Customized Employment (CE) is a strategy that creates access to competitive integrated employment (CIE) for individuals with significant disabilities. In many cases, CE is the only way that individuals with significant disabilities can obtain CIE because a new job is customized and negotiated with an employer and highlights the contributions and tasks of the employment seeker that align with an employer’s unmet needs. The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application can provide a good starting point for understanding the fundamental elements and deliverables of CE services.

The integration of supported employment (SE) services, such as systematic instruction and the facilitation of training and support strategies further increase the likelihood that an individual with a disability will be able to successful engage in employment and community activities of their choice.

By authorizing and funding CE and systematic training services, Federal and state agencies are offering a possibility for all employment seekers to gain integrated employment in their community and are meeting objectives related to Employment First policies and objectives.

Providers who offer CE and systematic instruction services are able to expand access to employment, broaden the scope services and increase the value and benefit that they provide to individuals with disabilities and their families in their community.

MG&A’s Approach

As founders of CE services, as well as practitioners, policy experts and trainers, MG&A consultants have decades of expertise in CE.  MG&A offers a range of training, certification and technical assistance services in support of increasing the availability of state-of-the art CE and systematic instruction for Federal and state agencies and for providers:

1.      Gateway Training

MG&A offers Gateway training on Discovery and Customized Job Development that is approved by ACRE so that participants who attend both classes can receive ACRE certificates of completion in Employment Services with an Emphasis on Customized Employment. This certificate is now frequently required by state agencies as a prerequisite for authorizing a provider to delivery CE services. MG&A also offers a similar Gateway training in Systematic Instruction.

2.      MG&A Certification

Recognizing that training classes are a strong first step to introduce information on CE or systematic instruction but do not establish a performance-level set of skills and abilities for attendees, MG&A developed a performance-based certification to fill the need to develop these skills sets.

MG&A offers this performance-based certification in the areas of Discovery, Customized Job Development and Systematic Instruction to participants who have attended a respective Gateway training class.

Through the certification process, participants are matched with an expert mentor in the respective focus area (Discovery, Customized Job Development or Systematic Instruction) who will provide them with support and feedback and ensuring that they are apply the strategies that they have learned through the certification process.

3.      Technical assistance, tailored training and support

MG&A consultants have also provided tailored training, technical assistance and support in CE and SE services for a wide range of organizations.  These offerings are tailored to meet the needs of the organization.  Such services and training have included: providing short webinars on CE for VR counselors and Medicaid support coordinators, focusing on a key strategy in the CE process (i.e., the use of translation in Discovery; employer negotiation; person centered planning; ensuring effective Discovery for individuals with mental health disabilities) or supporting a state agency with the alignment of policy that will support the increased adoption and availability of CE services in their state.

We welcome the opportunity to talk with you and your agency representatives regarding the training, certification and technical assistance services that we can offer to support your organization in the provision and expansion of CE services.