Evolving roles for employers and support personnel in the employment of people with severe disabilities

This paper is the result of a crackerbarrel discussion session held at the Virginia Commonwealth University Symposium on Supported Employment in April 1995. The focus of this discussion session was a review of the experiences of participants in working with the business community to expand the employment of people with severe disabilities. This included discussion of lessons learned as well as specific ideas for defining and expanding a new partnership with business that benefits people with severe disabilities, the business community and the workplace. Based on the discussion, nine specific ideas are presented that show promise in defining this new partnership.