Enhancing independence in supported employment: Natural supports in business and industry

Independence-related issues are the topics of the day in supported employment discussions. These issues find their roots in earlier discussions of the principle of normalization and other related principles. Today’s discussions revolve around the achievement of full employment access and the integration of people with severe disabilities in the most normalized manner possible. This article discusses two facets of enhancing independence: first, increasing access to employment settings and the community in general as a result of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act; second, identifying naturally available support systems in today’s business and industry settings. The roles of employment specialists in service provision within the context of naturally available resources and the limitations related to the use of these resources are also discussed.