The Dignity of Work: Creating Pathways to Improved Employment Outcomes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - The American Institutes for Research (AIR) and its expert partners propose to develop Dignity of Work, a practical intervention to enhance employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by supporting community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) in evaluating and expanding dignity of risk (DOR) in employment settings. DOR challenges the idea of risk as inherently negative or harmful. Instead, risk is viewed as (a) a human right and (b) a pathway to self-determination and increased quality of life. DOR in employment emphasizes that all workers, including those with IDD, should have the opportunity to self-direct their employment journey, as they take risks, navigate workplace challenges, and build skills that support long-term professional growth. While the proposed project aligns with the employment domain, DOR also serves as a foundation for broader community participation and health and function outcomes. The project objective is to provide Proof of Concept and Proof of Product of the Dignity of Work intervention in a three-phase approach. In Phase 1, we will conduct case studies with three CRPs and a national survey to identify the essential components of the intervention. In Phase 2, we will iteratively co-develop, test, and refine the intervention components alongside people with IDD and other key stakeholders. In Phase 3, we will pilot the intervention with a multi-state CRP to evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, and promised efficacy. The resulting product will be a dissemination-ready package including (a) intervention materials, (b) an implementation manual, (c) resources to support adaptations for a broad range of users, and (d) educational supplements for key stakeholders in English and Spanish. Findings will be used to plan for future scale-up studies to determine the efficacy of Dignity of Work and establish Proof of Adoption. Implemented as designed, Dignity of Work is expected to improve self-determination, increase the use of natural supports and supported decision-making in the workplace, and support workplace goal attainment for people with IDD, while also strengthening the capacity of job coaches, CRPs, family members, and employers to foster DOR. Long term, it has the potential to improve employment outcomes, lead to positive changes in CRP programming, and raise expectations of people with IDD. To facilitate the development of a highly practical, flexible, and responsive intervention, our development approach integrates the voices of people with IDD, their family members, and key stakeholders across all stages of development. The project will be co-led by a researcher with a disability. A Community Leadership Board with members with IDD, family members, and employers will guide all project Phases. Key partners include the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and TASH. The project includes research sites at the University of Arkansas, The Ohio State University, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
