Employment Services Toolkit
The Employment Services Toolkit from Employment First Missouri provides person-centered tools to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find and maintain employment through career exploration, job development, and supported employment guided by each person's preferences and abilities.
Empowerment through employment
The Employment First Missouri project at the Institute for Community Inclusion provides technical assistance to promote the advancement of integrated community employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Missouri.
News
Becoming an Employment First Agency
Are you a Targeted Case Management (TCM) provider interested in becoming a model agency of national best practice in person-centered & self-determined employment pathways for individuals & their supports?
The Employment First consultation provides an opportunity to assess culture & processes which facilitate change management focused on person-driven employment support coordination.
Scaling Best Practices
- Facilitated interviews, organization self-assessment, & consultation are used to evaluate current capacity
- Recommendations, technical assistance, & training to implement capacity building strategies are available at no cost
- Based on Tiered Supports Model
- Customized Strategies to Address Barriers
- Ongoing Support for Staff
Employment First Missouri: One Question That Changes Everything
When supporting someone with a disability, it's easy to begin with the services we provide, the programs we operate, or the jobs that are currently available. While those are important considerations, Employment First invites us to start somewhere else.
"What would a good life look like for this person?"
That simple question shifts the conversation. Instead of fitting someone into existing services, we begin exploring their interests, strengths, relationships, preferences, and long-term goals. Employment becomes more than just finding a job; it becomes one part of building a meaningful life in the community.
This week, challenge yourself and your team to pause before asking, "What can we offer?" Instead, ask, "What does this person want for their future, and how can we help them get there?"
The answers may lead to new experiences, different community connections, additional skill building, or employment opportunities that wouldn't have been considered otherwise. Even when the path isn't immediately clear, beginning with the person's vision helps ensure that planning is guided by possibility rather than availability. Sometimes a single question changes the entire direction of planning.
If you are interested in connecting with peers who share an Employment First mission, contact our Employment First team, who can help connect you.
Professional Development Opportunity: Technology in Employment Community of Practice
We are excited to announce that the Technology in Employment Community of Practice is now open to employment service providers and support coordinators across Missouri. This community of practice is a collaborative effort between Missouri Assistive Technology, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and Employment First Missouri. Meetings will be held via Zoom on the first Thursday of each month from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Participation id free of charge.
The community of practice will focus on two key areas:
- Technology Solutions in Employment: Explore technology tools and strategies that support individuals throughout every stage of employment services, including workplace success and job retention.
- Building Organizational Capacity: Learn practical approaches for increasing your organization's use of technology and supporting staff in developing confidence and competence with technology. This track may be especially valuable for leaders, managers, and supervisors responsible for staff development and service quality.
Register here and join us for these upcoming sessions:
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September 3rd, 2026 1pm to 2pm
Technology in Employment Community of Practice: Getting Started
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October 1st, 2026 1pm to 2pm
Building Capacity for Technology: An Introduction
For questions or accommodation requests, please email [email protected]
Contact Us
Contact us, request a custom or specific training, or to ask any other questions.
Contact UsFeatured Resources
Guide to Informed Choice in Employment
Informed choice is the process of choosing from options based on accurate information, knowledge, and experiences. This publication provides background and guidance on ensuring the provision of employment services and supports is reflective of informed choice.
Upcoming Trainings & Events
Select event for more information.
Denotes a EmploymentFirst Missouri event.
Denotes a EmploymentFirst Missouri event.
Empowering Lifelong Employment: Tailored Strategies for Older Workers with IDD 1.0
$Free
Webinar
Life expectancy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has significantly increased over the past several decades. Aging issues can impact various life activities, including work. The good news is that we can use creative and critical thinking, along with current tools and best practices to support older workers in maintaining employment and full participation in the community. This training will provide a review of Employment First principles, as well as how to effectively apply techniques to various employment scenarios for older workers.
Retention and Advancement
$Free
Webinar
Much of the focus on employment surrounds supporting an individual to obtain employment. However, true success often requires supports for retention, follow-along, and advancement. This training will provide an understanding of the critical building blocks that are needed for successful retention, how to provide follow-along supports in a way that is responsive to the employer and individual’s needs, including ensuring ongoing natural supports. Addressing common issues in job retention, including changes in job duties and supervision, and creating opportunities for advancement, will also be discussed.
Managing Social Security Benefits for Employment Success
$Free
Webinar
At this training, you will learn about the basics of Social Security benefits (SSI and SSDI) and how going to work impacts these and other benefits (including Medicaid and Medicare). Also discussed will be various work incentives that can be used to address benefit concerns and help individuals go to work, as well as various resources that are available to assist and guide individuals with benefit issues. The importance of consistent and positive messaging regarding the ability to address benefit issues and become successfully employed will also be covered.
Partnering with Residential and Community Based Day Services for Employment Success
$Free
Webinar
Successful employment outcomes often depend on strong collaboration across support teams. This session highlights practical strategies for employment service providers to partner effectively with residential and community-based day services, with a focus on communication planning, role clarification, and creative problem-solving to address common challenges and improve coordinated support.
Empowering Lifelong Employment: Tailored Strategies for Older Workers with IDD 2.0
$Free
Webinar
This is the follow-up session to 1.0, where we will take a deeper dive into employment and retirement scenarios for older individuals with IDD. We will review key elements and concepts covered in 1.0 including ageism, ableism, and principles of Employment First. By using creative and critical thinking, along with current tools and best practices, we can gain insight into how to support older individuals to maintain full participation in the community.
See all our events on our training page