Robert Evert Cimera, Ph.D. Kent State University rcimera@kent

1. Integrated Employment: The Return on Investment, Cost-Effectiveness, and Fiscal Impact on Workers with Disabilities Robert Evert Cimera, Ph.D. Kent State University rcimera@kent.edu

2. Disclaimer • I am by no means suggesting that money is the bottom line for any policy decisions.

3. Disclaimer • I am by no means suggesting that money is the bottom line for any policy decisions. • However… • “Economics is the language of politicians and policymakers….”

4. Question #1: “Should People Go Into Supported Employment?”

5. Question #1: “Should People Go Into Supported Employment?” • Benefits: • Wages Earned in the Community • Costs: • Forgone Wages from a Workshop • Taxes Paid • Lost Governmental Subsidies

6. Question #1: “Should People Go Into Supported Employment?” • Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (n=64,692) • Benefit-Cost Ratio = 4.20 Source: Cimera (2010b)

7. Question #1: “Should People Go Into Supported Employment?” • Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (n=64,692) • Benefit-Cost Ratio = 4.20 • Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (n=19,436) • Benefit-Cost Ratio = 5.28 Source: Cimera & Burgess (2011)

8. Question #1: “Should People Go Into Supported Employment?” • Supported Employment was cost-efficient from the worker’s perspective • All disabilities, • Secondary conditions, and • All States. Source: Cimera (in press)

9. Question #1: “Should People Go Into Supported Employment?” • Yes….

10. Question #2: “Which is More Cost-Effective: SE or SW?”

11. Supported v. Sheltered Employment • Cumulative Costs SE: $18,813SW: $46,855 Source: Cimera (2011b)

12. Supported v. Sheltered Employment • Cumulative Costs SE: $18,813SW: $46,855 • Cost per Hr. Worked SE: $11.88 SW: $17.12 Source: Cimera (2011b)

13. Supported v. Sheltered Employment • Cumulative Costs SE: $18,813SW: $46,855 • Cost per Hr. Worked SE: $11.88 SW: $17.12 • Cost per Dollar Earned SE: $2.02 SW: $9.39 Source: Cimera (2011b)

14. Percent of Total Program Costs Source: Cimera (2008)

15. Percent of Total Program Costs Source: Cimera (2008)

16. Question #2: “Which is More Cost-Effective: SE or SW?” • It appears, SE is more cost-effective. Source: Cimera (in press)

17. Question #3: “Is SE a Good Investment for Taxpayers?”

18. Question #3: “Is SE a Good Investment for Taxpayers?” • Benefits (per month): $795.65 • Alternative Program Savings……… $731.64 • Taxes Paid………………………….. $ 70.84 • Reduction in Subsidies…………….($ 6.83) • Costs (per month): $544.31 • Cost of SE Services……………….. $394.31 • Tax Credits to Employers…………. $150.00 231,204 Supported Employees (2002-2007) Source: Cimera (2010a)

19. Question #3: “Is SE a Good Investment for Taxpayers?” • Benefit-Cost Ratio = 1.46 • Mental Illnesses = 1.68 • Physical Disabilities = 1.66 • Autism Spectrum Disorder = 1.62 • Sensory Impairments = 1.35 • Intellectual Disabilities = 1.20 • Traumatic Brain Injuries = 1.17 Source: Cimera (2009)

20. Question #3: “Is SE a Good Investment for Taxpayers?” • Yes…regardless of disability or number of disabilities (but not in all States). Source: Cimera (2009)

21. Question #4: “How Do We Make SE More Effective and Efficient?”

22. The Utilization of “Natural Supports” • SE with “Natural Supports” • Average Cost = $5,063 • Employment Cycle = 6.04 fiscal quarters • Cost per Quarter = $838 • SE Statewide • Average Cost = $8,212 • Employment Cycle = 3.36 fiscal quarters • Cost per Quarter = $2,444 Source: Cimera (2007)

23. The Utilization of “Natural Supports” • SE with “Natural Supports” • Reduced costs by 57.6% (from 2001 to 2005) • Nearly an 80% increase in length of employment. Source: Cimera (2007)

24. Community-Based Transition Services In-School Community-Based Cost of Services = $1,551 Months Employed = 4.70 Cost of Services = $1,020 Months Employed = 8.10 Source: Cimera (2010c)

25. Sheltered Workshops Prior to SE No Sheltered Workshop Yes Sheltered Workshop Wkly Earnings: $137.20 Cost (sample): $4,543* Cost (employed): $5,399* • Wkly Earnings: $118.55 • Cost (sample): $7,895 • Cost (employed): $8,659 9,808 Individuals with Intellectual Impairments Source: Cimera (2011a)

26. Thank You! Robert Evert Cimera, Ph.D. Kent State University, USA RCIMERA@KENT.EDU

27. References Cimera, R.E. (2007). Utilizing natural supports to reduce the costs of supported employment. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 32(3), 1-6. Cimera, R.E. (2008). The cost-trends of supported versus sheltered employment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 28, 15-20. Cimera, R.E. (2009). Supported employment’s cost-efficiency to taxpayers: 2002 to 2007. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 34, 13-20. Cimera, R.E. (2010a). The national cost-efficiency of supported employees with intellectual disabilities: 2002 to 2007. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 115, 19-29. Cimera, R.E. (2010b). The national cost-efficiency of supported employees with intellectual disabilities: The worker’s perspective. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 33, 123-131. Cimera, R.E. (2010c). Can community-based high school transition programs improve the cost-efficiency of supported employment? Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 33(1) 4-12. Cimera, R.E. (2011a). Does being in sheltered workshops improve the employment outcomes of supported employees with intellectual disabilities? Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 35, 21-28. Cimera, R. E. (2011b). Supported versus sheltered employment: Cumulative costs, hours worked, and wages earned. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 35, 85-92. Cimera, R.E. (in press). The Economics of Supported Employment: What New Data Tell Us. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Cimera, R.E. & Burgess, S. (2011). Do adults with autism benefit monetarily from working in their communities? Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 34, 173-180