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Employment Services Policies for Individuals with I/DD

On this page you can find employment services policies for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Policies are organized alphabetically by topic area below.

These policies are from the Office of Developmental Disabilities Service and Vocational Rehabilitation (which are both part of the Oregon Department of Human Services) and from the Oregon Department of Education.


The documents below are helpful when navigating ODDS Employment Policy. 

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Policies

​Benefits and Work Incentive Counseling services help people with disabilities make informed decisions about work, benefits and the use of work incentives to achieve their employment goals.

Policy Documents and Related Infor​mation

​The Career Development Plan (CDP) identifies the individual's employment goals and objectives. The CDP is based on person-centered planning principles.

Policy Documents and Related​ Information

Worker's Guides​

​This is a person-centered, time-limited, employment planning service. It can help an individual obtain, maintain, or advance in a competitive integrate​d job at or above minimum wage. Activities in the service can vary and can identify an individual's interests, strengths, and abilities.

Policy Documents and Relate​​d Information - Effective 9/1/2​​021

The Employment Outcomes System (EOS)​ is a system for collecting semiannual data on the employment o​utcomes of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who are receiving employment services from​ ODDS. Job seekers can use this data to research employment providers in their area.

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Employment Path Community Services should provide learning and work experiences. It may include volunteer opportunities. The goal of this service is for an individual to develop employment skills to be used in an integrated job.​​

Policy Documents and Related​ Information​

As of September 2020, ODDS no longer funds sheltered workshop services.

​The Employment Stabilization Worker's Guide outlines the process related to transfers from VR-funded job coaching to ODDS-funded job coaching. It also specifies how and when ODDS can fund job coaching in its entirety.

Policy Documents and Related​ Information

​ODDS services are funded through the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program​. New federal regulations specify that all HCBS services must be offered in integrated community settings. Those settings that do not comply have time to transition and come into compliance, as outlined in the state level transition plan and provider level transition plans.

Policy Documents and Rela​ted Information



​A Job Developer identifies job opportunities in the workplace where an individual's skills match the employer's need. Job Development may include support with the application and interview process, and visits with potential employers.

Policy Documents and Related​ Information

​Lane v. Brown is a class action involving employment services that Oregon provides to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). A settlement was reached at the end of 2015, which was accepted and approved by the Oregon Federal District Court in January 2016.​

View reports​​​​

​Project SEARCH is a successful employment service model where interns gain work experience while rotating in a series of nine-month internships. The goal is to leave with competitive integrated employment in the community.

​The tier review process has been in effect since 2014 when ODDS started tier-based rates for employment and Day Support Activities. A Service Coordinator or Personal Agent would submit a request to ODDS for a tier review. If a provider is concerned that an individual's needs are not supported by their current tier, they can notify the SC/PA that a tier review is needed and provide supporting documents.

​Transition from school to work or post-secondary education involves a number of partners and activities and should begin well before students leave school. Transition services begin at age 16, or younger if the team determines it is nece​​ssary, and continues through age 21. In some cases, adult service providers may continue transition services up to age 24.

Policy Documents and Related​ Information

Individuals are eligible for community or Employment/Day Support Activity (DSA) transportation services, if they need daily living care supports either during transportation or at the destination and are receiving services through the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS). 

​More information is available on the ODDS Transportation Services​ ​web page​.

​ODDS and VR policy for planning and implementing supported employment services is the opportunity to work at least 20 hours per week, recognizing that based on individual choice, preferences and circumstances, so​me people may choose to work at that level while others may not.

Policy Documents and Related​ Information