DDDS Aims to Expand Opportunities and Access for Individuals with Disabilities to Join the Workforce

DOVER (Oct. 31, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) announced today efforts to expand services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to seek and secure employment.

“October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and our division is committed to expanding employment opportunities for the people we serve,” said Marissa Catalon, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. “The current workforce environment provides a great opportunity for the people we serve to secure a job where they can use their individual skills, abilities and talents to contribute in a meaningful way to their community.”

Catalon said there are many opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enter the workforce, but they need some help doing so. She said DDDS is committing additional financial resources to support the expansion of these opportunities through a strategy that expands the number of employment specialists available in the state, encourages more provider agencies to engage in supported employment, and pilots a new program designed to train those with disabilities to serve others with IDD.

“We are thrilled to see these investments being made by our colleagues at DDDS,” said Molly Magarik, Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). “These are more than just service enhancements, they are investments in the lives of our friends and neighbors and our communities across the state. And they open the possibility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work in their community alongside people with and without disabilities, at competitive wages. This offers a direct pathway to greater autonomy, self-sufficiency and health.”

Catalon said DDDS is committing funds to hire and train 25 new employment specialists. This increased workforce could support up to 400 individuals we serve in their pursuit of community integrated employment.

“The demand for employment services today is much greater than the capacity of our existing provider network,” said Jody Roberts, Director of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships for the division. “The public health emergency and increased workforce competition has impacted the recruitment and retention efforts of our provider network to hire and retain skilled employment specialists. These employment specialists provide crucial supports for people with IDD to obtain, maintain and succeed in these jobs.”

To accelerate the use of these new resources, existing DDDS Home and Community-Based Service providers who are authorized to provide Individual Supported Employment Services may seek approval from DDDS to hire up to two new employment specialists and be reimbursed for wages, trainings and other employment-related expenses for the first six months of the new hire’s employment.

“We know it takes time before these services can become financially sustainable for our providers, and we don’t want that to become a barrier to implementing these new programs,” Catalon said. “That’s why we’re offering to cover the costs of the first six months for these providers to encourage them to take the time needed to make this effort work for everyone involved.”

Finally, the Division will be partnering with RCM Training and Consulting to implement its program, the DSP Academy. The programs trains individuals with disabilities to become DSPs – or Direct Support Professionals – serving those with individuals with IDD.

“The DSP Academy is a truly innovative program,” Roberts said. “It simultaneously works to address the impacts of ongoing workforce shortages in our service system and provides training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Delaware. It’s a model for the communities we hope to create all across Delaware.”

DDDS is one of 10 divisions in the Department of Health and Social Services. It serves more than 5,000 service recipients statewide.

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