Disability Caucus working to create Employment First Commission

The numbers are shameful.

New Jersey ranks 39th in the U.S., with 10% of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities participating in integrated employment services, compared to the national average of 22%.

And when it comes to all I/DD funding for day and employment services in NJ, only 1.6% is spent on integrated employment services, compared to the national average of 9.1%.

The bipartisan New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus is looking to change that.

The caucus convened this week to examine Employment First policies and review legislation that would establish an Employment First Commission to strengthen competitive, integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Assembly Majority Leader and Caucus Co-Chair Lou Greenwald (D-Voorhees) led the discussion, saying the time has come for progress.

“People with and without disabilities want the same things: independence, a sense of purpose and the opportunity to contribute,” he said. “Employment First is about raising expectations and breaking down barriers so people with disabilities can engage in meaningful work.

“By establishing an Employment First Commission, we can bring agencies together, align our policies with proven national best practices, and make sure our systems actually work for people. This isn’t just about economic opportunity; it’s about dignity, inclusion, and recognizing the full potential of every person in our state.”

The Employment First framework is a national systems-change initiative promoting the principle that all individuals with disabilities are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community life.

The proposed legislation would create a commission to coordinate statewide efforts, incorporate input from people with lived experience, streamline fragmented support services, standardize data collection, and align New Jersey’s practices with federal guidance and high-performing state models.

Presenters included Dr. Robert Kimmel, Training and Consultation Specialist for the Employment and Transition Project at The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, and Adam Kubler, Coordinator of Employment Services at the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, who outlined the state’s progress on initiatives like the expanded Medicaid buy-in program, Project SEARCH internships, and the State As a Model Employer (SAME) program.

“When we look at top-performing states, we see common characteristics: strong legislative support, dedicated funding for integrated employment, robust data systems, and meaningful collaboration across agencies and with the business community. New Jersey has the foundation to build on programs in place,” Kimmel said. “An Employment First Commission would help us capitalize on this momentum, standardize best practices, and ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to the supports and opportunities they need to thrive in competitive, integrated employment.”

Mercedes Witowsky, executive director of the N.J. Council on Developmental Disabilities said the Employment First framework represents a fundamental shift in how we support individuals with disabilities.

“It’s about moving from low expectations to high expectations,” she said. “The proposed commission will bring together diverse stakeholders, including people with lived experience, employers, service providers, and policymakers to create a coordinated, effective approach. New Jersey has made progress, but we must do more to ensure that employment is truly the first and preferred outcome for individuals with disabilities who want to work.”

BINJE frequently reports on efforts to employ those with challenges, including this proposal around neurodiversity hiring. 

For more information about the Caucus and to get involved, click here.