. The two systems are designed to work together.

How to Access Supported Employment in NYC

Getting connected to supported employment in New York City follows a clear pathway, though the specific route depends on which funding stream applies.

• Through OPWDD: The first step is obtaining an OPWDD eligibility determination (if not already done). Your OPWDD Care Manager or service coordinator then refers you to an approved supported employment provider. Priority Groups is an approved provider serving all five NYC boroughs.
• Through ACCES-VR: Contact your local ACCES-VR district office to apply for vocational rehabilitation services. A counselor will conduct an intake, develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), and authorize supported employment services with an approved provider.
• Through a voluntary agency: Many families connect directly with a voluntary agency (like Priority Groups) that navigates both OPWDD and ACCES-VR systems on the participant's behalf. We can help determine which pathway is right and facilitate the referral.
• Direct contact: Call Priority Groups directly at (718) 400-6166 (NYC) or (201) 305-0936 (NJ). We will assess eligibility, explain all available options, and connect you to the appropriate program.

We serve participants across all five NYC boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

Supported Employment in New Jersey

For families in northern New Jersey, a comparable system exists through the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (NJ DDD). Adults with developmental disabilities who are enrolled in the DDD Supports Program or Community Care Program can access supported employment services funded through Medicaid. Priority Groups serves Hudson, Essex, and Bergen counties in New Jersey through our NJ DDD program.

The structure mirrors New York's model: a job developer identifies employment opportunities, a job coach provides on-site training, and support fades as the participant becomes established. NJ also has its own vocational rehabilitation agency — the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) — which plays the same role as ACCES-VR in New York.

Families in the Hudson/Essex/Bergen area can call our NJ line at (201) 305-0936 to discuss NJ DDD supported employment options.

What Participants Say

The most meaningful evidence for supported employment comes from the people living it. Among our participants, we consistently hear the same themes:

• The sense of pride and identity that comes from being a working member of a team.
• Improved social confidence — having coworkers, inside jokes, a reason to get up in the morning.
• Financial independence, even if modest — having money they earned themselves.
• Reduced reliance on other supports, as structure and purpose replace idle hours.

Families often report changes they did not anticipate: better sleep, more engagement at home, greater self-advocacy. Employment does not just fill time — it transforms how people see themselves and how others see them.

One participant who started in a supported role at a food service company now works independently, has received two promotions, and mentors newer employees. Another, who came to us after a traumatic brain injury, returned to work in a clerical role six months after beginning job coaching. These outcomes are not the exception. With the right support and the right match, they are the standard.