Your Employment Path

As an Employment First state, New York is committed to ensuring working-aged people with disabilities can get jobs and be paid fairly for their work.
Employment Success Stories
What Does Your Employment Path Look Like?
Steps to Employment

Employment is a relationship between a business or organization and an employee, where both parties benefit. Being employed can help improve your self-esteem, generate happiness, and bring a sense of independence, purpose and community.

In many ways, the employment path is the same for people with developmental disabilities as it is for anyone seeking a job—no one has the same exact experience.

The employment pages are designed to help you think about where you are in the path and help you get the right experiences and information to pursue the type of job you want.

There are some key steps to finding employment that apply to all job seekers. These "Steps to Employment" can help you determine where you are on your path and if specific supports or resources are right for you.  In addition to OPWDD and other state resources, there are these additional resources to help you along the steps. 

Read About the Steps

 

Employment Success Story

With the help of OPWDD’s employment programs including pre-vocational training, Supported Employment and, finally, the Employment Training Program, Cory (pictured) developed his skills and made his way to permanent employment.
Read Cory's Story
Read More Stories
Image of Cory At Work
Other State Employment Programs and Services
Supporting Successful Employment Outcomes for People with Disabilities
Employment First
New York State is committed to standing up for the employment needs of people with disabilities. The Employment First framework is part of a national movement that centers around the employment of people with disabilities.